Moving to Abingdon advice/reassurance!

[redgirl1]

Hi all, I am new to Mumsnet and hope that I can have the benefit of your wisdom!
I currently live in Headington with DH & DD. We are moving to the Spring Rd area in Abingdon. I am excited to be moving somewhere new, we live and work in Headington and I feel like I never leave. However I am feeling a little anxious about a few things and I would like your thoughts.

The first is probably totally justified...the commute. Have to go to Headington 4 days per week. Will keep DD with her childminder in Oxford so she will be coming along for the ride. What are the best times to avoid the road? And is it as hideous as everyone says?

Does everyone like living in Abingdon? Is there lots do with kids and any good groups on Fridays? I would like to meet other Mums as too my surprise I found it really hard in Oxford when I had thought I would meet people easily.

Welcome to Abingdon redgirl1!

I think it's a lovely place, there was loads to do with DC when mine were little, lots of toddler groups and activities. Music at the Music Centre by St Nick's church and swimming at Kingfisher school were both very good. Mine are 12 and 14 now so I don't have up to date info though I'm afraid. NCT has always been very active in the area and was very welcoming when mine were little. I'm sure someone can tell you what todder groups or activies run on a Friday.

I commute to Headington every day. If you are leaving from Spring Road I would advise avoiding the town centre, if it was me I would head for Wotton Road and Dunmore Road rather than the A34 at Marcham if you are travelling in rush hour. I leave at 7 am and have no problems getting in but sit in the traffic on the way home at 4.30 pm. Recently I've found it quickest to go round the ring road as all the road works have gone. I always go over Boars Hill as well, I've got stuck on the A34 too many times and once you are on the slip road you are committed, going over Boars Hill you have 3 alternative routes back if the main road has a problem (can you tell I've spent years rushing back in time for the DC?!). At the moment it takes me 30 -35 minutes to get home.

If I have to go in later in the mornings I go through Kennington as the A34 slip and Boars Hill both queue onto the Hinksey roundabout and it can take an age to get through. Kennington can be busy but keeps moving which makes me feel better!

Thanks BB! I went to the house this weekend to measure up a few things and I cant wait to move in!

I will probably leave home at around 7.45 so hopefully it wont be too bad at that time, although if I find going a little earlier makes a big difference I may start earlier. 4.30 it is the time I would be coming back so that is good to know about Boars hill, I think I need to get my map out!

Def go north out of abingdon and back in again rather than marcham. i live off oxford road in the north and head to cowley every morning (though i cycle at least twice a week) at about 7.40amish (just after i've dropped ds at nursery). takes me c.15mins to cowley in the car - I always go through kennington in the morning, so up past lodge hill garage, down bagley wood road etc. on the way back, it's so much better now the sainsbury's roundabout is done but from cowley, I also come the back way, around grenoble road as sometimes there's a back up on the ring road from littlemore to heyford hill.
second what bensonbunny says about boars hill - i always go around that way rather than A34 on the way back, quicker and less likely to go wrong (and you can nip up to the outside lane up to the roundabout). I leave about 5.30-6pm in the evening and it takes me longer to get home, but only 20-25mins.

cycling takes just under 30 mins.

Thanks both, this is really useful. It sounds like its going to be a lot easier than I imagined, hoorah!

I work in Headington too and three of my colleagues do the Abingdon commute. It's been very rare for them to be late in. I know they all avoid A34 at peak times but head that way in off peak (shift workers). If they are late it's usely the queuing traffic off the ring road into Horspath Driftway/The Slade that is the problem.

I do the commute from the north of the county and listen to road reports for the whole journey. Practically every day there is always an incident on Marcham Interchange or at Hinksey - always northbound.

I live in the Spring Rd area and I think it is a great place for kids. How old is your DD? Strangely I also work four days a week and not Fridays. There is still Music at the Music Centre by St Nick's church on a Friday and Creepie Crawlies at the Leisure Centre is good, lots of toys and a bouncy castle. I work in Cowley so similar commute, I actually find it makes quite a difference to leave at 7.30 rather than 7.45. Best of luck and welcome to the area