Opinions on Banbury please?

[Leafy2018]

We went for a look around Banbury and surrounding villages today. I felt it was neither awful nor really lovely. Some nice bits, some grottier bits, good facilities and clearly growing and being invested in (sports centre, regeneration by canal etc) It's very well connected train wise. I love the surrounding countryside - we are keen walkers.

What are people's opinions? We would want to get our children into The Warriner School so would probably have to live just outside to be in catchment.

Thank you!

Leamington Spa is much nicer and is the next stop on the train line.

Banbury central is pretty grotty in my opinion but the surrounding villages are sweet.

I like Banbury. The town centre is a bit in limbo while the work is going to be done but when it's done it should be lovely. A lot of events going on (check out Banbury Town Council website). The canal paths and local countryside are lovely.
Good train links down to London, up to Brum and beyond.
Local public transport (buses) have had a lot of cuts so if you are out in one of the villages you will need a car.
If you want Warriner you probably would have to live in Bloxham or one of the catchment villages.
The town secondarys are apparently not great - especially Wykham Park (aka Banbury Academy) which is a shame because the housing estates in that area are quite nice.

Why not just a little further North of Banbury into Warwickshire - great schools in Kineton High and Southam and you'd probably get a little more for your money.

For The Warriner, your children would certainly need to attend a feeder primary school. It's not essential to live in the catchment area, although it would certainly help.
Blessed George Napier in Banbury is increasingly over-subscribed. Your children will need to be baptised Catholics or Church of England at least.
Personally I would give Wykham Park (was Banbury Academy) a swerve for the time being.
Ofsted gave it a Good rating, there's a new head and the school has changed its name. But it takes more than a lick of paint to turn a school around.
I don't know much about North Oxfordshire Academy. But if you don't like in that catchment, then you're not getting in.

We moved to Banbury a decade ago. It works for us. We live on the south side, so we are out in the countryside within 10 minutes, or turn left and we can be in the middle of town within the same time.
We are also a mixed-heritage family, so I like the fact that there are people of all races living in Banbury. I tried a village but didn't like being the only non-white person there.
Feel free to DM me if you want to know anything else.

Thanks for all the replies so far, it's really helpful to get some informed opinions. I should have said, my husband would initially be commuting into London before hopefully getting a job in Birmingham, Oxford or the like - so we can't go further north as commute would be too long.

We looked at Adderbury and Bloxham and although lovely, I can see why you would have felt like that @twilightcafe. Thanks for the offer of further insight btw - may DM you if I think of anything.

We have an 9, 12 and 4 month old baby. Move probably wouldn't be for 2 years so wondering what there is for teenagers and toddlers to do? I have googled but I never think you hear of the things locals do!

It might have changed, we lived there 20 years ago and I couldn’t wait to leave.

Loved the house we were in but really never made a single friend in the years we were there. (Hardly spoke to anyone).

I suppose as I don’t do pubs or had children or went to church I didn’t get to meet many people.

I worked but never felt a connection with anyone.

Very lonely time.

Banbury is a good hub but I wouldn't live in it. It just feels a bit grotty - though with the regeneration work, I'm sure that will improve. Train links to London, Birmingham, and Oxford are all very good.

I grew up in Milton, just outside Bloxham and it's a great area to grow up. Lots of space, people are generally friendly, many good schools, plenty of groups and leisure activities/hobbies in the area.

Deddington is nice but pricey, Adderbury, Aynho and Bloxham are nice areas too. South Newington could also suit.

You could also move to just inside the Northants/Bucks borders to get a lot more for your money, but you'll still be close for commuting. My dad has done this for around a decade now, having moved to Silverstone.

If your DH can firm up where his new job would be, the area surrounding Milton Keynes could suit you well (links to Birmingham and London are great), and lots of nice villages and small towns nearby.

You won't get into Warriner unless you are already in catchment and ideally in a feeder primary. The secondaries in Banbury are not brilliant (Banbury School/Banbury Academy has been poor for decades).
The town has undergone a lot of housing development and the roads were unable to cope 30 years ago. They have not been improved...
The centre is a lot better than it was but is too small for the population. The supermarkets are packed and town-centre parking is an issue.
There is probably more for young people to do than there was when I was a nipper, but it is very 'small-town' in facilities, attitude, and outlook.
Can you tell I was keen to leave?

Hi Olivermumsarmy we had a disagreement a while ago about the pros and cons of Northamptonshire!
20 years ago I was in Banbury and I at that time I was very much of the 'nothing to do round here' camp. Whether there is more to do now or having google and social media means it's just easier to be aware of what's going on.
OP Banbury can be a bit of a brexity place and there is a lot of moaning locally about things like pot holes and shops closing down!! It's not perfect but it's OK.

There is a list of schools on Oxfordshire County Council's website. This will give you a clear idea of catchment areas, and your chances of getting a place at your preferred school.
Warriner has expanded recently. So people who live in Banbury but sent their children to feeder primaries have gained places for September.
Where you choose to live is up to you. Some people love villages I was bored out of my mind. And the village buses stop early, so teenagers can't even get to the cinema without a lift from you
Others prefer the hustle and bustle of a town.

bookmum08

It wasn’t that there was nothing to do it was more that what was on offer was fundamentally so far out of my comfort zone that taking part would have seriously compromised my beliefs.

Even though I am an outgoing person I can’t actually think of one person I had a serious conversation with in the years I lived there.

Even selling our house and moving led to some weird speculation on how the property market worked.

Olivermumsarmy shame you didn't bump into me 20 years ago because I might have been up for a 'serious' conversation!
Anyway I think you and me will never agree if life in Oxon or Northants is good or not so I won't get into it again.

I have a one year old and we moved to Longford park Bodicote, a have to say so far we love it. I take my little one out everyday to organised activities there is loads to do for mums and bubs. I have made some lovely friends and we have great neighbors but you have to put yourself out there, we moved from overseas so literally knew nobody but we're really settled in. It's got everything you could need yes of course it's got it's grotty bits but so does everywhere, I definitely feel the positives outweigh the negative and can only see it getting better. Hope this helps.

angela79634 hoe would you have found it if you didn’t have a child?

We've made as many grown up friends as mummy friends honestly but we have moved into a new development in Bodicote and I think alot of people are in the same boat they've all moved from somewhere different. I'm guessing it may of been a bit harder if we moved say into a established village but there are plenty of pubs that hold events and sports clubs to meet people and I'm not a drinker so it doesn't have to revolve around alcohol. There are some lovely restaurants, the cinema is good and they are building a new one where they are developing the shopping centre. I attend one of the leisure centres which has tonnes to offer plus the most beautiful country side pretty much on your door step which we make the most of. It's what you make it but it's here and so easy to get to airports etc. Had a few trips to London already so easy. We have moved from New Zealand which is apparently 'paradise' but we are far happier here. It's been the right move for us.

Olivermumsarmy it's hard to compare the Banbury of 20 years ago to now as a lot has changed. I were to move to Banbury now without children here are some adult events I could go to -
Bodfest music festival
The Mill - theatre to watch plays or the art events
Music events held at St Mary's
Open days at the Mosque which includes the community fridge
History walks around town History/Culture talks and events at the museum
Litter picks/environmental groups
Food festivals
Car Boot Sales
Ramblers groups
Various sport groups and Spiceball Sports Centre
Some of these weren't happening 20 years ago but similar things were there. I am curious to what you actually enjoy in life Olivermumsarmy

Your initial thoughts were spot on!
We moved here for similar reasons to yourself and it’s been OK for this stage of our lives-pretty safe and good value properties for OX postcode. Some of the established locals are not particularly welcoming, very Brexity and view new faces of any colour or creed with suspicion, but I think it’s all becoming a bit more diluted now with lots of incomers moving into the new developments. Do your research for catchment areas for schools and GP surgeries etc. Good luck in whatever you decide!

Some of the established locals are not particularly welcoming, very Brexity and view new faces of any colour or creed with suspicion

Probably why I got the reaction I got when I lived there in the 80s and 90s

Bear in mind that there is an incredibly stinky factory in the Tesco’s/retail park area, where there’s also a lot of housing. It’s not the nicest area anyway but the factory stink is really unpleasant. The surrounding villages are much nicer.

We live in one of the villages and the Brexity locals bit still applies I’m afraid!

I am LOLing at this thread!

I have known Banbury for well over 20 years and the town centre currently seems a lot more run down than it did 20 years ago. There are loads and loads of pubs and some decent restaurants, but it's a bit depressing during the day. The stinky coffee factory doesn't help....
Bodicote village is nice, and Deddington is very naice!

Loads of Brexiters, possibly due to huge influx of Eastern Europeans about 10+ years ago. Also heard plenty of racist and small-minded views.

It's very close to the M40, so good road connections

Banbury is nice.

Very low unemployment and also one of the highest underage pregnancy areas.

So you get knocked up at 12 but get a job too.

We have lived here for 6 years and like it.

People who complain about "Brexity locals" are full of shit. Like all medium towns it had good and bad bits but I like living here compared to leamington/ Warwick.

Coffee factory does smell tbf but the cake factory smells nice

Yes if you walk along the canal near the bread factory you get a lovely fresh bread smell!

Have you considered Bicester OP? Worth looking at as commuting to London is better links both via train and rail.
And of course there’s the shopping in Bicester Village.....