Didcot Parkway - any plus points apart from its strategic position?

[allaflutter]

Apart from the good quick rail links to London and other cities, is it really as dull as people say on MN?

I have another thread about relatively inexpensive areas that may be on the up, but still compiling a list (Bedford, etc) as not a lot on the market in those.

What is Didcot like for:
green spaces
shops and places to eat/cafes
crime levels
connections to the Midlands, rather than just the west

One issue is, it seems to be all modern houses - are there period areas, and how far from the station? Is any nice area within walking distance or easy bus/taxi to station?

thanks!

It's all modern ime because it was only really created for the massive power station.
It's ugly and boring IMO - there are much nicer places in the surrounding area for much the same prices.
I don't like didcott - can you tell?!

I don't know Didcot itself but there are beautiful villages around it.

There's also a big rise in unemployment in the area so crime has risen in line with that.

If you live in one of the surrounding areas people will say how rough it is in comparison, I'm not sure how true that is or whether its just snobbyness. Obviously most places in Oxfordshire are not 'rough' when compared to other counties but its all relative

A huge number of new houses are planned in Didcot and its environs, so be careful where you go if you look at surrounding areas. Villages like Harwell are very pretty but will be altered, character-wise, by having fields turned into new builds. The power station has now closed and apparently parts of it may be coming down, but will be there for a little bit. It's hard to miss.

Its got some lovely villages nearby. I don't think its reputation is deserved really..

It wasn't created for the power station - it was there long before that (and now the coal power station is being demolished, if you dont like the look of it), there are lots of things locally that encouraged the growth... AEA technology,Milton park etc.

I wasn't aware of the job issue in Didcot though..

Don't underestimate the travel links - its really easy to travel anywhere from didcot.

There are some nicer

I thought the permission wasn't granted for the fields between harwell and didcot?

The villages are really nice. Some can be rat runs in the morning, esp ones on the way to Abingdon or in the direction of the m40. Ones like hagbourne are lovely, despite their proximity to didcot

Not sure about the other things but it has a nice swimming pool with a wave machine and a slide, close to a lovely big playground. :-)

I read one thing one week and one thing the next week, alienbanana! Latest seems to be 2,150 homes at Valley Park, Harwell Parish, east of the A34.

I actually don't find Didcot too bad. There is a lovely little community hospital and a library and that side of the town still retains something of a traditional suburban feel. The new shopping centre isn't bad, either, though not exactly Bluewater. And it's easy to get out and about into the countryside, or nip on the train to Oxford or Bath.

Oh bloody hell... That's not great

Of course, it could all change again--there have been so many reverses already!

thanks everyone for replies! hmm I was hoping for something more positive - oh well! . I take it, no even a big park in town or nearby there?
I did mean to ask, if not Didcot itself, then any nice surrounding places which have their own station a couple of stops away to didcot?
I'd consider Abingdon, but no train there.

Goring, Pangbourne?

Didcot is grim tbh.

Culham or Radley might be worth looking at.

Cholsey is another one.

The area is lacking a bit tbh.. I wouldnt live there now.

Have you looked at Thame, or that sort of area?

Actually, a lot of the area is ok.. but a lot of the nice market towns nearby don't have rail links, which is probably the only reason why didcot is still expanding.

Ooh, what about Newbury?

Thame has haddenham and Thame parkway close (it's actually closer to haddenham from memory)

Loads of lovely villages nearby, but Didcot itself is pretty bloody grim.

wow, it's THAT bad then!
Thame, Abingdon and Radley - I've heard they aer nice, but as alien says, strangely no rail links - how do people commute, only by car to London, or do they all drive to Didcot then train? I assume it's no good relying on buses to the station .
I have no doubt villages that are nice, but I'm not ready for a village, lived in cities so far. Goring is v.expensive, isn't it?

'that villages' in last paragraph.

People bus into Oxford and train from there, or drive to the park and ride in Oxford and bus to London. Some will drive to Didcot and train from there, but reckon that's mostly the villages south of Abingdon.

I don't think there are a huge number of people who live in towns without rail links that do commute to London.. its just not really feasible.

The rail link really is Didcots major selling point.... The place may be a bit of a shithole, but its really easy to get out

(its really not that bad btw... I'd live there over Abingdon any day!)

Thame (well, Haddenham) has rail links, so does Radley. Abingdon used to have a line, but its not been active in decades

at 'shithole, but easy to get out'!
alien, so people bus from where to Oxford? all of these towns?
Is Thame/Haddenham nicer than Radley and Abingdon then (thought Ab was nicest)? Are T and H linked - or is it a hike from Thame to H station?
Do you think they will be growing in value for houses, or the opposite?

Didcot really isn't as bad as many people make out!

In answer to your questions, shops and places to eat are predominantly in and around the Orchard Centre, there are plans for expansion of this area over the next few years.

Quite a few green spaces and parks in Didcot and plenty in the surrounding areas.

Crime levels really are very low when you compare to UK averages. If you take a look at the Thames Valley Police page for the area there are links to the monthly updates which will give you an idea of the kind of incidents occurring locally and you can also look at the crime figures TVP

Connections to Midlands by rail and car are pretty good.

There are a large number of modern houses but the main areas for period properties are around the Lydalls Road, Foxhall Road and Manor Road area which is where the original village was and is very close to the train station.

HTH

It's a lovely area to live in if you don't commute.
My sisters live and work in Abingdon, wallingford and Benson. They are really nice if you live and work there.
I lived in Cholsey and commuted to the city. It was ok. Didcot was shit. My mother still lives there and it's a bit grim.
Yes, goring and pangbourne are expensive. So are Abingdon and other nice towns/villages . It's an expensive area

thanks, MrsAlways, a more of a balanced view , but I think the rest of the posters have put me off now, ha. Unless these expansion plans are impressive? Still, I may go and visit - thanks for mentioning areas for older houses.
Well, Pag, I was surprised to see on rightmove that Ab isn't really expensive, nothing like Oxford - I'm sure it's due to lack of rail. How long is it by buses to the station? Is Wallingford better, and nearaer to rail? heard it mentioned favourable a few times. Is it tiny? Thing is, I don't need a daily commute, but say twice a week to london and I travel around to other places (Midlands, Bath etc).