Places to live in Oxford
Discussion
Mods - if not in the right location please can you move.
Got a new role which requires a relocation to Oxford. Previous to where I am now I did a stint in Essex which was expensive but looking at Oxford it is even worse!
Can anybody recommend any areas to either within Oxford or the surrounding areas which are a little more reasonable, ideally budget is £750/month but can stretch to £850/month max, ideally 2 bedroom unfurnished but flexible on both if it means staying within budget & not house sharing.
Got a new role which requires a relocation to Oxford. Previous to where I am now I did a stint in Essex which was expensive but looking at Oxford it is even worse!
Can anybody recommend any areas to either within Oxford or the surrounding areas which are a little more reasonable, ideally budget is £750/month but can stretch to £850/month max, ideally 2 bedroom unfurnished but flexible on both if it means staying within budget & not house sharing.
Can't help on current rental levels but I grew up there and my parents lived there until they died. My sister still lives there.
Do you need access to the centre for work? The traffic is a nightmare, both within the ring road and often on the ring road. Cycling is do-able but Oxford can be a damp, miserable place for much of the year. Broadly East and South Oxford are the cheaper parts but it's all relative.
If you are working on the periphery, aim to avoid crossing the centre if at all possible. Also a good idea to look at the villages/suburbs in the quadrant close to work to minimise the jams. Driving between the radial A roads is often as difficult as staying on the main roads as everybody else knows the rat runs, too
The closer you are to the centre the more competition you will have from students at that rental level.
Within a ten/fifteen mile radius, there are pleasant places such as Dorchester, Witney, Woodstock and less pleasant places (but cheaper) such as Kidlington, Didcot and Bicester. Didcot and Bicester both have frequent services into Oxford station btw, although Oxford station is a brisk walk from the centre. Long Hanborough and Charlbury also have stations into Oxford but you are straying into prime West Oxfordshire country and it might not be that cheap. If you are looking to the South West of Oxford, don't forget Abingdon.
If you are renting out of town, remember that bus services can be sketchy and many villages have few if any facilities outside working hours. Many no longer have a shop or a pub.
Have you asked the HR department at your new place for any suggestions?
HTH
Peter
Do you need access to the centre for work? The traffic is a nightmare, both within the ring road and often on the ring road. Cycling is do-able but Oxford can be a damp, miserable place for much of the year. Broadly East and South Oxford are the cheaper parts but it's all relative.
If you are working on the periphery, aim to avoid crossing the centre if at all possible. Also a good idea to look at the villages/suburbs in the quadrant close to work to minimise the jams. Driving between the radial A roads is often as difficult as staying on the main roads as everybody else knows the rat runs, too
The closer you are to the centre the more competition you will have from students at that rental level.
Within a ten/fifteen mile radius, there are pleasant places such as Dorchester, Witney, Woodstock and less pleasant places (but cheaper) such as Kidlington, Didcot and Bicester. Didcot and Bicester both have frequent services into Oxford station btw, although Oxford station is a brisk walk from the centre. Long Hanborough and Charlbury also have stations into Oxford but you are straying into prime West Oxfordshire country and it might not be that cheap. If you are looking to the South West of Oxford, don't forget Abingdon.
If you are renting out of town, remember that bus services can be sketchy and many villages have few if any facilities outside working hours. Many no longer have a shop or a pub.
Have you asked the HR department at your new place for any suggestions?
HTH
Peter
bobski1 said:
Mods - if not in the right location please can you move.
Got a new role which requires a relocation to Oxford. Previous to where I am now I did a stint in Essex which was expensive but looking at Oxford it is even worse!
Can anybody recommend any areas to either within Oxford or the surrounding areas which are a little more reasonable, ideally budget is £750/month but can stretch to £850/month max, ideally 2 bedroom unfurnished but flexible on both if it means staying within budget & not house sharing.
Whereabouts will you need to get to for work? £750-850 doesn't rent you a lot in Oxford these days, we were paying that for a 2 bed flat in the centre in 2000/2001!Got a new role which requires a relocation to Oxford. Previous to where I am now I did a stint in Essex which was expensive but looking at Oxford it is even worse!
Can anybody recommend any areas to either within Oxford or the surrounding areas which are a little more reasonable, ideally budget is £750/month but can stretch to £850/month max, ideally 2 bedroom unfurnished but flexible on both if it means staying within budget & not house sharing.
I'll be commuting to near Grove so ideally outskirts is better to avoid the traffi.
I might start to look at some of the areas outside like Abingdon but the reason for choosing Oxford were for the facilities & the events etc which occur but I guess if I want that I'll have to pay for it. How difficult is it to commute in for some shops on a weekend?
Both the Mrs & I have cars so getting around isn't that bad but I do know Oxford hates cares or so they say.
She hasn't found a role yet & being a teacher is flexible where she can go so no worry there it's more my commute & having access to some of the Asian shops etc in Oxford.
I might start to look at some of the areas outside like Abingdon but the reason for choosing Oxford were for the facilities & the events etc which occur but I guess if I want that I'll have to pay for it. How difficult is it to commute in for some shops on a weekend?
Both the Mrs & I have cars so getting around isn't that bad but I do know Oxford hates cares or so they say.
She hasn't found a role yet & being a teacher is flexible where she can go so no worry there it's more my commute & having access to some of the Asian shops etc in Oxford.
Edited by bobski1 on Thursday 11th May 09:02
I live & work in the centre, so can help with some stuff.
You won't be living in or even near at that budget, I pay a lot more for a lot less! What you want is £1300+. Grove is SW Oxford, so you're on the right side of it for more affordable places. Abingdon is OK, a bit going on, but you'll get a flat for that budget.Try places like Wallingford, Didcot and the smaller villages.
Travelling in after about 10am on a weekend is a no go, get the train or P&R.
Good advice from psi310398, I'd agree with all of it.
You won't be living in or even near at that budget, I pay a lot more for a lot less! What you want is £1300+. Grove is SW Oxford, so you're on the right side of it for more affordable places. Abingdon is OK, a bit going on, but you'll get a flat for that budget.Try places like Wallingford, Didcot and the smaller villages.
Travelling in after about 10am on a weekend is a no go, get the train or P&R.
Good advice from psi310398, I'd agree with all of it.
It's no problem getting in if you need to, from that side you'd probably hit some stop start traffic on the Botley road or you could use the park and ride near the A34.
Your budget should be able to get you something in Abingdon/Wantage which would at least mean you were in a town with some facilities/social opportunities, whilst being convenient for work.
Your budget should be able to get you something in Abingdon/Wantage which would at least mean you were in a town with some facilities/social opportunities, whilst being convenient for work.
Grove is almost a "suburb" of Wantage. You'll be spending a fair amount of time on the rather congested road if you want to do that from Oxford.
I'd avoid Grove itself - I find Wantage is a bit lifeless but the Vale of White Horse has some lovely villages. To the East of Grove you may find yourself competing with the scientists from Harwell, RAL etc.
You might consider Faringdon which is quite commutable. It has a good range of cafes, pubs , restaurants and shops and is on a reasonably fast road to both Oxford and Swindon. Kingston Bagpuize-Southmoor is quite pleasant but not a humming metropolis.
I'd avoid Grove itself - I find Wantage is a bit lifeless but the Vale of White Horse has some lovely villages. To the East of Grove you may find yourself competing with the scientists from Harwell, RAL etc.
You might consider Faringdon which is quite commutable. It has a good range of cafes, pubs , restaurants and shops and is on a reasonably fast road to both Oxford and Swindon. Kingston Bagpuize-Southmoor is quite pleasant but not a humming metropolis.
Upped the price range & ones between £850-£950 seems to be the right ones, just means will have to tighten the belt a little more than planned, nothing impossible mind.
Any other tips/areas please feel free to share, the area itself appears to be somewhere I could see myself settling in permanently, don't dare look at the house prices yet!
Any other tips/areas please feel free to share, the area itself appears to be somewhere I could see myself settling in permanently, don't dare look at the house prices yet!
Leftfield suggestion -
Buy one of these and pay zero rent, mortgage, council tax and other costs, and have a blissful life on the canal, allowing you to build incredible memories and escape the rat race, whilst saving a packet - helping you afford your dream car in the future. (:
http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/image.phtml?id...
Buy one of these and pay zero rent, mortgage, council tax and other costs, and have a blissful life on the canal, allowing you to build incredible memories and escape the rat race, whilst saving a packet - helping you afford your dream car in the future. (:
http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/image.phtml?id...
illmonkey said:
egomeister said:
bobski1 said:
Asda Wheatley is 30miles away!
Other supermarkets are available 
I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
bobski1 said:
Only I reason I say that is currently doing a lidl/asda shop has saved us a fair few £ this last year & if want to buy around Oxford then need to save all I can.
I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
Those shops do exist around these parts I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
The particular example you gave is nasty though!Take a look here if you do pop down, for things to do: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
illmonkey said:
bobski1 said:
Only I reason I say that is currently doing a lidl/asda shop has saved us a fair few £ this last year & if want to buy around Oxford then need to save all I can.
I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
Those shops do exist around these parts I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
The particular example you gave is nasty though!Take a look here if you do pop down, for things to do: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Cheer for the link to the thread, will have a quick look although I think we will be scouting out potential places to live & how close things are then heading back up.
May explore more when actually come to get a place, never ever been so bothered about a place to live but the prices are absolutely ridiculous, even making me second guess whether the job is worth the hassle.
Edited by bobski1 on Monday 15th May 16:30
bobski1 said:
illmonkey said:
bobski1 said:
Only I reason I say that is currently doing a lidl/asda shop has saved us a fair few £ this last year & if want to buy around Oxford then need to save all I can.
I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
Those shops do exist around these parts I think it might be worth a trip down next weekend to check the areas out & see how they are.
The particular example you gave is nasty though!Take a look here if you do pop down, for things to do: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Cheer for the link to the thread, will have a quick look although I think we will be scouting out potential places to live & how close things are then heading back up.
May explore more when actually come to get a place, never ever been so bothered about a place to live but the prices are absolutely ridiculous, even making me second guess whether the job is worth the hassle.
Edited by bobski1 on Monday 15th May 16:30
Always time for a quick pint!
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