Oxfordshire and surroundings

neilp

Could you say a bit more about what you don't like about Banbury? I know both Banbury and Bicester quite well, though I have never lived in either. Instinctively I prefer Banbury because it feels more lively and less like a dormitory town. Also, Banbury is much cheaper yet only 15 minutes further away from London than Bicester (with no real difference between the two in travel time to Oxford). However, I am not sure I have spent enough time in either to have a strong enough opinion, which is why I'm seeking advice on here.

What do people think of Aylesbury? I have never been there, but have heard positive things, links to London seem very good and property prices reasonable. On the other hand, commuting to Oxford by public transport does not look great.

Once again, thoughts would be appreciated!

guy999

Banbury/Grimsbury, cant see much wrong with it.
Grimsbury near to town and station.
Got own health centre pubs - pepperpot and buffalo bills, plus new toby/hotel

Nice parks and cycle tow paths.
Plus tesco now 24hrs
Train approx 70 mins to marylebone

Usual pubs good restaurants - hyltons and veritas

Lots of polish people, but dont cause any bother.

Biggest gripe is cinema only 2 screens, have to drive 30-40 mins for big screen

ukjoel

We looked at buying in Banbury a year or so ago. What I liked was that you got a lot for your money but also the properties are older as the place has a fair bit of history and different architectural styles. The shops were a real mix of both high end and low end but there were lots of individual shops and it didnt feel like 'just another town centre' which is a tag I would give to a couple of your other choices. My suggestion would be to look outside the towns a little more perhaps at the villiages around there (and there are lots).
If you dont need to be near schools, or railway stations then you can often get more for your money.

Keeping_Positive

My view is blinkered by only ever living in Banbury so cant compare really.

Shops have improved and dont feel the need to travel out of town. 24 tesco is excellent but we also have a fairly large Sainsburys as well as Morrisons and Aldi. For frozen there is an Iceland and Farmfoods.

Indoor pool as part of a sports centre and the hope that the outdoor pool will reopen eventually. 10 pin bowling and a cinema although the cinema is way too small as guy999 said. For young kids we have two indoor play areas which are great and there are parks. Its a short train / car journey to Warwick for their park which we use in the better weather.

New stuff opening fairly frequently so to me its not dead. Maybe 20 years ago before the M40 but its a growing town now. There could be more for kids but arent alot of towns in the same boat?

Pez2

guy999 wrote: »

Biggest gripe is cinema only 2 screens, have to drive 30-40 mins for big screen

Better than no cinema at all, which is the case for Bicester and Didcot.

As far as I can see if it's a straight choice between Bicester and Banbury, then it's a choice between a larger town with better local amenities but a longer commute, or a smaller town with less locally but closer to both Oxford and London.

wibble68_2

GavP wrote: »

Better than no cinema at all, which is the case for Bicester and Didcot.

Didcot has now got a cinema.

Maysie

hi, i live in witney its a nice town building works start soon in the town centre we are getitng a cinema and a bigger shopping centre (see link below). Town centre parking is FREE as it is in the whole of west oxfordshire and looks like this will continue after they build a small multistorey! i am sure we came 2nd lowest for crime in the country in west oxfordshire. There is the usual tennage trouble occasionally. I do not know anyone in witney who has been burgarled. Heres the link for local council website http://www.westoxon.gov.uk/ . i like on edge of town on a new estate. 10 minutes by car to long hanborough where there is a train station. Buses run every 15 minutes into oxford via botley road no 100 . There is a direct one goes up woodstock road i think not sure how often that is no 200 . There is also a one that goes through the villages abit that goes down woodstock road once and hr no 11.

big supermarkets are sainsburys and waitrose, we also have a medium somerfield. there are a few dotted small tescos about witney i think there are 4 at last count also a small co-op and some other small stores. population around 20.000 now ish. highstreet shops and some indipendent shops which charge a local fee called the witney surcharge (joke !). Cheap shops are Merlins and The everything shop and we have a large poundstretchers hidden away.

I hope you find what you are looking for

flossy_splodge

Hi again. I live only just over the border in Warwickshire so go to banbury for shopping occasionally. Mainly as the Aldi is my nearest. However, I find the shop staff some of the rudest I have ever encountered, especially in Aldi where they seem to employ solely Eastern europeans who give the impression they have never heard of customer service and most certainly don't know how to smile, let alone be courteous! In the tiown centre it is not much better. Lots of shouting youngsters, no visible police (not alone in this I grant you) and generally poor service. The road links are not yet suited to the growth in the town. best thing is the railway station as you can normally get parked there, unlike other stations, Leamington Spa in particular. So guess you pays ya money as they say. Good Luck whatever you decide.:rolleyes:

chappers

I too live in East Oxford and have done since 1987(Crown Street, whereabouts are you Neil), a couple of my friends moved to Bicester a few years ago as they couldn't afford to buy in Oxford they seem to quite enjoy it, they bought an ex -council house on what is still predominantly a council estate, they say it is fine even though they do have a few Chav neighbours.
There is a train service,into London (marylebone i think) form Bicester North and a service into Oxford not many each day, from Bicester town. There is also a good bus service into Oxford which runs quite late, 2 in the morning on a Friday, if you want to go out in Oxford. also within spitting distance of the M40 or A34.Witney is ok I lived near there as a kid but transport links a a bit iffy, as you'll pretty much have to travel through Oxford to get anywhere, the drive into Oxford in the morning can be pretty crap too..I see your getting a cinema I remember the old one hope it's an improvement on that.
As for banbury don't know much about it but the wife works there and is always going on about how good the town centre is there can't tell you much about Didcot other than it used to be nicknamed Didicot is close to the A34 and has an excellant train service into Paddington or Oxford.