If you had to live within +- 5miles of Oxford...

[Fab Foodie]

I'd agree with being close to a railway line that serves one other or both.
Which one of you has to get to which place and what car/bike preference options do you have available and how far do you like to bike?

Also do you want a village or small town with what kind of amenities.

My cycling buddy drives Abingdon to Reading daily and says apart from parking cost it's not too bad. Another pal does the same and also cycles once or twice a week (Triathelete nutter) but it's not a great road at commuting time. I'd be bike to Oxford and train/car to Reading.

Also what are you looking for Accom. wise?

 

[SavageHoutkop]

We are looking at options... Mr SavageHoutkop has been offered a job in Oxford.
For the type of work I do, there isn't much, if anything going, in Oxford itself. So a quick rummage reveals that there are things in my line of work in Reading....

I wouldn't drive if at all possible, I don't think it's worth it given the public transport availability, and I don't have a car at the moment. Reading / Oxford seems incredibly quick on the train, albeit quite expensive; but the alternative of being stuck in traffic is a non-starter.

Mr Houtkop & I both have Bromptons (a consequence of where we now live - in a smallish flat, with nowhere to safely store a bike unless it's inside). Current commute is 5 miles each way, and as I don't rush particularly I wouldn't want to increase that much (especially if it involves hills!).

I'm not much fussed with amenities, I tend to shop online mostly nowadays, and with being that close to Oxford those amenities I do want/need won't be far off. With the B's we could go into Oxford for a meal or movie or whatever and then either train/bus home or cycle part way as necessary.

I don't think we'll be looking to buy, as I'm pretty sure we're still priced out of the market. We rent at the moment, I'd like to move to somewhere with 'outdoors' including a garden and somewhere to do bike maintainence! (Currently our bathroom if it's unpleasant outside, which is not the ideal solution).

 

[Fab Foodie]

Looks like close to Oxford then rather than midway or close to Reading?
Railwise, then it's Oxford, Radley, Sutton Courteney, Didcot, Cholsey environs I guess.
Abingdon is not so bad price wise and has lots of flats and very good bus service (as does Oxford) Radley, mostly houses as is Kennington, Sutton Courteney, mostly houses and mostly pricey as a bit posh, Didcot's a few quid cheaper all round and I can't comment on Cholsey. How far does Mrs S. prepared to cycle commute?