London to Oxford. Witney/Banbury?

[TakingTheStairs]

DH has been offered a fantastic job in Enstone and we're looking at moving within a 20-30 minute commute to there.
We'd like a four bed house with a garden for around 550k but apart from the house, I'll more than likely be a SAHM so I'd like somewhere that has activities and facilities for DS aged 1 and a potential newborn too. Playgrounds, soft play that sort of thing.
Oh and decent schools too (state or independent). I don't have much to ask do I?

Banbury and Witney both look good online but I was hoping some wise MNetters might have some advice or suggestions.

[TakingTheStairs]

Anyone?

[Briony32]

I'd say you could easily get a 4 bed for that price in Banbury. If you are looking for somewhere a bit more rural/country but not too remote, try some of the villages in between Banbury and Oxford, like Adderbury, Bloxham or Deddington (might be a tad expensive but worth looking). They have a great community feel and all that Banbury has to offer (shops, cinema, softplay etc) nearby. There are good private schools nearby, one in Bloxham springs to mind. There are generally lots of young families in the area, don't know much about soft play (sorry its been a little while since I lived round there), but there will be church hall playgroups etc, summer/autumn/christmas fetes....as soon as your little one starts nursery/school you will find there is life out there. Villages to the north of Banbury, like Cropredy (very very popular for familes, good primary, and has a yearly music festival called the Fairport Convention) and Great Bourton are lovely, and you get a bit more for your money than villages towards Oxford.
Chipping Norton might be worth exploring too.
Don't know much about Witney, sorry.
HTH

[celestialsquirrels]

Banbury is a dump I'm afraid. Witney much nicer, more going on, better shopping, better schools, closer to oxford, much less crime. No contest IMO.
I live in oxford so have no allegiance to either town fwiw.

[Briony32]

just dreaming....
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48715607.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-31951539.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47025116.html?premiumA=true

[BadRoly]

We moved from Banbury 4.5 years ago. We lived there for 8 years and at the time wouldn't have lived anywhere else but now when we go to visit, it does seem a bit shabby!

That said, we moved there just the day before dc1 was born. I walked into town and my HV challenged me to visit a new toddler group each week to try and make friends. She gave me a list and there was at least one each day before starting on the music groups/water babies/massage more formal things. The leisure centre used to do the best thing ever for toddlers - baby bounce - with a bouncy castle and loads of trikes/little cars etc though a bit scary for those with their first babies .

I'm actually feeling very nostalgic now as I think of our time in Banbury! We were actually very happy there

[TakingTheStairs]

Oh thanks for the house links Briony32, they look gorgeous.

I 100% do not want to live in a village, I have lived in capital cities all my life and would really struggle in a village. That sounds really up myself! It's not meant to, I just know that I'm not able for semi rural life at all.

Celestialsquirrels, thats really good to know. Witney does look amazing and your info is exactly what I need. Thank you.

[TakingTheStairs]

thanks BadRoly. Sounds like you had a lovely time there.

[Auntimatter]

What about Woodstock or Chipping Norton? Dead easy commute from both.

Chipping Norton is not as nice as you'd expect (IMHO) but it has lovely housing. Woodstock is absolutely lovely: beautiful houses, great bus route, Blenheim Palace on your doorstep (almost literally: Town Gate just appears at the end of the road), nice restaurants. I love it, can you tell?
Didn't live there but did live nearby.

[Auntimatter]

Woodstock is kind-of a village but not semi-rural at all. It's busy all year round.
(Will be Very busy soon for the Duke's funeral).

[Briony32]

The surrounding villages of Banbury have low crime rates and are truely beautiful - you might be missing a trick if you discard them straight away. M40 and train link to Oxford is pretty good, plus no travel to/from the motorway at the Banbury end.
I don't think Banbury is a dump at all. It's a historic bustling market town. The south part of the town has low crime levels (Oxford Road area, Bodicote, Bloxham Road), although I think your budget will dictate that you live in the nice part of town. Avoid Bretch Hill, but you won't go anywhere near it with your budget.
Oxford is lovely but pretty expensive so you might find yourself in the 'wrong' part of town with your budget, and not safe in all areas so I would do your research carefully. Blackbird Leys for example!!!

[Briony32]

oops sorry, just seen that you don't want to be in a village. I'll quieten down!

[rubyflipper]

Horses for courses, but I know what you mean about village life. I lived in London all my life and being in a village was like a slow death.
I moved from London to a village and lasted 6 months before moving to the relative hustle and bustle of Banbury. It's definitely not all a dump, thank you very much.
If you keep to the south side of town there are some gorgeous period properties (I live in one). I love the fact that I can turn left and be in town within 10 minutes; turn right and I'm in open countryside in 15 minutes.
Town centre is fine for day-to-day stuff.

[Briony32]

Yes, lovely period properties in Banbury. Don't forget that you can go to Bicester Village for more upmarket shopping, although I found Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury had everything I needed...Gap, Debenhams, M and S. And I don't think you need to feel too remote in a village, especially if it's near to a town centre ( l lived a 10 min drive away from Banbury so had the best of both worlds). In fact, I would say that some of the villages are on an equal or better footing when it comes to 'life'. Adderbury and Great Tew are full of city types.

[TakingTheStairs]

thanks so much, this information is brilliant!

[mrspuddleduckie]

Chipping Norton, Woodstock, Witney, Burford, Bladon, Long Hanborough

Avoid Banbury, Carterton

[rootypig]

Moving from London, I would look at Oxford proper. Can I ask why you aren't?

[Lovelydiscusfish]

You might struggle in Oxford for a nice four bed house in a nice area on your budget, strange as it sounds -friends of ours have just bought a nice Edwardian four bed in Headington for more like 850k.
Your money in Banbury, Bicester or Brackley, say, will get you something much nicer. I like all of these towns. The state secondary school in Brackley is better than any others round here, I think. The best private schools to be honest are probably the Oxford ones.

[joanofarchitrave]

I agree with Woodstock, can you stretch the budget at all?high street house

Again, slightly stretched budget, sorry, and you'd have to wedge the kids into 3 bedrooms This is on an amazing road. It's a short distance but tricky commute to the centre of Oxford (easy by bus or bike if you're fit), catchment area for good primary and secondary, moderately OK-ish for all the Oxford privates including the Europa language free school (if you're moving from London I don't think you will think it is far), but lots of green space all around you. Probably not 'you' but do have a look.

[joanofarchitrave]

Oh, forgot to say, it's also pretty close to the A34 for a straightforward commute to Enstone!

[Auntimatter]

Enstone is on the A44.

[rootypig]

Agree re budget - but £550k would get you a reasonable size terrace in east Oxford and tbh, moving from London and being a city person, I think the location benefits are worth more than the house. Just my tuppence (former Londoner and Oxforder )

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I love Banbury, it's got a reasonable number of independent shops and businesses which is pretty rare these days. We decided we wouldn't risk the state schools there which are very variable! If you have the option for private that's much less of an issue though.
Driving into Oxford can be terrible, the traffic is dire!

[Lottiedoubtie]

Banbury isn't a dump at all. It's something people bizarrely like to say about it though. Generally people who've never lived in an actual dump

[TheLeftovermonster]

Woodstock is ideal commute-wise and pretty too, but may be too quiet.

I'd look at Oxford too (the North parts) - particularly if you're a city type. Lots more activities and stuff to do. Cosmopolitan feel, culture, museums etc. But you may have to settle for a slightly smaller house.

[TakingTheStairs]

Thanks all so much. I'm going to have a look at east and north Oxford too. I don't mind a smaller house for a better location.