Hello, we are moving from Ramstein to Mildenhall in May. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the following topics... -Daycares ( my son is 2)and if there is a wait list for them.. -Villages that we should avoid or try to get into. -How big are the houses in general? -Do they have an Arts and Crafts store? With cake supplies? Any stores on the economy that sell cake supplies?( I do cake decorating ) -What are the bases like? Any other advice you have would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you! 

There are two cdc's one on Mildenhall and one on Lakenheath with is about 5 minutes away from Mildenhall. Yes there is a long waiting list took me 6 months to get my son in. I live off base about 25 minutes out in Ely and love not being by base because you get a bigger house for your money without all the traffic. www.rightmove.com has all houses for sale or rent in the area. The most house can be quite small the further from base you go the better the hose get size and price wise. They have an arts and crafts store on Lakenheath which also carries cake supplies as well. If you do cake decorating I want your email because mine just moved and I need a new one :) The bases are nice and have quite a lot things to do on them. I would start looking at houses now they move you in and out of billeting so quick you only have a week to look for a house. If you take leave for your first week here you can solely focus on house hunting trust me it makes all the difference. good luck england is such a nice place to live and so much to do. 

There are two cdc's one on Mildenhall and one on Lakenheath with is about 5 minutes away from Mildenhall. Yes there is a long waiting list took me 6 months to get my son in. THere are actually 3 CDC's 2 on Lakenheath, and one at Mildenhall, I have worked at both of the CDC's on Lakenheath currently working at the one behind housing and my son goes there and they are the best I think.. He loves his teachers and so do i!!! 

I thought the Lakenheath ones were all in one just two different locations with different ages groups in each. At least thats what they told me when I was viewing them. We waited on lakenheath waiting list for six months and our name never moved we got into Mildenhall in 6 months they a great also brand new building accually really new everything. 

Technically there is 2 because they each have their own... Each has it's own director and such.... 

There are certain areas that aren't as nice as others but then other people might like them. It depends on what kind of person you are to be fair. A lot of houses are small. The more money you spend, the bigger the house (generally). It's hard but do able. There is one thing I highly suggest to you. Go out and about. Don't just go to base or 2minutes around base. There ARE things to do despite what you will read/hear. Not everything costs money either. The bases in general are nice, I guess. I've never been to any others lol. 

I agree with Emma no matter what you hear go out and explore stuff there is so much awesome stuff to do and see in England. 

www.ahrn.com is the base's website for off base housing available in the area. You won't have much time to scramble and get a house if you don't want base housing. So you can at least go on there and take a peek. That will tell you how big the houses are in this area and what your OHA covers! : )..I have lived off base the entire time I have lived here and LOVE it. You can get a bigger amount of space than offered in base housing. You just have to look. : ) 

http://www.authenticcakes.co.uk/ Great little store located in Cambridge! 

Thank you so much for all the info.! We just want to live in a village that is safe and not in a busy or large village. On the daycare topic, we were wondering if anyone has any advice on off base daycares? Thank you all for your help =) Also as soon as we are settled there I will be posting an ad on LYS for my cake service =) 

I live in Littleport (next door to Ely) and I agree with what Amy said. You get much more for your money. I have a 5bed 2.5 bath townhouse with a HUGE kitchen. It's about a 20 min drive across the Fens to Lakenheath (15 to mildenhall) but worth it in my opinion. My son goes to Busy Bees Nursery School by Mildenhall base in Beck Row. It's on a 10 acre farm and has it's own indoor pool with full time swim instructor. Good luck finding a place. 

Also the roads can make the difference with commuting.. Alot of roads are flat out dangerous even on a sunny dry day. 

@Queenmel My daughter goes to Busy Bees Preschool in Littleport. Not the same place judging by the description. However that place sounds awesome! What's the ages to attend there? 

The houses are small here I moved from a 2 bedroom base housing unit at another base into a 4 bedroom off base house and My garage is now storage and 1 bedroom is nothing but wardrobes for our clothes. The bases are not as nice compared to what you are used to. You will be very very very disappointed when you see what AAFES has to offer. I thought it was some cruel joke when i walked into Lakenheaths BX. It is a PITA to drive from one base to another trying to find what you are looking for. They need to make 1 BX with everything in it in 1 location. 

Thank you all for the info.! I just contacted Busy Bees and it seems like a really wonderful place. When we get there we are going to schedule a time to go in and look around. Are there any other places we should look into? I am expecting the houses to be small, our house in Germany is quite small and honestly the ones that I have looked at in England seem much larger than our house now. I was hoping for an improvement but we make do now so I am sure it will be ok. Again, thank you for your help and if you have any other advice it would be greatly appreciated! 

Alot of roads are flat out dangerous even on a sunny dry day. Yes!! There are some roads around here you do need to be really careful on! 

Thank you Matt and Wifey for the heads up on the roads =). 

Matt: Yeah now you have to drive to Lakenheath for most electronics, clothes, and shoes. Then for hard wear, sports, and toys to Mildenhall BX. And now for linen or home goods to the home store next to the Mildenhall Commissary. (Don't get me started on the Commissary since they are now changing their days AGAIN and will not be open at all on the weekend now. Not to mention they close so early on weekdays!) I think they are thinking, "well no one shops here" but we can't shop there if your not open!!! : ).. 

Yeah.... whose idea was it to put the "home store" in the same room as Subway. I mean, dont get me wrong, I love Subway, but it does give off a strong aroma, and to put blankets, sheets, pillows, ect (everything that absorbs odors!!)... yeah, that was a smart move. It was so much better being the book store. I hate the new set up they have over there. You forgot to mention the drive to feltwell for any furniture items you may want. CRAPPY set up! 

Oh yeah I did forget to mention that.. but thats because even if you drive to Feltwell for furniture odds are you will fall in love with something that could take 6 months to arrive! At that point you are better off going to DFS and ordering a custom made couch! : ).. Thats what we did. 

they need to get rid of baskin robbins and cinnabon and make put subway there. At least its not as bad as Lakenheaths food mess. Theres electronics at Moldyhole also.. Now if you want workout type clothes you have Lakenheath.. Mildenhall BX and Mildenhall sports store.. 

What is the BAH for Ssgt? I have heard different things now, so I was hoping someone who is getting Ssgt Bah could tell me. Thanks so much! 

1060 

Hi Paula,hope your move goes well -regarding childcare..there are a few very good daycare facilites near both bases.....some are full daycare,some are sessional-(they have 2 or 3 hour sessions,usually only open during school term-time).....research and go with your heart regarding your childcare....I am the owner of a small rural nursery in Lakenheath....called Butterflies Day Nursery, but you can research all local childcare by going to' Suffolk County Council website...follow the leads for childcare and it lists all nurseries in the area you require--lots of information and with all contact details....hope this helps... 

Google OHA it will tell you the rates