To ask if you'd choose Oxford, Cambridge or Reading to live in?

[Luffer]

It's more likely we will live in a village outside one of the three. Choosing between the three and finding it tricky.

We live in the Chilterns between London and Oxford and love it. Beautiful villages, countryside, excellent schools yet commutable to London, Oxford, Reading, Milton Keynes etc.

I have lived in Oxford and West and East of Reading.

What about Windsor? Much lovelier than Reading and cheaper than Oxford. Lots of good preps, Lambrook would be my choice (DS was going to go there before we moved). Wellington for Senior.

We know lots of people who have been in your boat who have moved out here to Dorset. You can buy a huge and beautiful farmhouse with money leftover for a place to stop over in London. The schools are totally laid back though, pressure just isn't a thing, which I know not everybody fresh out of London is ready for.

Wargrave

Windsor is lovely. I would add Englefield Green, Ascot, Sunningdale and Virginia Water to the list.

Reading is a bit of a dump.

Thank you Thames for sticking up for Reading!

Would it be feasible to live in between oxford and reading in a place like Goring and still get a child to some of the preps like Abingdon/The Manor or would the traffic make it not worth it? If you are looking at those Abingdon schools then you might want to look at their bus service here to get an idea of how far people come, the bus might also be useful if you are working and can't always take to school. I do think Goring would be feasible but potentially quite a long drive in rush hour. When you are looking at places do note that the A34 is very often at a standstill in the mornings (and evenings, and random times in the middle of the day...). I would probably look at a closer village e.g. Wittenham or somewhere along the Ridgeway (e.g. East Hendred) that is in striking distance of Didcot if you need a station for commuting. Alternatively I would look at a village between Abingdon and Oxford e.g. Cumnor where you can get children to Abingdon or Oxford schools and can use public transport/bike to get into Oxford easily.

Thames you’ve made me feel warm and fuzzy. Let everyone think RDG is a shit hole, frankly the house prices are high enough as it is without more people wanting to live here

High 5s Nixon

Live in a village south of Cambridge. Yes traffic is a pig ( I leave for work before 7) but some lovely countryside and brilliant opportunities for state school kids as well as more obvious private schools.

Well, r u any further forward OP!!? I'd Be more confused after all these posts!!

(1 vote for Cambridge here!)

Well, I don't know Cambridge, but I live in Reading and I've worked in Oxford (for the council). I love Oxford, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I live in Caversham Heights, in a road of 60 houses where maybe 1 or 2 comes up for sale each year, my NDN moved two houses down and another moved to a parallel street, just to upsize. When people get a house here, they tend to stay. We also have a good community, annual street parties, and low crime.

I don't have children but my neighbors tell me that the schools, both council and private are excellent.

Reading town centre is not bad, OK it's mostly chains, but if you know where to look there are some interesting independents. The farmers' market is pretty good.

Caversham is a nice little shopping centre, Waitrose and some independents.

Crossing the Thames from south Oxfordshire is a pain, I can walk to Reading station faster than I can drive it.

Hope this helps!

Isn't Caversham hard to get out of if commuting? One bridge over the Thames.

Would it be feasible to live in between oxford and reading in a place like Goring and still get a child to some of the preps like Abingdon/The Manor or would the traffic make it not worth it?

Abingdon School and St Helens are extremely popular from Goring. from Year 7. There is a bus. The vast majority of those who pay for private secondary still attend state primary schools. Of those small number who don't, most seem to go for Cranford/Moulsford. Or Oratory. All very near by.

Yes the traffic from Caversham to the centre of Reading can be very bad. I have met friends in the centre of Reading in the early evening before (6 ish) and my door to door journey from Goring (walk/train/walk) has been quicker than their drive!

@irregularegular any tips on which are good primary schools in and around Goring?

I only know about the local state primary schools. Goring and Streatley primary schools are both generally well thought of. There is also South Stoke but that is absolutely tiny. Some people like that, others not. And Whitchurch.

To be honest I don't think you can go very far wrong with the village primaries around here, but it depends what you are looking for. Like most state schools they are struggling with space, funding etc.

Goring is often over subscribed. I don't know how old your children are but getting a place after Reception is likely to be difficult.

Saffron Walden is gorgeous - not far from Cambridge (which I also love, but agree about traffic and houses).

Nixen that's what I'm talkin about. Sadly I think Reading may well become a victim of its own success - I sincerely hope not

I grew up in Reading, within walking distance of the town centre and it's not that bad. There are some lovely areas and some not so lovely areas just like anywhere else. Avoid Cemetery Junction,Whitley Wood, bits of Woodley and Tilehurst.

DH is from the Basingstoke side of Reading and there are some beautiful little villages around there and you can be in the countryside or on the M3 within minutes.

My dad lived in Twyford which is near Henley and again, you can be in posh Henley, on the motorway, in Reading town centre or at Ascot quickly and easily.

Oxford like a shot, we live 20 minutes outside and my retirement plan is to move into the city itself.

What are the primary/prep options like in Windsor? It looks like a good location as cross rail will come through slough but I'm not sure we'd get a big enough house/garden.

Windsor is on the 3 tier system. There are some really good first and middle schools.

Co-ed preps- St Georges (central), Lambrook, Bishopsgate (further out). Girls- Upton House. Boys- St Johns Beaumont, Papplewick. All good.

Could I add a vote for pangbourne and surrounding villages? Have family there and visit regularly. Lovely area, good transport links.

OP the stuff about the east wind in Cambridge coming straight off the Russian Steppes is a complete myth. Any quick check of an atlas will tell you that. There are huge mountain ranges in the way! Plus in the UK, the prevailing wind is from the West, not the East.

Almost all the state secondaries in Cambridge and the surrounding villages are good/outstanding. So you could send your dc to the local school and save yourself a small fortune. I suspect the same is true of Oxford although I don't know it at all.

Thanks to you lot I've added Pangbourne, Gorging, Henley-on-Thames to the list to go see next. If people have suggestions for villages between oxford and reading I'd love to hear them. DH nixed Windsor and Ascot for airplane noise.