Where to live - commuting to Oxford and London Zone 1

[turkeyboots]

Any suggestions? I need to commute to Z1 in London, once a week at the moment, but will increase in the future. DH needs to get to Oxford daily. Looking for somewhere with good state schools (primary and secondary), local facilities and affordable house prices (4 beds round the £250k mark). We're not looking to move for a while, but would love some suggestions so we can start getting to know the area.

You need to live in Cowley or Headington, although you'll be struggling to get 4 bedrooms for that budget. You'd get three for sure.

You can get the Oxford Tube into London; your DH can get into Oxford any way he likes on the bus or on a bike. And Oxford's state schools are among the best in the country.

Witney is very nice with new shopping centre, fair sized park and decent schools etc Is about 20-30 mins commute to oxford in car, plenty of buses into oxford and back and oxford has park and rides so can always do that. You might get a 4 bed for around £250k but more likely a 3 bed.

How about Didcot? Not as big or as exciting as Oxford, but probably cheaper, and good train links to London.

Thanks everyone! Didcot is a possibility, although not sure about living somewhere where the high street is mainly charity shops. Know a fair few people who moved their and then away again quickly, so am biased against it.

I haven't heard good things about the state sector in Oxford, that only a few schools were good. Everyone we know living in Oxford sends their kids to private school as they couldn't get into schools they felt suitable. Would love to be proved wrong though! Any hidden gems?

Abingdon isn't too bad, but doesn't have such good transport links for London. Depending which side of town you live there's a station in Radley, or you'll face a commute to Didcot to pick up the train to Paddington. Town centre at rush hour is appalling, so you'd need to be on the right side of town. Buses run very frequently to Oxford - every 30 mins or so.

Schools in north Abingdon are very good and so is the one in the centre of town. South Abingdon will give you a bigger house for your money, but schools aren't so good. And you'd have to be selective about where in South Abingdon you choose to live. Town centre isn't brilliant but has recently been taken over by Scottish Widows and there are plans afoot for change.

Price-wise, housing is fairly costly - and that's the story throughout Oxon - and they've pretty much held their prices here. You'd get a 3 bed easily but might be pushing it for a 4 bed under £250k. Same goes for Didcot.

Didcot, is still expanding - new housing being built now, and the Orchard shopping centre is due for expansion very soon (was announced a couple of weeks ago).

Honestly, I think you'll struggle anywhere in Oxfordshire to get 4 beds in a nice area with good schools for under 250k (this is the voice of bitter experience!). As Ishtar says prices have held and are still slowly increasing in a few areas.

Witney is cheaper because it's that much further away and I don't think it would be an easy commute at all for zone 1.

Didcot is a very easy commute and you might just get 4 beds but that's because you'll be living in Didcot. The Orchard centre is okay but feels more like an out of town shopping centre than a real town centre iyswim.

Abingdon is nice and there are some lovely primary schools (all except Thameside are good really) but the secondary school are mediocre. Nice small town feel with lots do to with young children. The town centre is set for improvement with lots of different things planned for the next 2-10 years. And you'd have to drive to get to any train stations.

The state sector in Oxford is mixed and very dependant on area. We're in Headington - the primary our DCs are in is great but the secondary isn't yet (although it is improving and eldest DC is only in reception so there's time!). DH goes to central London once or twice a week and always goes on the bus - it's a fraction of the price of a train and although the journey is longer you're guaranteed a seat. There are plug sockets on the bus to plug in a laptop so he gets a lot of work done whilst he travels. It's also great to have easy access to London with the DCs.

We agonised for ages when looking to move and we spent our weekends driving around areas, going to playgrounds, chatting to people and really getting a feel for the area. In the end, by a process of elimination, we found the right area for us.

Good luck - it's not an easy decision I know!

Thanks all. Lots of food for thought.

For 250k you can get 3 beds in Marston or Botley. Botley best for the station and the schools are OK for primary, good for secondary (unusually). Best of luck with your move!