Where to live: Wallingford/Oxford area?
Discussion
As per the title, really. Landed myself a job in Wallingford, so on the hunt for some accommodation. Not after after anything fancy: a room in a houseshare, itself in a lively area (SOME activity/shops/pubs etc: don't want to live in isolation) would be sufficient. Being an ex scummy student, I'm used to small, basic stuff.
So, here come the questions:
Would IRO £350ish/month be enough for a room in a nice part of Oxford?
Where ARE the nice bits of Oxford? The North, Marston? Everyone so far is telling me to steer well clear of Blackbird Leys, and according to Google, with good reason!
Annnnnnd, would it be possible to cycle from Oxford to Wallingford? I'll be bringing my car, but it'd be nice to get back to commuting by bike.
Failing the above...Reading?
Thanks in advance!
So, here come the questions:
Would IRO £350ish/month be enough for a room in a nice part of Oxford?
Where ARE the nice bits of Oxford? The North, Marston? Everyone so far is telling me to steer well clear of Blackbird Leys, and according to Google, with good reason!
Annnnnnd, would it be possible to cycle from Oxford to Wallingford? I'll be bringing my car, but it'd be nice to get back to commuting by bike.
Failing the above...Reading?
Thanks in advance!
Why not Wallingford?
been a few years since I lived close by in Benson, but it has pubs and a bit of life etc ?
Didcot (was a s
te hole years ago, but I understand has improved slightly
I wouldn't fancy a bike ride from Oxford to Wallingford, then I am a 40+ fat f...
Reading has it all , 30-40 min drive.
been a few years since I lived close by in Benson, but it has pubs and a bit of life etc ?
Didcot (was a s
te hole years ago, but I understand has improved slightly I wouldn't fancy a bike ride from Oxford to Wallingford, then I am a 40+ fat f...
Reading has it all , 30-40 min drive.
It's an easy drive from Caversham (northern part of Reading) - along the A4074 which is a great road, but hideously dangerous on the southern end (called 'the 13 bends of death'). Caversham is professional singles/couples land, so plenty of good accommodation and good pub/restaurant life - plus Reading and the station are on your doorstep.
Wallingford is Nice, with a capital N. In fact, Wallingford ~is~ Trumpton. You may very well go out of your brain there but Oxford and Reading are both only short drives away... Reading's got a lot more going on than Oxford.
Cycling between Oxford and Wallingford is perfectly possible: 42 mins from Wallingford to Cowley, a little longer on the way back as I used to go the longer hillier route.
Cycling between Oxford and Wallingford is perfectly possible: 42 mins from Wallingford to Cowley, a little longer on the way back as I used to go the longer hillier route.
Thanks all, 'tis appreciated I can assure you!
re. Oxford: quite a few rooms going in Cowley, Botley etc: the "fringes" as it were of Oxford. This is fine for me: close enough to be accessible, far away enough to escape. A quick, semi-drunken browse on Streetview suggests they're not *too* shabby, nor can I find many bad write-ups on t'interweb. Am I right in thinking that these areas aren't too bad?
re. Reading. Never really occurred to me to look there. I shall investigate; Caversham particularly so. I shall also keep an eye out for anything in Wallingford, although I can't help but wonder if it'll be a bit *too* quiet. Quiet's not a bad thing I'll admit, but the idea of not having to jump in the car for a night out, or just to meet (new) people is one luxury I'd like to have. FWIW I'm not after the UK equivalent of Ibiza: I'm too old and boring for that. Not my scene. But, well, y' see what I mean...I hope!
re. Oxford: quite a few rooms going in Cowley, Botley etc: the "fringes" as it were of Oxford. This is fine for me: close enough to be accessible, far away enough to escape. A quick, semi-drunken browse on Streetview suggests they're not *too* shabby, nor can I find many bad write-ups on t'interweb. Am I right in thinking that these areas aren't too bad?
re. Reading. Never really occurred to me to look there. I shall investigate; Caversham particularly so. I shall also keep an eye out for anything in Wallingford, although I can't help but wonder if it'll be a bit *too* quiet. Quiet's not a bad thing I'll admit, but the idea of not having to jump in the car for a night out, or just to meet (new) people is one luxury I'd like to have. FWIW I'm not after the UK equivalent of Ibiza: I'm too old and boring for that. Not my scene. But, well, y' see what I mean...I hope!
been asked a few times here 
http://tinyurl.com/3gv729l
and
http://tinyurl.com/6gfzgze
sadly, as is so often the case on PH, we never find out what the OP decided....
http://tinyurl.com/3gv729l
and
http://tinyurl.com/6gfzgze
sadly, as is so often the case on PH, we never find out what the OP decided....
Me again 
Going to look at a few houses next week, in Marston, Headingdon and Iffley (the looking particularly nice, at least in 'photos). Also got one in Abingdon, as a bit of an alternative.
Anything I should be aware of with these areas? Seems Abingdon offers slightly better VFM, although it's some way further out. Are the bus links any good into Oxford?
Going to look at a few houses next week, in Marston, Headingdon and Iffley (the looking particularly nice, at least in 'photos). Also got one in Abingdon, as a bit of an alternative. Anything I should be aware of with these areas? Seems Abingdon offers slightly better VFM, although it's some way further out. Are the bus links any good into Oxford?
Jimbo. said:
Me again Going to look at a few houses next week, in Marston, Headingdon and Iffley (the looking particularly nice, at least in 'photos). Also got one in Abingdon, as a bit of an alternative.
Anything I should be aware of with these areas? Seems Abingdon offers slightly better VFM, although it's some way further out. Are the bus links any good into Oxford?
re: distance, you need to try driving the 'work route' at peak times to see what difference the traffic really makes... Going to look at a few houses next week, in Marston, Headingdon and Iffley (the looking particularly nice, at least in 'photos). Also got one in Abingdon, as a bit of an alternative. Anything I should be aware of with these areas? Seems Abingdon offers slightly better VFM, although it's some way further out. Are the bus links any good into Oxford?
Oxford traffic at commuting time really is dire...
Bus from Abingdon to Oxford is every 10 minutes, takes about 20 minutes to the centre, and costs £5 return. You can get the last one back at about 23:20
Did you look at Didcot ? As a 'commuting' town its hard to beat... sure its not old or pretty, but its got everything most people need, and excellent links to get to oxford/reading/london quicker than you can drive..
Jimbo. said:
Me again Going to look at a few houses next week, in Marston, Headingdon and Iffley (the looking particularly nice, at least in 'photos). Also got one in Abingdon, as a bit of an alternative.
Anything I should be aware of with these areas? Seems Abingdon offers slightly better VFM, although it's some way further out. Are the bus links any good into Oxford?
Marston - In property terms most of the houses are of a reasonable size, you generally get a bit more for your money than Headington. There's a rather useful path that runs through the University parks and can get you into the centre of town by foot or bike in minutes. There's a few small shops, some of the roads can be a bit scruffy, some are quite pleasant. There are some nice pubs in Old Marston (The Vicky Arms is worth a visit in the summer), but a lot are closing. Going to look at a few houses next week, in Marston, Headingdon and Iffley (the looking particularly nice, at least in 'photos). Also got one in Abingdon, as a bit of an alternative. Anything I should be aware of with these areas? Seems Abingdon offers slightly better VFM, although it's some way further out. Are the bus links any good into Oxford?
Headington - Quite a nice balance, decent selection of pubs, supermarkets, parks etc. Potentially going to be overrun by nothing but student accommodation for Brookes University within the next decade, if you listen to the locals. Some of the rental properties are rather overcrowded, with what was once one bedroom turned into two or three pokey boxes with a thin partition between them. Some are very nice, but come with a price to match. The main London Road is very slow during peak times. Buses towards Cowley Road and the city centre are frequent. Brookes has some decent sport and gym facilities that anyone can use.
Iffley - Assuming you mean Iffley and not Iffley Road? The closer you get towards Littlemore and Blackbird Leys the less desirable the properties, generally. Iffley Road has some nice large period properties, closer to Cowley Road you'll find lots to do socially, as long as you don't mind mixing with the students. I wouldn't advise living too close to Cowley Road once you're into the real world of work, being woken up by drunken students in the small hours would wear thin quickly. A walk through Iffley Lock onto the river and then onto the Isis Tavern/Farmhouse (only accessible by the tow path) is great on a warm day.
No experience of Abingdon myself, I've rented in Headington, St. Clements and Iffley Road. Ultimately I stayed in Headington the longest and ended up buying my first property there. I did crash with a friend in Wallingford for a couple of weeks when I was between rental houses, it seemed very pleasant and I'd probably be looking at a few houses there if I was in your position.
The search continues, with some potentially interesting results.
Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Ditto Florence Park: an "up and coming place" if the 'net is to be believed.
Abingdon's another. Got a potential, although it's in South Abingdon as opposed to the older (historical?) Northern end. Good, or avoid?
Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Ditto Florence Park: an "up and coming place" if the 'net is to be believed.
Abingdon's another. Got a potential, although it's in South Abingdon as opposed to the older (historical?) Northern end. Good, or avoid?
Jimbo. said:
The search continues, with some potentially interesting results.
Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Ditto Florence Park: an "up and coming place" if the 'net is to be believed.
Abingdon's another. Got a potential, although it's in South Abingdon as opposed to the older (historical?) Northern end. Good, or avoid?
Avoid blackbird leys like the plague....Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Ditto Florence Park: an "up and coming place" if the 'net is to be believed.
Abingdon's another. Got a potential, although it's in South Abingdon as opposed to the older (historical?) Northern end. Good, or avoid?
re: Abingdon, south Abingdon isnt as nice as north but its ok, its only really the centre and 'Albert park' that's historical tho....
All depends on what you want..town is good for a drink if you like real ale.. a few ok restaurants, but that's about it really.
I'd seriously consider/looking in Didcot, with a view to being able to get into Oxford/Reading or London quickly and easily if you want a big night out.
I lived in Didcot for 10 years and had a great time there, and that was before the big investment in the town centre, ( cinema, shops etc ), only moved to Abingdon because its better for my wife's work commute into Oxford.
Jimbo. said:
Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Seems to depend on the road really, some bits of Cowley are pleasant, some are less desirable and worse IMHO than some bits of Blackbird Leys.Jimbo. said:
The search continues, with some potentially interesting results.
Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Ditto Florence Park: an "up and coming place" if the 'net is to be believed.
Abingdon's another. Got a potential, although it's in South Abingdon as opposed to the older (historical?) Northern end. Good, or avoid?
If you can't afford nice places in Oxford, then don't live in the worse places! Anyone have any experience of Cowley? Seems that once you get away from the Cowley Road (student central), it's not that bad. Not "up there" with the likes of, say, Summertown or Jerricho, but then not as expensive ant seemingly not as grim as Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton etc.
Ditto Florence Park: an "up and coming place" if the 'net is to be believed.
Abingdon's another. Got a potential, although it's in South Abingdon as opposed to the older (historical?) Northern end. Good, or avoid?
Move a bit further out and live in a nice place.
Thanks all. University aside, this being my first "relocation", your advice is *really* appreciated
Didcot: did have a browse around: not MASSES of choice, but then again it is a smaller town than, say, Oxford or Abingdon, so that's to be expected. Not much that fitted my criteria, sadly.
Caversham: pricey, and lots of Mon-Fri lets as if they're expecting city workers. Not much in the way of full-time lets, though I'll keep looking as what's advertised does seem nice enough
Re. Cowley, the one I'm looking at soon is to the Eastern part of it (close to Headingdon), some way from the BL estate, Rosehill etc, etc. According to a BBC "crime heat" map it's not too bad, no better or worse than were I live in South Essex. This I can deal with. And at <£400, bills inclusive, double room, driveway and garage, it's got to be worth a look!
Didcot: did have a browse around: not MASSES of choice, but then again it is a smaller town than, say, Oxford or Abingdon, so that's to be expected. Not much that fitted my criteria, sadly.
Caversham: pricey, and lots of Mon-Fri lets as if they're expecting city workers. Not much in the way of full-time lets, though I'll keep looking as what's advertised does seem nice enough
Re. Cowley, the one I'm looking at soon is to the Eastern part of it (close to Headingdon), some way from the BL estate, Rosehill etc, etc. According to a BBC "crime heat" map it's not too bad, no better or worse than were I live in South Essex. This I can deal with. And at <£400, bills inclusive, double room, driveway and garage, it's got to be worth a look!
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