West Oxfordshire - what's it like? Might have to move there for work purposes...

[GustyCrusset]

Don't know the area well at all but a possible move has been mooted due to husband's job. We've two children under three who would be a big factor in where we ended up. Is there anywhere nice and friendly for young families with fairly reasonably priced property?! Interested to hear your views!

[notnotnee]

Hi, I live in West Oxon and love it. I am currently living in a small village called Standlake. Beautiful but VERY expensive. Just about to move to Witney. It is a lovely old market town with lots to do for both young and old. I would recommend it to anyone.

[RobotHamster]

Where are you moving from? Prepare to be freaked out by the house prices.

[SocksRock]

Another WestOxon resident here - lovely part of the country, we are really happy here :-) I live in a village south of Witney and it's fab. Look carefully at the schools, Oxfordshire operate catchment areas, some of which are historical so your nearest may not be your catchment (although almost certainly will be if you choose a village).

If your husband is commuting into Oxford be warned the traffic is hideous. I used to work in Kidlington and that was just about bearable.

[SocksRock]

Most of the village schools have good reputations - if you want to move to a town, Witney is probably the best bet. Blake's School on the Cogges estate and St Mary's Infants/The Batt juniors seem to have the best reputation currently although West Witney Primary is also good - I have friends with children at all of those who are really happy. Of the village schools, it depends if you are looking for small or large. Brize Norton, Leafield and Finstock only take a handful of children each year as they are tiny schools, but there are plenty of others who take more.

[GustyCrusset]

Thanks for the really helpful replies! Husband's work would be in Witney funnily enough so it's good to hear some good reports on the town. We'd be moving from Essex so the house prices don't freak me out too much, however it looks like the chances of upsizing any time soon would be slim to none ;-) What's employment like in the area? Where to Witney dwellers (and surrounds) tend to work? I'd need to work too (currently commute to London which will obviously no longer be feasible...)

[MooseyMoo]

I love the Cotswold stone houses in Witney. There is a train station at Long Hanborough which goes to Paddington. There's a new station in progress in Kidlington that will go to Marylebone.

People I know work in Oxford, Kidlington and Witney.

[Sinkingfeeling]

Witney is a lovely market town with a good mixture of independent shops and high-street names. Schools are generally good too, but property prices are high as everyone has said (though probably not as high as Oxford). There are some nice parks and great places to visit in the area with young dc (Cotswold Wildlife Park, Cogges Farm, Burford Garden Centre - it has a mini cinema in its toy dept).

Avoid working in Oxford if you can - your commute will be bad unless you're able to leave at the crack of dawn. There are always very long tailbacks on the A40 on the way into Oxford in the mornings. Traffic in Oxford moves at a snail's pace and there are what seems like constant roadworks. Nowhere to park either. Definitely better to look for a house and job for yourself as close to Witney as possible IMHO.

[Sinkingfeeling]

- allergic to Guardian readers, according to the Guardian! [[http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/may/08/lets-move-witney-oxfordshire-tom-dyckhoff]]

[GustyCrusset]

Thanks again for the really helpful info. Interesting article there sinking! Class myself as a bit of a guardian reader...!