Moving to village near Wantage?

[StopSpinning]

Hoping that some of you may live near Wantage or even better, a village outside. We are looking to buy a house here but when I mentioned it at work to a couple of people from South Oxfordshire I got a bit of a grimace and asked if I knew South a Oxfordshire in a way that implied I really don't?!

They are correct in that I'm from Kent originally but we are looking to move out of South London where we are now for a more countryside upbringing for our kids. This seemed to fit the requirement given the low commute time from Didcot (hence we can't go too much further out even though we did consider it). Kids are 4 and 6.

So please, Mumsnet, AIBU?

I’m bumping for you OP as we’re also looking in the area and would love to hear what people think.

Thanks BBBear!

I've lived in several places in Oxfordshire including Wantage. Not sure what the concern is about South Oxfordshire. I wouldn't bank on a short commute to Didcot, if there is an accident on the A34 the whole area is gridlocked and that journey, which should take 20 mins could take 2hrs and you can't turn around and go home because it really does become gridlocked.
Which village were you thinking of?

Sorry misread about the commute FROM Didcot but the point about traffic still stands.

Have you considered somewhere around Thame, it also has short commute into London and the schools are good.

Used to live in wantage. Traffic to Didcot station can be awful and take ages. If you want oxfordshire I would recommend somewhere around Thame or Princes Risborough and use children railways to get into London, it’s a far better and less fraught service. Will still be knackering though!

Chiltern railways not children

They may simply be grimacing about the traffic? Which is notoriously bad.

Villages around Didcot itself are lovely (even if Didcot isn't) - Harwell, Chilton, and Hagbourne all very nice.

Villages around wantage might be a little bit of a pain to get to Didcot station and then onto the train every day through traffic - it's a 20 minute drive to the station at least, then parking in the multistorey and a five minute walk to the train - it all adds up.

Otherwise, it's a nice part of the world.

Wantage is nice, has everything you need really. Thame also lovely. I cant comment on schools and crime because I have only ever visited for work. A34 is hell on earth sometimes, the traffic coming off the A34 into Didcot can be heavy at rush hour (I stop off at the tesco for petrol a lot)

If you want the other side of the A34 then Wallingford is also nice.

Train commute to Paddington from Didcot is quick and reliable. Any reason wantage in particular? Lots of people seem to turn their noses up at Didcot itself, but it’s really undeserved- schools are good, secondary better than wantage. Wallingford also a market town to consider. Plenty of nice villages in South Oxfordshire if you are after more of a rural life but can be v pricey!

East Hendred and the area around there is really beautiful and slightly closer to Didcot.

So is Steventon and I've found you a lovely house too :)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61839786.html

PhossyJaw sorry for a minor derail, your username rang a bell but then had me scratching my head. Am I'm correct in thinking its a condition matchmakers used to get or have I made that up?

South ox is a really pretty place. I'd extend your search a bit further south toward Goring /streatley. Goring has a station you can walk to and goes via Reading which will have crossrail (at some point!). It's close to Pangbourne which is a lovely town.

Steventon is very lovely but it has been known to flood and it's close enough to the A34 that you can hear the road noise. That is a beautiful house though although it looks a bit "reasonably" priced for the size and area.

Turbo, yes, you’re right. It’s probably a deeply macabre username, but I’ve been reading a biography of Annie Besant recently...

I grew up in South Oxfordshire (in a village near Wantage) and my parents still live there, so I’ve a reasonably current knowledge. It’s a lovely part of the country. Beautiful countryside, quiet villages and yet in easy reach of Oxford and London. Granted, the roads can be slow and the comments PPs make about queuing to get into Didcot for the train in the rush hour is very much an issue. I wouldn’t want to do it every day, tbh.

Place-wise, Wantage is a nice sized town and has a good range of independent shops. The villages to the west of Wantage (Vale of the White Horse) are lovely - have a look at Uffington, though it may be a bit far from Didcot for you. South Oxon is seen as a bit of a poor cousin compared to the north of the county, but that’s really just snobbery.

Consider Cholsey. Has it’s own station, next to the river, close to Wallingford...

East Hendred is gorgeous, we were very happy there. Two excellent primaries in the village, two (or possibly three) pubs), a post office and village shop, places to jog etc. In the catchment for a secondary in Wantage and an outstanding girls' school in Didcot. Also good independent schools. And a 30 minute drive from Oxford, where there's plenty going on.

I don't know why your colleagues made a face about South Oxfordshire, there's really nothing wrong with the area (I've lived in Oxford and London so can compare!)

Check the flood risk maps carefully. It's why we bought in East Hendred rather than in Abingdon or Wallingford, for example. I also probably wouldn't want to live in Didcot itself, although I have friends who like it. Other villages like Cholsey are also pleasant, although I fell in love with East Hendred because of its easy access to the Ridgeway and the slightly hilly countryside.

Wantage is really nice as a market town, I think.

If you want something more urban, check out villages like Cumnor outside Oxford -- a bike ride to Oxford station. Bicester and surrounding villages might also be worth a look as there is also a fast(ish) train to London.

Oh wow thank you so much for so many replies!

Very much appreciated.

Lots of thinking to do.

Thanks for the house @bankholidaybinger - very nice!

Village options still very open. Interesting about schools in Didcot. We were a bit concerned (and then confused) about the Secondary school in Wantage as it seemed to have a great reputation a few years ago. I'm not sure our eldest child would necessarily be a good fit for all boys in Didcot but I think the new school is called Aureus, it looks interesting.

If we were between Wantage and Didcot, does anyone know what time the traffic into Didcot station gets bad in the morning please? Looking at the train times I think I'd have to get the 7.20 or 7.29 from Didcot. Also, are there seats when it gets to Didcot please?

All advice very much appreciated as not knowing the area combined with my colleagues raised eyebrows had me worried!

Wantage school has a new head, settling in well I think, so I wouldn’t worry too much there. Like many outstanding schools, they hadn’t been inspected for too long. Sixth form is excellent still. Aureus just lost their head, but looks decent.

Traffic would be fine that time of the morning.

Great, thanks @enjoyingscience

Ok I'm feeling calm and serene now about future life choices! I will raise my eyebrows back the next time I see them!

Just need to buy a house, settle the kids and meet some people in the area now (other than your good selves of course!) Probably in that order (I hope!)

Calm and serene sounds excellent! Good luck :)

I’m in Drayton-right next door to Steventon. The house you’ve been sent the link to is extremely pretty but I think it’s well priced because it’s proximity to a main railway line. The trains go through the village very frequently and if you’re living on the wrong side of the level crossings you could get stuck quite regularly.

I drive into Wantage everyday as my son goes to school there. The traffic for me is fine-I leave the house at 0830 to get my son in for 0850. I’m rarely late. Although, as others have said, if the A34 goes down, traffic can be a horrible nightmare.

My DD commutes into London everyday. She catches the the 0659 train from Didcot every morning. At that time in the morning there’s plenty of parking-she normally uses Julian’s, which is directly opposite the station. She also has no problem getting a seat on the train. I’ve asked her about the traffic, she says it normally starts getting bad after 0730.

My DD2 goes to a secondary school in nearby Abingdon (which is lovely) she’s only been there for the sixth form but has been extremely happy there.

Hope I’ve been helpful! Have lived here for 7 years now-I love it! I think it’s a wonderful place to live.