What’s going for it? There’s no point moving to Oxford. It’s full. Full, full, full. Not a square inch left. If you want that spire schtick in your life, you’re going to have to scour its hinterland these days. Abingdon, for instance, might lack medieval colleges, posh drinking societies and legions of tourists, but it does have a spire, rowers on the Thames and perhaps enough honey-butter-coloured stone buildings to convince you that you live a few miles to the north. The posh Abingdon school could, on a foggy day, double for the little-known St Nobb’s College. The town even has its own ridiculous/picturesque tradition: bun throwing. Don’t ask.
The case against The curse of Fat Face: all a bit chinos and posh-chains in the centre. Ditch the blandness, Abingdon. Commuting to Oxford, just a few miles away, is not without its challenges.
Well connected? Annoyingly trainless; the nearest station is two miles away in Radley – hourly slow trains to Oxford and Didcot (11 minutes), and Reading (44); the better connected Oxford and Didcot are seven or eight miles away. Driving: the A34 gets you to the M40 in 30 minutes, the M4 in 45; Oxford is near, but traffic can be bad.
Schools Primaries: Long Furlong, Dunmore, St Nicolas CofE, Carswell Community, Caldecott and Thameside are all “good”, says Ofsted, with Rush Common and Thomas Reade “outstanding”. Secondaries: John Mason and Larkmead are both “good”. Lots of independents.
Hang out at The Nag’s Head, perched on an island on the Thames, provides welcome relief from all the chains.
Where to buy Abingdon has one of those lovely historic centres containing an encyclopedia of architectural styles. Hunt for town houses and cottages on East St Helen Street, Lombard Street, and, to a lesser extent, Bath Street. North of the centre is plummest for Victorian semis and so on; start around Park Crescent, Park Road, Spring Road and the Albert Park conservation area. Or off and between Oxford Road and Radley Road, such as Norman Avenue. Large detacheds and town houses, £550,000-£1.6m. Detacheds, £320,000-£550,000. Semis, £250,000-£600,000. Terraces and cottages, £245,000-£400,000. Flats, £170,000-£350,000. Rentals: a one-bedroom flat, £675-£900pcm; a three-bedroom house, £1,000-£1,500pcm.
Bargain of the week Period terrace close to the centre. £350,000 with hodsons.co.uk.
From the streets
Helen Mugnaioni “Patisserie Pascal, French bakery – best bread ever. Not to mention delicious breakfast goodies and cakes. Absolutely brilliant.”
Mary Buxton “Lots of opportunities for sports, music and church-centred activities, all with a truly cosmopolitan mix of people. Best hidden secret is the spiritual centre, St Ethelwold’s House.”
• Do you live in Lowestoft, Suffolk? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by next Tuesday.
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