Oxfordshire

[InterestedInMoving]

I need to relocate, issues with expartner. I was wondering what people think of oxfordshire?

It's a big place, anywhere particular in mind? Rural? Town? Oxford itself?

a town, not oxford it's self, not sure where exactly, maybe lemmington/stratford??

Along the M40 really, more northern part of oxfordshire, up to warwickshire.

I live in rural north Oxfordshire. Had only lived in cities before and really love it here. I'm about ten miles from Banbury, which isn't a town I'd particularly want to live in, but there are some gorgeous villages nearby - basically the edge of the Cotswolds but without the tourist taffic.

Stratford can get very busy and there are high volumes of traffic in the summer because of tourists. I get the impression that a lot of the people who live there are elderly, but may be wrong. Housing is expensive here in comparison to surrounding areas.

North Leamington is nicer than South. Quite a lot of students live in the town, and it has a lot of bars, restaurants, etc. Shops are OK - there are still a few smaller, boutique-type shops.

Woodstock is very nice - but that may be too far south for you.

Woodstock, is worth investigating, what is good about woodstock? What are the secondary schools like there?

Are the secondary schools ok in the nice villages near Banbury?

Woodstock - nice restaurants/pubs, countryside, upmarket, Blenheim Palace, close/buses to Oxford. Nice but expensive.

Schools - The Marlborough School is good (not great), but there are also good alternatives nearby. A number of good private schools in Oxford (~6 miles away)

Children in the villages around Banbury have to go to the town for schooling - most people round here seem to send their children to private schools at secondary level. The state school for our area would be the Warriner School, which I don't know much about, but presumably there is an Ofsted report you could look at. Actually, one of the pluses of Stratford would be schools since it still has grammar schools.

I don't have the money for private education, and not sure if my youngest would get into a grammar school .

Charlbury and Spellsbury are very nice

Hi IinM, I saw your other thread where you asked about schools in Oxon. If you're interested, I lived in a village near Banbury for six years and I can give a bit of info on the local secondary schools. My DCs went to the village primary...I'm guessing primary is not the issue as there's a lot more choice?

hello, i don't have any useful info on the schools (As DD not that old yet!) but have lived in various parts of Oxon - I love it (and Warks) - varies a lot from north to south in terms of countryside and landscape. There are indeed some beautful villages near Banbury (and the town isn't that bad, honestly!) - if you say what your criteria are (apart from schools) I can give you some suggestions. Places like Bloxham are v nice.

Adderbury, Deddington, Shipston on Stour - depends how rural/what facilities you need to have, and your budget really - lots of lovely smaller villages around Banbury.

I would like some public transport for kids to get to mates when they make them, so they are not just realying on me. I would like neighbours so not an isolated area. I would like to be fairly close to decent shop's/ social activities etc.

Hi, I have sent you a message in reply to yours.

From your criteria I would suggest Middleton Cheney, Bloxham, Kineton, Deddington (but it is expensive). They are all large villages with shops and plenty going on.

I second that Banbury is not THAT bad...sure, it has its more unpleasant areas (what town doesn't?) but I have two very good friends who have lived there for years and years and love it. One couple consists of a music teacher and actor who lived in London for many years - they view Banbury as a quaint market town! However, we lived there for 2 years and unfortunately made an error with our choice of street...that's another story though...

I think Banbury is a hole. Some of the villages around it are lovely though.

...have you been to Luton, Kindle?? I would apply the word 'hole' to there rather than Banbury...although we were glad to leave after 2 years but we were unlucky with our street more than anything.

you could pick Leamington and make sure you get into the catholic junior school in the middle of the town, this had excellent results.Or choose the catchment area of Coton End Warwick as this has excellent results and also never ever closes for snow fall. Coton End area and you would be on major bus routes around the two towns and into coventry.

Secondary schools are also good int he area and a lot of activities in the area, swimming clubs, drama groups ect

Leamington and Stratford are both in Warwickshire, Stratford has grammer school and bus for Lemaington and Warwick if you get in.

Yes excuse me slinky it was a bit rude I grew up there, you would probably be able to guess which area. Maybe even the street/hill

No offence at all Kindle...I am not emotionally involved with Banbury and only lived there for 2 years before moving to a village just outside for 6 years. yes, I could probably take a stab at where you lived!! I grew up in Windsor which is lovely but still has its problems on weekend nights. I don't think there's any town where you can get away from binge-drinking louts unfortunately... [grumpy old woman emoticon]

We now live in France, incidentally!!!!

ooooh lucky you! I have escaped to a beautiful leafy village a long way from Banbury, it feels like heaven.

Good...I'm glad you are happy now. Where you live is hugely, hugely important. We were so miserable for the second year...yet friends in the next road up are blissfully happy as they don't have drunken people wandering past their house at weekends.

I might as well 'out' the street for IinM's benefit...Prospect Road.

Kindle were you Bretch Hill??

Oh yes, I know that road well. Yes we were for a thankfully short but very unhappy time. Yes same here peace and quiet it is lovely.

echo what the others say about Banbury - really does depend what part of the town - don't get stuck on one of the estates miles from the centre. We lived in the Easington area of Banbury - very family orientated, quite green and leafy, lots of 30s style ex (and current)council housing, close to countryside and nice park.

I wouldn't rule Banbury out if you want a town with facilities, its very practical and I think its quite pretty (the centre).

We live near Thame, which is a lovely market town - further south than I think you are after (Jct 7 of M40), but it is lovely.