Where in Oxfordshire to set novel

[katoglet]

Hello! Wasn't sure what category I should write this in, but just in case anyone can help...! I'm writing a book that's set in an Oxfordshire town in 2011. Trouble is, I haven't been basing the location on a concrete place. I'd like to visit a town to help with the description and inspiration for the setting, and was wondering if anyone could suggest anywhere that might be appropriate.

Here are its features:

• Population around 30 - 50,000
• Diverse socio economically. Run down estate, posh/new money suburbs and new development for city boys communting to London
• In 2011 undergoing a bit of a change in terms of trying to connect with its historic roots (for tourists) and attract affulent homebuyers
• A couple of schools, a couple of pubs, normal chains on high street. Annual May Day celebration which has recently been commercialised
• People who have left and gone to London are quite disparaging of it

Doesn't need to be exact but anywhere that you could suggest visiting that shares some of these features would be amazing!

Thanks so much! Katy

Witney

But maybe with a population of 30-40,00 you would have more than a couple of pubs and schools?
Bigger towns would maybe be Banbury, Bicester.
I grew up in West Oxfordshire and was at secondary school in the 90's - it was nowhere near as 'posh' as it is now.

Population size there really aren’t that many towns in Oxfordshire that fit.
Abingdon
Didcot
Bicester
Banbury
Witney

Reduce the population and make it Woodstock

I'd say Abingdon. Some social housing areas, some lovely big old house areas, some new housing developments on outskirts of Abingdon itself but also in nearby Didcot, which has good train connections to London.

Normal high street shops (some bits a bit run down) plus retail park. 3 state secondaries, 1 private Catholic, 1 super posh boys' public school, 1 top girls' public school.

Medieval remnants by the river, medieval and later historic buildings around the town square.

You can invent the May Day parade. There's a good town brass (silver) band... would add a bit of colour to your celebrations.

Otherwise, Witney. Also has most of the above elements. But not the private schools, and not so commutable to London.

Don't set it in an actual real town. Make one up - because someone will 100% point out inaccurate errors ("there's no Co-op on West Street. Never has been...has this writer ever been to whatever town") 😂
(Oxfordshire gal here...)

Have you ever been to Oxfordshire?!

I don't think there is really anywhere that fits your description. Maybe Banbury...

Witney doesn't really go round trying to attract tourists and isn't as diverse as you seem to want it to be (you sound like you're writing about a city).

I agree Abingdon; it has that market town sort of feel. Or maybe Thame - but I don’t know the population etc. It has the shops and a country fair thing but is smaller

Don't see Abingdon hitting the "people leave disparage it" thing, or the 2011 "going through a change" bit either. Actually Abingdon town centre is currently surprisingly run-down and very poor shops compared with other places nearby.

Not many bits of Oxfordshire are commutable to London. Look on a map at towns around Reading instead

I think Banbury is probably the only one. It's got lots of new builds, some people think it's now a dump, or perhaps only in parts. Yet people move there in droves.

@parietal Banbury, Bicester and Thame are all on the Chiltern train line to Marylebone and loads of people commute to London. Absolutely loads.
(Ok....the station isn't actually in Thame)

If you aren't able to write your book about somewhere you have personal experience then you need to create a fictional town . How can you write a book on somewhere you don't know because someone on MN suggests it , visit in 2024 and then name the place saying that people who left to move to London are disparaging about the place when you have no direct experience about what it was like to live there 13 years ago ?

Why does it have to be in Oxfordshire. For commuting to London it's not great, the property prices are too high. I would probably say Maidenhead ticks most of your boxes but it's not in Oxfordshire.

If you base it in smaller village it might be more interring. Something like Woodstock, lots of tourists go to Bleinhaim Palace. Or even Thame might be a good option.

Yes, all the best novels include population statistics and information about the socio-economic diversity of the community. 😂
Sounds more like a draft of the local development plan!

Thanks! Should have been clearer it is made up! The county isn't even named I just had this in mind. Just need to add more detail and colour by visiting somewhere that has shared features, and not get anything dramatically wrong!

Thanks! Should have been clearer it is made up! The county isn't even named I just had this in mind. Just need to add more detail and colour by visiting somewhere that has shared features, and not get anything dramatically wrong.

Ha ha yep this is not going to be in the book, it's just stuff I "know" about it as background

I agree your made up place is more likely to be in Berks or Bucks than Oxon.

Henley on Thames?

Or change May Day to a variation on bun flinging?

Didcot has some aspects that you’re looking for too, so an amalgamation of the two could work.

Try Bucks

I'm thinking Bicester might fit. It has quite a diverse population of 30K, Graven Hill would fit your posh new build area. The town centre is a bit run down with out of town shopping areas popping up. The designer shopping outlet Bicester Village attracts loads of tourists but is not generally used by locals except as an employer. Many people commute to London by train. It has a few schools, plenty of restaurants and pubs and a number of well known high street chains.