What is Banbury like?

[Northlondonmum1980]

Hello!
I just posted a thread on ideas for relocation.
I like the look of Banbury and liked the bloxham road development ( it had a lovely quaint street of shops nearby) and also Bloxham village.
I viewed some houses in Hardwick and Bretch Hill and I wasn't sure the areas were very nice by then the agents told be towards the villages and Bloxham road is nicer.

Could I have some local insight please? Locals and newbies! I'm looking to move by early summer.

[Northlondonmum1980]

Anybody?

[Xiola]

I moved to the area December 2015 and bought a house in Bloxham. It's good living in a large village as it has all of the facilities we need; doctors, dentist, shop, petrol station, a couple of good food pubs, fish & chip shop, hair dressers etc. Plus it has a good primary school and both a state and a private secondary school. All the people I've spoken to locally are very friendly.

[Northlondonmum1980]

Thanks Xiola,

That's really good to know. It does indeed, sound like it has a lot of facilities for a village! So far, I have two areas then to look at houses in Banbury!

Hopefully, we can find something for the baby by the summer!!

[MummysBusy]

Not sure if you've found anywhere, but you are correct that Bretch Hill is not a great place to live. Hardwick is a bit better. If you're still looking, absolutely take your agent's advice and go for one of the villages outside Banbury. Banbury itself is a bit run down and you'll find yourself spending most of your time elsewhere. We only go in to use the library or if there's an event on. The shopping is abysmal and, like many high streets, the shops are half vacant. There is a new shopping complex planned for Christmas that has a few chain restaurants and a cinema, though. We have a new Waitrose opening up around the same time.

You don't mention what your budget is, but my favourite villages are Deddington, Bloxham and Chipping Norton. Have you thought about Leamington Spa? about 40 minutes away, looooovely place. We spend a lot of our weekends there.

[MummysBusy]

I just saw another of your posts that said you were of Indian descent and wanted somewhere with an Indian/multicultural community. I don't know if its worth mentioning, but I have seen Melas in Leamington Spa before, possibly there is a sizable community there?

I myself am mixed race (Jamaican/whiteBritish) and have noticed that there is a surprising mix of people in Banbury, but I'm yet to see any cultural celebrations here.