Any experiences living in Kingsmere, Bicester

[ForeverYoung11]

We have the possibility of moving to Kingsmere, Bicester - and due to the wild rental market at the moment (basically have to online view and offer the day something comes on the market it seems), and time constraints re schools - we might end up needing to make an offer on a house without having been there.... argh!

Could anyone give me their thoughts and experiences of living in Kingsmere? I’d be so, so grateful to get some real life perspectives.

We’re moving with 2 little ones (3 and 5), and would probably be staying a couple of years. Kids would be at school near Oxford but this is the closest to it that we can afford to live. Basically just want somewhere safe feeling (top priority!), with playgrounds/green spaces within reach (next priority..).

Thank you in advance!

Ps I’ve been looking at historic posts on here which mention anti social behaviour, drug use etc, so I’d be really grateful to have any views about whether this is still the case. (... obviously I’m hoping no! 🙈)

I don’t live there myself but have friends who do who are very happy and have been since the house built

I gree up in a village about 5 miles away so know the area quite well

It certainly seems family friendly, has plenty of green spaces and isn’t far from Oxford, Thame, Buckingham, Aylesbury etc

It’s still being built so will be a growing town which will be getting bigger and bigger for quite a while

I couldn’t comment on anti social behaviour as no experience myself

Only thing I can say - as a visitor I get terribly lost finding my way around kingsmere

It’s like a maze in places

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment @Onedropbeat ! So grateful and that’s really reassuring!

Lol I think all new build places are mazes of the highest degree! I went on a viewing in a place that had no phone signal yesterday and literally drove up and down every street and was still none the wiser where on earth I was

It doesn’t help that to begin with the roads aren’t even available on sat nav so it’s just guess work!

I have a feeling most roads there would be on maps by now though

Bicester village attracts a lot of people in summer but is still quite a useful place to be near

There are good country pubs a short drive away

It’s probably only 20-30 minutes drive to the cotswolds and as soon as you’re outside of Bicester area it’s just lovely roads just for a leisure drive

Links to Oxford are brilliant and I love a day wandering around Oxford so that’s always a plus for me

You could try joining the Bicester chat facebook page, planty of people to ask. www.facebook.com/groups/597327533697836