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!

[allaflutter]

Wine, so what are these district centres specifically? are they close to the station at all? I keep going past it on the train but am put off by office blocks all around, and it does have a bad rep but I would g and look if I knew where to look.

[liquidstate]

Everywhere easily commutable is expensive. All the lovely old houses are expensive.

I work in Oxford and commute from a village outside Reading which is on a branch line between reading and Newbury. I travel around Didcot etc a lot. I love Wallingford, Thame and Wantage but they don't have a train station. Goring/Streatley, Pangbourne, Cholsey are nice and have stations. Chosley probably less pricier than the others but more new build houses. A new development is being built at the moment called Cholsey Meadows which I drive past a lot and actually looks nice (and I really don't like new build 'estates').

Maybe worth a look?

Alterntively look at West Berkshire where I am. Mortimer, Thatcham etc are all on the branch line between Newbury and Reading with easy access to the M4, M3 and A34 (for Oxford, Didcot and Abingdon).

[allaflutter]

interesting, liquid! I was wondering about the line to Newbury, strangely these places aer hardly ever mentioned on Mn or generally, so I kind of assumed they aern't great. Please tell me more - are there mainly new builds there or not, green spaces/parks, shops?
Goring is v.expensive - hear about that a lot! Pangbourne out sadly, as an unpleasant ex lives there.

[WineNot]

Only just checked back on this thread!

District Centres are little groups of shops/businesses etc, in the middle of most of the suburbs, I.e. usually one district centre per suburb. Obviously some are closer to the station than others!

The one nearest to me has a Tesco, pub, vet, oesteopath (randomly!) church, takeaway, estate agent and hairdresser.

Ignore the landscape from the train window... Hideous!

Where to look depends on what you're looking for :). Avoid the estates that begin with a 'P'

Villages like Wanborough, Wroughton and Wootton Bassett are nice and have more independent/interesting shops.

West Swindon = lots of greenery and Lydiard Park (lovely)

North Swindon = newer estates... Quite built up in Redhouse, Oakhurst and Taw Hill which I'm not a fan of. Haydon Wick/Haydon End, Groundwell, St Andrews Ridge all North Swindon and nice.

You're never more than 15 mins away from the M4 in Swindon either. Transport links are brilliant!

Check it out...

[fluffyhamster1]

I live in Didcot. If you have the money to live in one of the surrounding villages then they are much nicer - and have good private schools. But if you are not in such a league then Didcot has greatly improved in recent years. The new shopping centre is about to double. The power station is being partly demolished and replaced with housing and more businesses. It is one of the fastest growing areas for job creation in the country - with the space centre, science park, etc. You don't live in the town because it is pretty but because you can get to Oxford museums in under 15 minutes door-to-door, London in 45 minutes, Bath in 45 minutest, etc. Great walks nearby as well, the Thames is a 20 minute cycle ride away.

[StewedFruit]

People are so snobby about Didcot and it's so unjustified. Having lived in several places in oxfordshire, didcot is top of the list because it gives you quick access to lovely surrounding towns and walkable-to countryside. Schools are outstanding (DGS) or good. Think I am going to move back! (Sorry old thread).