First scout around for relocation, now v down!

[LizzieMint]

We've just done our first few days driving round looking round oxfordshire for suitable places to relocate too. Turns out there's nowhere (that we've found anyway!) that has good schools + amenities + big enough houses that we can afford!
Feeling really disappointed

Ideally we want a 5 bed with plenty of garden. Not set on an area yet, the only places that appealed were woodstock, bloxham and eynsham but we discounted eynsham because the primary school is in special measures. I want somewhere with some amenities - we live in a tiny village at the moment where there is nothing except the primary school, church and pub. Budget up to £650k

Mary, we're moving from bristol - also fairly expensive here!

I was looking at Oxon too, OP, and same here - decided it's too expensive if I wanted anything nice. Your budget is much higher than mine though , I think you need to keep looking. Especially if you are not fussy about the stye of house. I am, even on my budget .

Shame really, as the area around Oxford is very nice imo. Charlbury is nice - did you look there? it's like a large village or some would say a very small town.

I've also looked at North Oxfordshire - Bicester and Banbury. I think you may like Bicester - some character in hte centre, plety of amenities, very good transport and road links, and obv the Bicester village shops. But I was put off by thew lack of period property. Plenty of modern is you like that - or nearby villages are nice.

Banbury I found very depressing and downmarket even though potential is there to be a nice place.
Also, what about places north of Swindon? it's the border with Oxon.

style

Swindon region a bit too far, H works in Milton Keynes. Didn't look at charlbury, does it have good schools? Bicester too big for us really. I quite liked Banbury! Again, wouldn't want to live there though, too big.

Where have you ended up then, or are you still looking?

still looking, but probably will go for East Mids.

Both Bicester and Banbury have very nice villages around them. Deddington for example. It's just that I wasn't looking for a village. I wonder if you went to Banbury on a weekend? it's depressing on weekdays.

Not sure of schools in Chalbury, maybe someone here can recommend. Near Woodstock though.

May I suggest you come a bit further South and look at Thame and the villages around it? There are much better value homes in the area and you could look at Haddenham, Bledlow and Long Crendon (Bucks and grammar schools), Chinnor, Great and Little Milton. I know Thame very well and it is a very pleasant market town. Pretty unspoilt with a very popular secondary school affectionately known as Lord Bills. There is also Haddenham and Thame Parkway station for London Marylebone. You could also look at Watlington and Wallingford.

I think the area you are looking at is pretty pricey now but there is value further south or maybe Deddington or Abingdon?

Deddington also has a primary school in special measures. :(
I've googled charlbury, looks lovely but too far from mk. I think Abingdon is too far too, I'm sure I remember looking at that and rejecting it. We're trying to keep the commute to mk under an hour. I'll investigate the other options!

Mary, we have maps and sticky dots and a key and everything!

I must confess I didn't look up the Ofsted reports of all the schools! What about Brackley, Buckingham or Winslow? None are Oxfordshire but less of a commute than some of the places mentioned! Olney always looks attractive too.

Ampthill is nice - good schools, easy to get to MK. I might be tempted by this
www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-45627365.html?premiumA=true

Well within budget - not sure how much garden though!
There was a thread about AMpthill on here not long ago.....

We have to stay west of MK cos H also has to commute to Swindon. I think we need another trip over to look at bucks places closer to MK. Mind you, on rightmove this morning there are two new properties that match our criteria in oxon!!

Check out the views on this!. Might get if for £600k

Outstanding primary 0.1 mile away and I guess in catchment for Bucks grammars.