What’s going for it? We are deep in enemy territory here, chaps, I thought, as I eyeballed the single, dusty, tumbleweed-strewn copy of the Guardian in the newsagents. “We normally have five,” said the man on the cash till, “or so.” George Orwell might have grown up little Eric Blair in Shiplake, a few leafy streets down, but this is mostly a land where Boris Johnson is default. And everyone wears Fat Face, when not in regatta blazers. Back in 2011, Britain’s most expensive home was sold here. Yes, even more expensive than anything in Londongrad. And owned by a fugitive Russian banker. You can see how a certain view of the world is confirmed by one’s surroundings. It certainly is lovely here, exceedingly pretty, all wisteria-clad 18th-century tiles and freshly painted as if the Queen is about to pop by. Which she probably is. Poverty appears to have been eradicated, or at least shifted out of sight. Which is not to say you can’t find the odd, vaguely affordable patch in paradise. You could hole up there, a spy, like Orwell. Come on, we could start the revolution!
The case against Edge-less. You will be outnumbered, outspent and out-chino-ed. One can have too much wisteria.
Well connected? Trains: two, sometimes one an hour to Twyford, where you can change on to the mainline, making Reading 25-32mins and London just over an hour. Buses to Oxford and London. Driving: Reading is 25 mins, the M4, 15 mins, Heathrow in half an hour, Oxford in 50 mins.
Schools Primaries: Trinity CofE, Badgemore, Valley Road and nearby Shiplake CofE are “good”, says Ofsted. Secondaries: Gillotts is “good”.
Hang out at… Warm ale in spruced-up pubs such as the Angel; posh nosh at the (I assume) ironically named Orwells, in Shiplake.
Where to buy The old centre is delightful, a wonderful mix of ages, from half-timbered cottages to Edwardian semis. Snoop around Friday Street and New Street: you won’t be able to afford it, mind. It’s nice, too, west to Friar Park, and around Fairmile and Lambridge Wood Road. Large detacheds and town houses, £800,000-£4m. Detacheds and smaller town houses, £600,000-£800,000. Semis, £450,000-£1.25m. Terraces and cottages, £400,000-£600,000. Flats, £325,000-£600,000. Rentals: a one-bed flat, £875-£975pcm; a three-bed house, £1,250-£1,750pcm.
Bargain of the week By London standards. Think postwar. Like a 50s two-bedroom semi for £375,000. With davistate.com.
From the streets
Lucy Roy “A friendly town nestling in the Chilterns. Good mix of shops including my favourite, Adventures In Living, an interior design shop and, of course, a Waitrose!”
Emma Leatham “The perfect combination of beautiful countryside and lively town life. But traffic over Henley Bridge can be a nightmare.”
Live in Henley-on-Thames? Join the debate below
• Do you live in Plumstead, south-east London? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 21 June.
