Berkshire or Oxfordshire? Help me move!

[netstaller]

Wise Mumsnetters please give me some advice!

I'd like to move from our rough(ish) area of London to Berkshire or Oxfordshire for a better quality of life. I'm still going to have commute to London three days per week. Our (me, DP, DS age 2 and DS age 1) budget is max 600k, and ideally we'd like a 4 bed house with a decent garden (dream would be with space for an outside office) and not too far from a train station and near good schools.

Ideally somewhere with nice playgrounds and high street. Could anyone please suggest some suitable areas? Thank you! x

Burnham borders on Slough, but isn't part of it.

Not officially, but pretty much!

It has a pretty high street. grammar school, mainline station.

If you’re looking at Oxfordshire, might be worth looking st north Bucks and MK too.

We were looking to move out of London and originally thought we would end up in Banbury or surrounding villages or Thame or even Woking and surrounds. Couldn’t find anywhere we particularly liked.

Re-evaluated train journeys and realised that MK would work well for us - now have lived here very happily for over a decade. Friendly, lots for families, good schools, very green, decent commuting and more. You’d get a great house close to the station for your budget.

Couple of areas to avoid but guessing most places have dodgy areas to avoid even with nice areas too.

Worth having a look and seeing if the commute could work for you and if it does, have a look around!

I would look as another poster said to the West of Reading along the A4 - Thatcham/Newbury/Burghfield. Plenty for your money and lots of very good schools. I like Reading but there are some very good schools and some not so good schools and pressure on school places. Bracknell is similar. Wokingham is better but your money won’t go as far.

I’d second considering Bucks. Loads of lovely villages. The oxford villages mentioned are also great.

Don't think you will get what you want in Windsor and possibly not maidenhead. You may get an ex council property if that's not an issue for you. Bracknell, Warfield, Reading, Newbury you would though. Possibly areas of North Ascot and Sunninghill too

Bracknell schools are a mixed bag so research carefully, particularly for secondary schools.

Bucks still has grammar schools, which can be a big plus, hence my suggestion of Burnham. Taplow is also worth considering, as is Farnham Royal. They are all in Buckinghamshire but only just.

Downside of Farnham Royal is that it is quite a hike to the station - about 4 miles to Slough, or about 2.5 to Burnham.

Tilehurst, just outside of West Reading and has a station that goes into Reading within 3 minutes and then you can get a fast train into London. Pangbourne is a little bit further out but also nice and on the same train line.

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone, please keep them coming. Reading is looking like the best bet at the minute and your local insights are invaluable! Wallingford looks good too, but more of a faff to get to London...

If commute time on the train is important, definitely check timetables. There's a big difference between eg 30 mins fast train from Reading and a stopping service from Tilehurst, equally Windsor you need to change at Slough to get to Paddington, or it's a v slow direct service to Waterloo.

Also - something a lot of ppl don't think about if they aren't from the area - do consider the Heathrow flight path. Windsor is lovely but there's nothing quite like having to stop mid-conversation at a summer bbq as a 747 comes into land...

What is it about your current area you don't like OP? Reading is great but if you're looking for more of a countryside feel you'll need to live outside the town which means a drive to the station (and possibly a budget challenge). What's your max commute time?

Driving to a station can be a PITA because usually there isn't anywhere to park, unless you are very early. Check out car parking costs as well as train fare.

Windsor and nearby villages like Datchet and Horton can be noisy.

Tring is lovely.

Tring is lovely but in Hertfordshire.
You unleashed my inner Phil or Kirstie and I found this
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65732391.html

Twyford, east of Reading
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76982311.html

If you prefer somewhere quieter, this is walkable to the train station, and there are fast-ish trains to Paddington, not just slow local trains.

Twyford is small and quite nice, couple of shops and restaurants, a large Waitrose. Good schools, both primary and secondary.

Hungerford (Berks I think) has a train station and lovely high street!

If you go for Reading - fast trains to Paddington are about 25 minutes. Reading on the Waterloo line takes over an hour, which is partly why some places will be a bit cheaper.

Does it have to be Oxon/Berks? Basingstoke to Waterloo is about 45 minutes on a fast train, and that line gives you the option of places like Hook and Fleet, though again, you might be pushing your budget.

Well.... I would say No to Reading Schools unless you can get into Reading Boys or Kendrick which are both amazing and Grammar Schools.

Yes to Newbury and Thatcham - the secondary schools are amazing - I would say some of the best state school education that is available in our country - in particular St Barts (Newbury) and Kennet (Thatcham).

Glad you like the look of Wallingford @netstaller. We moved here (outing!) from Berkshire about 10 years ago and it is a wonderful place to live. If you want a change of pace from London then I would check it out. Schools are great, lovely river walks, independent shops etc. It is close to Oxford which is obviously an amazing city. We have found it very friendly.

You would need to go to Didcot for the London train- there is a bus and it’s about a 15 min drive.

I live in Woodley (about 10 mins drive from Reading) and love it here, but would be a bus to Reading or train from Earley Station (2 mins) to Reading fast train or Waterloo (75ish mins).

From what I've heard, Reading Council schools are lacking compared to those under Wokingham. Exceptions are the grammar schools, but Kendrick in particular is super selective.

Caversham is a better bet if you don't mind a cycle/walk as traffic can be a nightmare over the Bridge.

This insight is so helpful, I'm narrowing the search down and we are visiting the centre of reading, caversham and Newbury and tomorrow to check them out! Please do share any other local knowledge you have, it's been so helpful so far. I didn't know Newbury existed but looks like it has some lovely properties! My DP has to visit London once a week ish and would need to drive with his work kit, can traffic be a nightmare from caversham?

Forgot the most important thing! Meant to say thank you so much to everyone who had posted so far x

If you're looking at central Reading, you probably don't want Oxford Road.