Suggestions for moving to Oxfordshire please.

[Northlondonmum1980]

Hello!
This is my first mumsnet post!
I am currently expecting my first child in a few months and would really appreciate some help and advice on ideas for relocating. I'm currently living in north London but I would like to move to somewhere a little more suburban.
My requirements are;

• suburban with access to shops, schools and a good town centre or high street (nice eateries, cafés, safe vibe)
  
• an aspirational area. Both husband and I are in the education sector so we would love our child to grow up in an area with like minded professionals. I used to live in a small town and I found that (just a social observation, hope I don't offend) many people I went to school with didn't pursue further education or want to get any job outside of the town.
  
• Some kind of transport link to central London. This isn't a must but would be nice
  
• Not too far from the m40 as we travel to see respective parents quite often.
  
• Multicultural to some extent. I'm of an Indian background so I am little afraid of my little one being the only Asian child at school.
  

This is a tough one for us as there's many areas that are full of Indian communities but they don't suit us location wise or some areas are still too "rough" for my comfort levels!

• a "safe"area. Somewhere you don't have to feel afraid going for walks with a pram and not a high crime rate.
  

I'm looking forward to your replies. Am I in cuckoo land asking for too much?

[CheeseCakeSunflowers]

Oxford itself would tick all your boxes. If you are thinking about somewhere a bit smaller how about Thame. It a small unspoilt market town, not far from the M40 with Haddenham and Thame parkway rail station nearby.

[HeyMicky]

Thame is not the least bit multicultural, though. It's certainly aspirational but perhaps not In the way OP means.

Have you a budget, OP?

[CheeseCakeSunflowers]

Yes I agree Thame could not be considered multicultural.

[Northlondonmum1980]

My budget is up to £600k but would be lovely to find something around £400-£500k


I don't need any area to be brimming multiculturally. Just so it's not spot the odd one out or anything

[Northlondonmum1980]

CheeseCakeSunflowers,
Do you think Oxford itself is posh?
On another post, a mumsnetter told me about north Oxford but I'm afraid it's way out of budget. Anything under a million even doesn't get you much there!

Coming from London, I'm sooo looking forward to space and rooms galore!

[Northlondonmum1980]

I did original consider Banbury. But wasn't sure it ticked those boxes.

[MrsBalders]

Hi there,

I'm Oxford born and bred so I hope I can shed some light on this topic.

I grew up in a small town (but it's village size) called Watlington. Lovely close knit town with good primary and secondary school and a place where everyone knows everyone. It doesn't have a huge high street but enough to manage on a day-to-day basis. It's quite central so about 30 minutes to High Wycombe, 40 minutes to Oxford and Reading and only an hour or so into London or Birmingham. Unfortunately it's quite pricey for first time buyers so myself and my husband now live in North Oxfordshire in a village just outside of Banbury.

We love our village and again as enough to get us through day-to-day; and again has a good primary and secondary school in the village. Banbury itself is changing massively and regenerating with lots of high street shops, boutique shops and local (and chain restaurants and cafe's), cinema etc. Again it's right on the M40 so good transport links and also MUCH cheaper than south Oxfordshire so you always get a bit more for your money.

Hope that helps- give me a shout if you want to know any more information!

[CheeseCakeSunflowers]

Oxford varies a lot depending on which part of it you are looking at some parts might be considered posh, likewise some parts might be considered rough. Somewhere like Marston which is a part of Oxford would probably be within your price range.

[Finnellajoe]

Henley?

[Northlondonmum1980]

Not much selling in Marston at the minute.

[Northlondonmum1980]

Ok thanks I'll look into Henley. Could you tell me a bit about it?

[Hometoroost]

Wokingham in Berkshire is good and would tick all your boxes

[Finnellajoe]

Henley is on the River Thames ( think rowing, the Regatta etc) not that close to the M40 though. It's a lovely town, certainly a 'nice' town. It has nice green spaces in the town centre.

I don't live there though so can't help that much, I live in Abingdon, near Oxford. It has its nice bits and has 3 good private schools but the town centre is poor for shopping. Close to Oxford though.

[Northlondonmum1980]

Thanks! My husband thinks Abingdon is nice although I haven't been there myself.

[Northlondonmum1980]

I should have added that I would like to stay within easy reach of the Midlands to visit family. Hence looking at around the oxford, Banbury type areas. I don't know how to edit posts yet!

[Sinkingfeeling]

Henley is lovely - picturesque, plenty going on, has a train station and lots of Londoners have relocated there, but property is extremely pricey. Banbury definitely doesn't have Henley's genteel reputation but has a good range of amenities, property is much more affordable and access to the M40 is much better than Henley.

[Endlesslllove]

Have you looked at the Botley area, just to the west of Oxford? It's close to the railway station, so good access to London. Also has a good range of shops and is popular with families so lots of activities for babies & children. It's close to central Oxford, so you could catch the bus into Oxford very easily (or even walk in from the Binsey end of Botley).

[Northlondonmum1980]

I'm shocked that even £600k doesn't get you get you a big house in the nicer parts of Oxfords that were mentioned above.

I think Banbury is definitely priced more attractively so will look into that.

Hehe at Henley being 'genteel'. Nice phrase!

After looking at prices, my requirements have gone down to 'not chavvy'.

Posh areas come with a premium in every part of the UK I guess!

[SooBee61]

Just to add that they've started building a Waitrose in Banbury on the Southam Road. So things are on the up!

[3teensandatot]

Try Bicester,good schools,nice parks,don't come for a look round on a Saturday,as Bicester village traffic s hectic till about lunchtime.but you learn different ways round town to avoid it.big roundabout nearly finished so it will ease up.pm me if you want more info.have lived here 20 yrs so can advise on areas x

[sophiesiobhan]

Have you considered Charlbury? Just moving there from London and I am wowed by it. Soft landing. Leftwing/liberal vibe. Great community. More like a town but with a village feel and a 15 min train trip from the (walkable) local train station to Oxon/London/Reading etc... This is my first post on mumsnet for about 3 years!

[ButtonLoon]

Your budget would definitely get you a house in many nice parts of Oxford, in addition to Marston it's worth looking at Headington, Risinghurst, and Sandhills. (I'm in Headington and it's very multicultural at the two schools, and aspirational but not hot-housey.)

[refusetosink]

Hi there! I am relocating to UK with my 2 kids aged 6yrs and 9yrs from Singapore this July. I will be working at Oxford Business Park. But need to commute to London too often for work. Pls suggest me some places to live for families between Oxford and London. I would be driving most of the time. Also, need to know the good school areas. Some suggested me High Wycombe, Beaconsfield or Marlow. But I need some expert suggestions from the longtime residents.

[tashpayten]

Hi, we are looking at a move that way as well this summer. We were looking for living on the edge of a slightly bigger town though possibly. I haven’t made my way through the list yet that people have mentioned but wondered if anyone knew anything about Witney, it’s close (15/20 mins) to a school we’ve looked at but we haven’t had chance to visit yet. We did notice there are a fair number of rental properties in the area. Thank you