Best Villages To Consider For A Home Near Oxford

Regularly appearing in lists of the top places to live in the UK, the university city of Oxford makes for an excellent address and is well-equipped with an exceptional range of amenities that make buying a home there a fine option.

With lockdown leading to major changes in people’s top priorities in what makes the best new home, a new property in the countryside has become more appealing if there is less reliance on commuting and the budget can go a lot further outside a city to acquire a home with more space inside and out.

If you’re looking for the best new homes for sale in Oxfordshire, then Oxford itself and the surrounding area are a top place to start.

Watlington

Around 15 miles from Oxford, via the B480, is Watlington. While it is technically an ancient market town rather than a village, it is an area filled with traditional village charm. Watlington has a good selection of shops, a 17th-century town hall and a parish church. The likes of High Wycombe, Reading and Didcot are 20, 30 and 40 minutes away respectively.

Kingham

Kingham is a village in the Cotswolds around 25 miles from Oxford and only four miles from much-loved Chipping Norton. It has its own railway station providing passengers with direct access to London in 1 hour 23 minutes, and Oxford in just 26 minutes. The village has Kingham Hill School situated on its outskirts, an independent day and boarding secondary school. Kingham Primary School is a state school rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Asthall

Nature lovers and those who enjoy walking will feel immediately at home in Asthall, which is just under 20 miles from Oxford and a few miles from Witney. Being on the south edge of the Cotswolds, there are plenty of walking routes around the village, and there is a former Roman settlement on Akeman Street. Local hostelry The Maytme Inn was recently praised in a review of the nation’s best springtime pubs.

Swinbrook

Just down the road from Asthall is the village of Swinbrook. Swinbrook boasts some grand houses and beautiful cottages which sit on the River Windrush which runs through the rural village. It has a pretty church, an old stone bridge and a pub which was owned by the dowager Duchess of Devonshire, the last of the Mitford sisters. The A40, just a mile away, provides direct access to numerous towns and cities.

Minster Lovell

Minster Lovell village is made up of three parts: Old Minster, Little Minster and New Minster. It lies on the River Windrush, just under half-an hour’s drive from Oxford. For those that love fishing, the river is home to trout, crayfish and chub, but you need to be a resident of the village to be allowed to fish. There are two pubs, ideal for picturesque dining, and a cricket club. Witney Golf Centre is around 10 minutes away in the car.

Dorchester on Thames

With an historic high street which has featured in numerous television shows, Dorchester on Thames is eight miles south-east of Oxford and three miles north-west of Wallingford. Didcot railway station is around 15 minutes’ drive away, connecting residents to London in 45 minutes, and the M40 and Abingdon can be reached in about 20 minutes. There are several Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ schools nearby.

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