Living in or near Didcot?

[Hollandspies]

DS starting job in summer at Rutherford Appleton Lab so moving near there. Will be relying on public transport to get to work. I have heard traffic jams can be horrendous in the area. Any advice on where he'd be best looking to live as a lodger or in houseshare in terms of travelling by bus to work? In Scotland currently so not easy for him to go and explore much. Thanks for any insights!

Ah it's not actually in Didcot itself otherwise I'd have suggested to go somewhere on the train instead. Its the a34 that's horrid, and IMHO rather crashy. I'd look at Wantage as then you avoid the a34 altogether, it's a large enough town that should have rentable flats.

Trains are also a good option, which would give him more choice

He doesn’t need to go on the a34 to get from Didcot to RAL, and when there is a problem on A34 (most days) it has a knock on effect on the whole area anywhere. Didcot and Wantage both have good bus routes to RAL. In Didcot the Ladygrove is pretty good for renters.

You should check this but I think there are buses from didcot station to the Rutherford lab. In which case, living somewhere in walking distance from didcot station would make sense. Didcot is also one of the cheapest places to live in south Oxfordshire, it’s not a pretty place but has everything you need, perfectly safe etc. ladygrove estate is quite nice and much of it is easily walkable to town and the station. Hope that helps!

https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/stfc/facilities/rutherford-appleton-laboratory/how-to-get-to-rutherford-appleton-laboratory/

The traffic is okay as long as you don't need to use the A34.

Didcot is a much maligned town, but is actually a good place to live, safe, all the amenities you might need, cheaper than most areas of Oxon, and great transport links if you don't drive.

As others have said, you don't go on the a34 to get from Didcot to RAL. You wouldn't need to go by car anyway - the campus is huge and well served by buses, and a lot of people cycle, it isn't that far from Didcot. And there are published cycle routes.
I believe there's a car sharing scheme too.