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Original poster

moving to Oxford, any tips

54 replies

goldenpeach · 23/02/2009 09:43

We are considering moving to Oxford, any tips on areas? My partner studied there but he doesn't have much knowledge propertywise. We visited a few times and love Summertown and Florence Park Area, any other tips? We don't have half a million to spend and times are awkward, so not sure what to go for...

OP posts:
Catz · 24/02/2009 10:01

What are your top priorities in looking for an area?

Original poster
goldenpeach · 24/02/2009 22:59

Ah, there's the rub. I am still not sure on what we need to compromise on. Ideally, we'd like love four beds and a garden and high ceilings (I have very tall furniture). Quiet road, up to 2 miles from town centre or station. Trouble is asking prices are totally unpredictable, even in same area...

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choosyfloosy · 24/02/2009 23:07

Have always heard good things about Florence Park area, even though I hardly know it.

I'm in West Oxford myself, which is probably the least characterful part of Oxford (I love it though ). You would certainly struggle to find huge amounts of space around here - I'd imagine there's a lot more space in the other areas you mention. 4 bedroom houses here are mostly 4 bed because they've had a loft conversion done, and the bathrooms are nearly all really tiny. If you do think you would be interested in West Oxford (it's closest to the station so v convenient) CAM/CAT me (contact a mumsnetter) but it doesn't sound like it!

hewlettsdaughter · 25/02/2009 22:24

Summertown and the Florence Park area are quite different - properties in Summertown will be much more expensive, I would have thought. What age is/are your child(ren)- do you need to consider schools?

Original poster
goldenpeach · 26/02/2009 23:29

Thanks for replies so far. My dd is nearly two, but we want to buy a long-term house, I'm aware of asking prices overall, I'm just trying to get info from locals as it's different to understand areas without living in them. We are renting elsewhere and we cannot visit all the time.

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choosyfloosy · 26/02/2009 23:56

I don't really know anyone who is unhappy to be living in Oxford - everyone seems to consider their area the best ever . If I could pick any secondary school in Oxford, it would be the Cherwell School on the Marston Road heading east from Summertown. My impression is that secondary school choice is limited in that catchment area seems to rule (don't know if that's true, really - this is a list of the primaries in the Cherwell Partnership which feed up to Cherwell School). The secondary schools do vary so even though it sounds crazy with a 2-year-old child, I would look at the secondaries a little bit before deciding where to buy.

If I could afford Summertown I would love it, but visiting it from outside it feels a little bit mumsy and suburban - struggling to criticise it though as mumsy and suburban suits me just fine! Probably being cruel as it has loads of nice shops, bars, restaurants and the Ferry Pool and leisure centre a few feet from the high street.

Cooler people than me always seem to recommend Florence Park

Ready4anothercoffee · 27/02/2009 00:52

Both areas have their pros and cons, I have a good friend who lives in Summertown, and she loves it, as for the reasons you gave, plus it is 15 mins bus into town, whereas Florene Park is a little further out.

Having said that, competition to get into the primaries is fierce atm, after failing to get into Phil and Jim, her school of choice, her ds has done a term ast St Barnabas before being taken out and HE'd. He's been struggling due to the class size.

Having said that, with M&S as your corner shop...

I used to work in West Oxford, and it is a really friendly bit of Oxford, but properties are essentially victorian workers terraces. lovely, but cosy.

hewlettsdaughter · 27/02/2009 10:55

I live near Florence Park - feel free to contact me if you want any specific info.

Catz · 27/02/2009 13:16

I'd agree with what others say on Summertown and Florence Park. Summertown is very nice, lots of (quite pricey) bars and places to eat. Schools very competitive and you have to be quit careful about buying in catchment (that said a friend of mine bought in catchment for Phil and Jims and then the catchment changed knocking about £100K off the price of their house they thought!). It is quite suburban and quite expensive. Florence Park a bit 'cooler' friends I know are very happy there. Loads to do with small children. I've no idea about the schools there and whether they're good or bad.

Other places you've not mentioned are:
South Oxford - I've lots of friends round by Marlborough Road area. Very friendly and a nice park. Not much to do in terms of bars/restaurants etc but an easy walk to town. Be careful about flooding.

West Oxford (Botley Road)- ditto but houses tend to be on the small side and be VERY careful about flooding (some roads fine, some awful)

Further out in West Oxford - Perhaps a bit far out for you but I have 3 sets of friends who are buying in Oxford at the moment. All lived in Oxford for 10+yrs and all looking for homes to bring children up. General feeling is that you get much more for your money in Botley/Cumnor/Eynsham road area. Again not a lot of nightlife but nice countryside/village/nice schools if you go towards the Cumnor end (not so much at the Botley/Elm's Rise end) and bigger houses with gardens.

Wolvercote - bit further out than Summertown but again nice for a village feel

Headington - again a bit further out but lots of family houses and more bars/cafes than the two above. Be careful not to live in a student area.

Sorry that's probably made things more difficult not less!

Original poster
goldenpeach · 03/03/2009 19:53

Thanks a lot, having gone to Oxford again I can see what you all mean. Went to see a 'cheaper' house in Summertown but it was really small and needing total gutting and yes, prices are a bit scary out there and not sure I want to pay premium for the high street of nice shops. I have a friend who lives near Florence Park and yes, it's a 'different world' but I noticed the park has nice facilities, while the nearest park to the Summertown house was (ironically) very small and not that nice. My partner is very concerned about the flooding, so most of what is on sale in those areas you mentioned, Catz, has been discounted. So it looks like Florence Park is a possibility. We visited Marston but we didn't feel at home there. Hewlettsdaughter I haven't subscribed to the cat thingy, but if you have any pearls of wisdom, I can post an email address here.

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hewlettsdaughter · 03/03/2009 20:16

goldenpeach, I have contacted you by email.

TarkaLiotta · 03/03/2009 20:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
goldenpeach · 04/03/2009 16:18

Oh, great replies, been on rightmove to look, not a lot at the moment, but have saved some houses. I have an alternative email I don't mind posting online membersfeedback at hotmail.co.uk, in case anybody wants to contact me. I have saved the link to the children's centre. Well, I just have to get the house... With my 'community hat' on, I'm an nct volunteer and breastfeeding helper and I'm hoping to continue my volunteering there.

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hewlettsdaughter · 04/03/2009 16:28

I could have done with your breastfeeding help with both my children, goldenpeach... I'm sure you will like Oxford, and all that is going on in East Oxford. Thanks for your reply off board.

Original poster
goldenpeach · 07/03/2009 16:39

Thanks for helping me in my decision, the only thing missing now is a house in that area (Florence Park), there aren't that many on rightmove and my partner only liked two of them but he is not in love with them, so I hope more come up for sale.

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 25/03/2009 16:26

We are still looking but prices have gone crazy these past few weeks!

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 16/04/2009 14:13

Any more advice? We are still looking.

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hewlettsdaughter · 19/04/2009 13:58

I saw that you had said prices have gone crazy these last few weeks, goldenpeach. Are they still higher than they were? Have you been to look at any houses?

porcupine11 · 19/04/2009 14:15

Have a look at Iffley Village too, easily walkable to Florence Park and just gorgeous. Nestles next to the river. Good mix of old and modern houses. Would be a quick cycle or drive to the station over Donnington Bridge and up Abingdon Road.

I used to live in Summertown. This is a lot posher than Florence Park but was a bit dull sometimes. My friend lives in Florence Park area (Church Hill Road) with 3 young dds and loves it. But I think the secondary schools are not good in that area, as there are areas that are considered 'rough' very close by.

I've also lived in West Oxford, it was my least favourite; no local shops unless you are right down in Botley & that's not such a nice area.

If you can't find house of dreams close to centre of Oxford, perhaps consider Kennington (where I grew up) which is a big village at the end of the Abingdon Road, 15 mins by bus to town centre. Great for young kids and an OX1 postcode. My sisters and I went to St Swithuns School and Matthew Arnold secondary over in Cumnor.

We now live in Abingdon which is amazing for young children, two absolutely superb parks and you get 100% more house for your money!! There is SO much going on for children in Abingdon. Before having ds in Sep I commuted to London from Didcot station, which is 15 min drive from Abingdon.

Original poster
goldenpeach · 21/04/2009 18:31

Hewletts, prices still high but a few EA have closed down branches. We put an offer on a house but it was refused (it was only around 10 per cent off the asking price and we can proceed straight away). So still looking but so far you'd need half a million for anything decent.

Porcupine, thanks for info, my partner has been looking at houses there on rightmove. Do you know anything about Wheathley, Horspath, Radley...

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Gummibaerchen · 29/06/2009 13:26

Hi, we are moving to Summertown/Oxford in August and have managed to get our son into the Oxford Nursery on Marston Ferry Road. It's very small. Does anyone know it or know anything about it??? I am having doubts cos i had to sign DS up for it, as all the other nurseries have long, long waiting lists and the childminders were all busy. I don't drive, so it had to be in the neighbourhood as I will also work in Summertown from September.
And does anyone know of any playgroups around there or playgrounds or where to take a toddler?
Thank you!

Original poster
goldenpeach · 29/06/2009 22:31

Did you buy in Summertown? The prices are crazy there, although in March a terraced sold for 240, unbelievable since the cheapest house we saw there was over 300K and the others are all 400K+. Hope somebody can help you with query re nursery.

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 16/07/2009 16:45

Still looking. Prices are still very high and the cheaper houses are awful (terrible location, no garden and needing lots of work). I don't mind doing a house up but if the location is wrong you can't change that. DP doesn't want to buy anything in flood plain either. We are even looking at villages very close to town but prices are really high there too. Any more tips? We have had a look in Cambridge too but there the supply is scarce.

OP posts:
TarkaLiotta · 22/07/2009 11:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bron2 · 24/07/2009 16:10

Hi, I'm moving to Summertown next weekend and am really excited about it I've done alot of research on the various areas in Oxford and thought Summertown to be fantastic! There also seems to be alot on for children as my son has just turned 2 and is very active! The schools are also really good