Info on Marlow, Henley, Thame, Chalfonts

[Spanielmad]

Hello, we are thinking of moving into South Buckinghamshire for DH's work. Been looking at the impossible school situation already and earmarked a few areas with good (but oversubscribed) secondary schools.
Before I drive over to visit the area (we are a few hours away) I need to narrow down which towns we might like, as I can't visit them all in a day or two.

We like to be near or on the outskirts of a small town with stuff for my kids (young teen boys) such as a leisure centre, sports clubs, we like hiking in the hills/woods, I'd like a nice town with boutique shops, cafes, art galleries, art clubs etc. Low crime and peaceful would be good too- goes without saying.

Can anyone tell me anything about these towns? What are they like? I already know most of them are pricey- but would like to know more about atmosphere, crime, shops etc....
I have only done online research so far.

Henley,
Shiplake,
Marlow (my fav at the moment but hard to find a house),
Chalfont St Peter,
Chesham,
Thame.

Any thoughts very welcome!! Thank you

Realistically when do you envisage moving?

if it was up to us and ignore the kids, we'd hang around where we are now, and take our time. But because of schools, I imagine sooner rather than later is vital. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to get a school place for both. But selling our house first and buying another etc - I don't see it happening in 2017, it will be winter/spring 2018. Unless we feel forced to rent - just to get a school place maybe.

also, if we move now, I should be able to get my youngest into just one secondary school and if we move later he'll go to our current local and then will have to move to another. So speed is important I fear... :(

The reason why I said about the year 9 entry was whether logistically it made sense to stay put for the next school year - allow youngest to finish yr 6 in current school and then move next summer? Gives you more time to look and you could always get a short term rental where you are now?

but how would I secure a Y7 school place if we don't live in the catchment? would be really hard I imagine to get a Y7 place by next summer... so short before the school year starts... and after all the allocation deadlines have passed....

would be ideal if we could stay till next summer, move in the summer break and kids start school in September, but I don't see how I can get them 'in' without living in the area.... :(

That I'm not so sure of - I guess it's a case of calling / emailing SWBGS and GMS to ask their advice

really...? surely places get allocated by distance to school so we'd be rather at the deepest bottom end of the list... LOL

but yes, I will ask advice from them direct. Again you are too kind for thinking along like this!

Lord Williams's have 7-9 on one site and 10-13 on another, totally separate (either end of town) so it doesn't feel too big. Each site has a very different feel.

Completely irrelevant but I skim read your thread title and sniggered as I thought I was reading a baby names list! Thank goodness I'm not!!

Carry on.

LOL Logans. Imagine... No worries, my boys were named 10 and 12 years ago and have pretty normal names....

Thanks LowlandsUni - sounds good.

No-one said much about Henley...so just bumping this one up. How is Henley different from Marlow (besides the regatta) - is it bigger, smaller, busier, quieter? Type of shops?
Gillots school has a good ofsted but no sixth form, is that a problem (Henley College seems obvious follow up)
thanks!

Seems like the nicest towns are the priciest as always. Marlow area seems very pricey and not much available (in our price range/wishlist), Chalfonts St Peter cheaper, Henley/Shiplake more on offer as well....

I personally don't like Henley (I worked there for 3 or 4 years (lawyer), and found an unusually snobby/racist attitude in a lot of people; lots of retired Colonel Blimp types and loud stockbrokers. Although Marlow is also very affluent, I find the people more pleasant, poss because it's a younger demographic.

Also Henley is hellish to drive through and park.

I agree. I work in Henley but much prefer Marlow.

Henley:

Bigger but shops not as nice
Big Waitrose
Festival
Regatta
Rewind
Hideous traffic on Reading side
Cinema
1 secondary school 1 6th form college
Oxfordshire
2 rowing clubs no state school rowing (Shiplake and Bluecoats do row though)

Marlow
Marlow Town Regatta (clearly not same thing but has fun fair!)
Little Waitrose
Nicer shops and restaurants
Smaller
2 secondary schools with 6th forms
Buckinghamshire
1 rowing club plus both schools row

And only 10 mins to the massive Waitrose at Handy Cross.

And The Ivy

And Olly and I to drink cocktails in The Botanist with 🍸🎉🍸

The Botanist is ace!!

Marlow also has a more famous bridge after the Lithuanian articulated lorry incident

Marlow also has The Hand and Flowers and Coach (Tom Kerridge).

Henley does have Townlands Hospital which has walk in x Ray up till 4pm.

Seriously OP they have quite different feels to them - I would suggest hanging out in both and seeing which fits best.

Great, thanks! Marlow keeps on winning....but it is also the place where I've seen the least number of suitable houses. So I must consider other areas.
Did someone say 'big Waitrose'?
You have all been super helpful, thank you so much.
No doubt I'll be back with more questions....

Thame and Marlow still in the running (haven't seen suitable houses there though but stuff might come up) Seen nice houses in Chalfonts and near Henley so those are maybes....

Thank you!!!

just need some school places and a dream home near Marlow now....easypeasy.... he he

I won't ask about the Lithuanian lorry accident

The lorry was a big thing last year - will make more sense when you see the bridge irl but a massive lorry drove over it causing closure for months!!

www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/newS/14763375.UPDATE__Heavy_lorry_forces_iconic_bridge_to_close__foreseeable_future_/

Good luck with house hunting! May be worth giving Council admissions a ring this morning to see how land lies ...

There is information on the Bucks County Council website about school places, including if any spaces at schools and how places were allocated. They're not the best st keeping it updated though, so might not be much use!

Can I join cocktails at The Botanist please?! Love that place

Once more question (sorry!) what is Cookham and the 'river area' (flood plain?) of north Maidenhead like and is the Platt school good for clever kids!? (Cookham also in catchment of Bourne End Academy which doesn't seem so great)

Oh dear on the lorry story!!

Thanks, yes am actually going to call the council today - also busy tarting up current house so paint pots everywhere!
Would be great to meet you all when we've moved

Count me in for a drinks meet up if you come to South Bucks!

ugh, admissions team emailed me back with an extensive reply which basically said we can’t do anything until after you’ve moved. Kids can’t do a grammar test until after we’ve moved (so do we move into the catchment of a grammar, I don’t know!) and yes, if schools are full, they will be allocated a place in a potentially ‘inadequate’ and far away school. great. not. I asked for a phone chat but didn’t get it...
Next stop is calling/emailing the schools. Wait till september... :(

OP there is St Clement Danes in Herts at Chorleywood which is near the Chalfont/Bucks border. Excellent school. You could check catchment.