Living in Bicester, Oxfordshire?

[honestmum]

Hello, we are considering a move to Oxfordshire from Northants and are attracted to the good commuter links from Bicester to London where both myself and my partner work. So far, we have had a look around and seen lots of new estates being built. Does anyone live here and can tell us more pls? As far as we can see it looks nice, traffic near the outlet seems to be heavy, the town centre looks ok etc. I am interested in good primary DD Yr 3 and secondary schools DD Yr 8 if anyone has any knowledge of schools, the new estates or nice areas/or to avoid, good/bad points it would be useful, thanks.

I have visited the town centre many times and it looks lovely - great restaurants and atmosphere. Unsure about schools though?

Thanks before we had considered it, we had only been to the outlet and then back out. Would be interested to hear more on living here (things to do for teenagers) and of course schools pls.

I have no personal experience, but there was a similar thread recently with comments about drug problems. Might be worth doing an advanced search.

I used to work in Bicester and found it a pleasant little place But not many activities for kids plus imho too many houses being built without corresponding increase in social facilities.
Wasn't too impressed by the secondary school.
Good luck

Expensive city and not great I'm afraid

You might also want to consider Kidlington if you are going to be commuting into London - closer to central Oxford and some good schools

I lived there for 15 years and raised my now 19 and 6 year old there until we had enough and moved to Buckingham. Much better!

My eldest was robbed of his phone in the park on the housing estate where we lived, we came across needles in the nature reserve near my house and on the path next to the school my son attended and this, along with the volume of housing being built but few extra facilities all added to us wanting somewhere different.

Buckingham is lovely! Train from MK to Euston (35 mins), train station opening in Winslow (5 or so miles from Buckingham) in a couple of years, great walks, outstanding schools, a nice town centre and good choice of supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Waitrose) or pop to Bicester or MK for further shops. Friendly community, surrounded by beautiful countryside, always something on.

We've now been here 6 years and have never looked back.

If Bicester is a definite for you, we had a good experience with Bure Park Primary School and The Cooper School for secondary. Great transport links from both stations. Sports centre with pool. Range of churches. The town centre has a good range of shops (a few empty) and a large Sainsbury's or the new Tesco Superstore. Bicester Avenue has Wyevale, Laura Ashley, Hobbycraft etc. Some great restaurants too.

A friend moved into, and then quickly out of, the new Kingsmere estate due to lack of community feel and a few petty crime issues but I guess you might find that anywhere and the estate is still being built. Every estate in Bicester has its good and bad points. I guess it comes down to price, gut feel and school catchments.

We enjoyed 13 out of our 15 years there. It just wasn't right for us personally in the last 2. Had family who lived there 30 years and love it and will never leave.

Thanks all, I have seen a few nice options in Buckingham. Any recommendations for primary/sec schools there please?

Why the AIBU?

It used to be a lovely little town but it's been so over-developed. The traffic from Bicester Village shopping causes quite a problem too.

I've lived in Buckingham all my life. now I live in a little village a few miles outside. but I work in Bicester, both are nice places but prefer Buckingham.

Bicester village traffic is a pain although I don't know the town well. Trains from there to London are good though into Marylebone.

Buckingham is nicer and there are several good primary schools including plenty of village schools although the main secondary isn't great. If you are happy to pay at secondary there are good choices like Stowe, Beachborough, Akeley Wood and Thornton, which is girls only. There is a Waitrose, a Tesco, a small Sainsbury's and lots of independent shops. It's a small friendly town but with John Lewis and other big shops in Milton Keynes.

Buckingham is 25 minutes from Milton Keynes and trains are 35 minutes into Euston so it depends on where you work in London. It's a busy commuter route and parking at the station is expensive.

Bicester is generally considered a place to live if you want more house for your buck, but not necessarily a great place to live. I live in Witney (30 mins away). Kidlington is good but house prices are more expensive due to its proximity to Oxford. Bicester is undergoing a massive expansion so I agree with the earlier comment on concerns over infrastructure.

We looked at both Bicester and Buckingham when we moved down here 4 years ago. Plumped for Buckingham in the end as it had a much nicer feel. Love living here, nice area, lovely countryside, good local shopping but near to Milton Keynes for the larger stores. OH commutes from Milton Keynes station. Secondary schools can be tricky ime as we have the eleven plus system. DD passed but as we were a late application couldn't get into Royal Latin (oversubscribed) which is in Buckingham and gets the bus everyday to a grammar school in Aylesbury, long journey time. DS didn't and went to Buckingham Upper school, Its not as good as the grammars but ok and he enjoyed his time there. He did well at Gces, but has decided not to go back for sixth form due to lack of choice in subjects, they weren't offering some he wanted at A level. But he's really loving his new school in Milton Keynes. I know kids travel in from Milton Keynes for the grammar schools but don't know if they can go the other way, pre sixth form.

I used to live in Bicester and loved it. Lived in Langford Village and the primary school there was highly sought after so houses always commanded a bit of a premium. Doctor's surgery there was very good too. Bure Park is also a good housing area and the Primary School there has a good reputation. Their little parade of shops was much better's than Langford Village. Both areas were a good walk to the train station depending exactly on where you lived. Bicester Village is great for weekend jobs for 16+ year olds but that's about it really. Apart from the cinema now in the centre of town, that's all there is for teenagers. They either go to Oxford or MK. And, the traffic around Bicester Village can be horrendous. MK is much larger than Bicester but I think it is pretty dire tbh (and I lived there pre-children) although having a big range of the usual shops on your doorstep is handy. Bicester is great for getting to London by train, or Oxford or MK or Birmingham or on the M40. Brilliant traditional butcher (Peter Goss) and the most amazing pub - The Muddy Duck at Hethe. Don't have any direct experience of secondary schools in Bicester but have friends whose children went to Gosford Hill Kidlington and were very happy with it. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55851679.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Fmap.html%3FincludeSSTC%3Dtrue%26sortType%3D2%26viewType%3DLIST%26channel%3DBUY%26index%3D0%26radius%3D0.0%26numberOfPropertiesPerPage%3D24%26locationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E151%23_includeSSTC%3Don%26auction%3Dfalse%26includeSSTC%3Dtrue%26locationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E151%26numberOfPropertiesPerPage%3D24%26previousSearchLocation%3DBicester%26radius%3D0.0%26searchLocation%3DBicester%26searchType%3DSALE%26sortType%3D2%26useLocationIdentifier%3Dfalse%26viewType%3DLIST%26box%3D-1.14780%2C-1.13342%2C51.88304%2C51.89309%26popupPropertyId%3D55851679&fromMap=true

Thanks for all the honest and helpful comments they are useful and I will certainly do some research on the schools.

Waddesdon school (20mins ) away from Bicester nice village great secondary school , pre-school and primary decent pub (long dog) and couple of restaurants plus the estate is lovely for walks

Bicester's ok for car links to London, but the only place in Bucks that is awesome for commuters is Milton Keynes. Can get into Central London in 30 mins via Virgin. Minimal traffic jams. Great cycle and bus links but walking isn't doable everywhere.

Hi anyone live in the kingsmere new development?

Thanks