5 Best Oxfordshire Towns to Live
7th March 2021

5 Best Oxfordshire Towns to Live

Are you thinking of moving to Oxfordshire?

The count of Oxfordshire is frequently considered to be one of the top locations to live in the UK.

There are a variety of reasons that the county is so highly regarded.

If you have decided to move to one of Oxfordshire’s many historical and desirable towns, you will surely be aware of the reasons the county is great.

So, you have made the choice to move to Oxfordshire.

Where are the best places to live in the county?

In this blog, we explore the best Oxfordshire towns to live in.

We hope to provide a comprehensive guide to some of the most attractive areas the county has to offer.

This is the perfect article for you if you are thinking of living in Oxfordshire!

Especially if you are unsure of what town to call home.

So, these are our 5 best Oxfordshire towns to consider when living in Oxfordshire.

Witney

Witney Oxfordshire
Witney, Oxfordshire. Image credit: Experience Oxfordshire

The little market town of Witney could not be more attractive.

It sits right on the river Windrush, in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.

Like much of the Cotswolds, Witney owed much of its fame and fortune to the medieval wool trade years and right up to 2002 there was one mill in Witney still producing the famous “Witney blankets”.

Although now a large town, the bustling centre has more of a small town feel about it, this combined with its enviable location makes Witney hard to beat.

However, that small town quintessential quaintness comes at a price.

With average house prices in Witney now around the £410,000 mark, it’s considered one of the most expensive laces to live in the UK.

High housing costs aside, it’s more than just an attractive town.

Its connections make it a very popular choice for those who work in central Oxford, just a quick 11-mile journey.

Plenty of historic buildings dot the local streets.

Many of these historical buildings are built from Cotswold stone and still retain their original timber sash windows.

Its working parish church, St Mary the Virgin, along with several other places of worship is very much a part of local life.

Witney offers several interesting points worth a visit.

There is a traditional market dating back to the Middle Ages on Thursdays, and there is also a market on Saturdays.

Just a short walk from the town centre are Witney Lake and Meadows, a beautiful haven for wildlife where you can get away from it all with a walk around a beautiful lake.

Thame

Tudor Cottages Thame Oxfordshire
Tudor Cottages in Thame, Oxfordshire. Image credit: Muddy Stilettos

Thame (pronounced Tame) is a quintessential English market town boasting a wide range of independent shops, butchers, public houses, and restaurants.

It has also grabbed the attention of those looking for value for money within easy commuting distance of London, with a journey time of just 43 minutes into London Marylebone.

The combination of both high-level education for both public and private sectors and a wide variety of both period and modern homes has given Thame and the surrounding areas prosperous growth year on year.

Founded during the Anglo-Saxon era, the town was strategically important to both the Parliamentarians and the Royalists during the English Civil war while King Charles I held court in 1642 in Oxford.

Residents enjoy a busy social calendar.

Key events include the late April/early May Music in the Park (Elms Park) which is a family-fun event with live music and dance acts to please all ages.

Thame is located a stone throw from the wonderful Chiltern Hills Area of Natural Beauty, so making the most of the great outdoors and all it has to offer awaits those who live in Thame.

Average house prices in Thame presently sit around £455,000, so comfortably above the national average.

Chinnor

Former Quarry Chinnor Oxfordshire
Former Quarry in Chinnor, Oxfordshire. Image credit: BBC

The large village of Chinnor is in the South of Oxford, just below the Chiltern Hills escarpment.

A relatively affluent area, Chinnor has a higher rate of home ownership, either outright or via a mortgage than the national average.

Chinnor is primarily a dormitory village for Thame, High Wycombe, Aylesbury and London and as such plenty of local residents make the daily trip in and out of these larger locations by road or rail.

Although the housing market in Chinnor is limited with regard to what is for sale, pushing prices up, property is still so much cheaper when compared to London by as much as £240,000.

Currently, average house prices in Chinnor stand around the £620,000.

So although it’s much cheaper than London prices, it’s still considered very expensive for the rest of the country.

Chinnor itself has several attractions on offer.

Its twelfth-century Saint Andrews Church, a steam and vintage diesel heritage railway line and the restored Chinnor Windmill.

There are three lively pubs in the village and a plethora of nearby country pubs dotted among the little villages surrounding Chinnor.

A friendly community awaits newcomers and a list of clubs and organisations who welcome new members.

There is a Chess Club, table tennis and badminton clubs and Tae Kwon Do to name a few.

Visit the Chinnor Parish Council’s website for further information.

Jericho

Colourful Terraced Houses Jericho Oxfordshire
Colourful Terraced Houses in Jericho, Oxfordshire. Image credit: Culture Trip

Jericho is certainly one of the best Oxfordshire towns!

This trendy location is popular with buyers looking for a stylish alternative to Oxford.

With period Victorian terraced houses neighboured by thriving restaurants, bars and cafes, Jericho is a great place to be!

The area has a real buzz during the busy university term time.

Like many student areas, Jericho is also popular with young professionals.

Living in Jericho offers buyers a great balance of urban and rural living.

Residents are never too far from the stunning Oxfordshire countryside whilst also have all the amenities of a bigger town.

Whilst only a small area, Jericho offers locals some excellent shopping options.

Many of the shopping options are rather niche.

This is certainly in line with the trendy theme of the area.

The Westgate shopping centre is around 15 minutes away.

This location offers some more popular retail shopping options.

With average house prices in Jericho presently north of £1,000.000, the town is undoubtedly one of Oxfordshire’s most desirable places to live.

Henley-on-Thames

Aerial View Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Aerial View of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Image credit: Henley Town Council

One of Oxfordshire’s most notable towns, Henley-on-Thames or just Henley is another of the county’s beautiful and highly desirable places to live.

A Thames side location famous for its annual Royal Regatta, a music and arts festival and more recently a Literature Festival.

Voted by The Times as one of the best places to live in the English countryside and a regular winner of RHS Britain in Bloom medals, Henley really does take some beating both in attractiveness and facilities.

However, buyers beware, you will need deep pockets as the average cost of a home is high, currently £840,272.

Very well connected, you can arrive in London in a little over an hour by train, and Oxford and Basingstoke in under an hour by road. Plus, a host of other well-known towns across the county.

People have lived in the area for many years. The first record of Henley is from 1179, when it is recorded that King Henry II “had bought land for the making of buildings”.

King John granted the manor of Benson and the town and manor of Henley to Robert Harcourt in 1199.

Today, Henley offers those who live here a great mix of things to do and see.

Home to a number of small curiosity and antique shops that are sure to spark your interest. Whilst the award-winning River & Rowing Museum is an extremely popular attraction.

Of course, it is most known as a world-renowned centre for rowing. Each summer the Henley Royal Regatta is held on Henley Reach. The event became “Royal” in 1851, when Prince Albert became patron of the regatta.

Ready to Start Living in Oxfordshire?

Goodmove truck

Are you thinking of living in one of these villages in Oxfordshire?

Hopefully, we have been able to highlight some of the best locations to consider living in Oxfordshire.

Each of these Oxfordshire towns has a variety of fantastic attractions.

These include an array of different properties, meaning there is surely a perfect home for you!

Did one of the 5 locations appeal to you?

If so, it is time to start planning your move.

GoodMove will make your house move to Oxfordshire an easy and stress-free process.

We take great pleasure in confirming everything runs smoothly and flawlessly.

Hopefully, we can help you to settle into your new home right away.

As well as our competitively priced removals package, we can also offer extra services such as temporary or long-term storage facilities should you need them.

GoodMove cover all areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and our friendly estimators can call round at a convenient time for you and strategically plan your move to perfection.

During these unique times, GoodMove are also offering a new video survey service.

Using our new technology, we can gather all the information required to assist with your move, from the comfort of your home!

Video surveys will help you save valuable time and preserve the best safety levels.

To find out more about how we could get your dream move to one of these villages in Buckinghamshire or any other location underway do not hesitate to call us on the number listed above.

Alternatively, fill out a quick quote form or click on our live bot in the bottom right and a member of our customer services team will be in touch shortly.

We look forward to helping you move to one of these Oxfordshire towns.

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