Relocating to Oxfordshire: city to sticks

Should we? Will we ever? Do people really enjoy it? Would it work for us? 

Most Londoners will at some point ponder the big question of moving to the country. I know, I’ve done it. For almost 10 years a London centric life kept me very happy. In the back of my mind however I knew my long term home lay beyond the M25, and my longing for a more rural lifestyle grew.  

In 2013 I took the plunge and moved from South West London to rural Oxfordshire. I’ve never looked back. There have been highs and lows from which I have learned lots. This adventure now enables me to effectively and compassionately guide clients on their own similar journey, often allowing me to be one step ahead in the series of quandaries and deliberations. 

Here are some of my top tips to ‘getting it right’: 

Rural rural vs rural   

Being surrounded by open fields is a romantic prospect, but the reality can differ. I advise clients to think carefully about whether a home accessible only by car is really for them. My happy place ended up being a village centre house within walking distance of a pub and handful of shops. Remember England has a long winter and open fields rapidly loose their appeal when it’s cold, dark and wet. 

Space for guests 

I quickly found the frequency of my return trips to London falling. The main reason was that London friends were so keen to come and stay! Guest accommodation in London had barely been a consideration but suddenly weekends were occupied by hosting, hosting and more hosting. Extra bedrooms, bathrooms and parking are all therefore worthy of serious consideration. 

Time at home 

Most London to country movers will remark on significantly increased amounts of time spent at home. The working from home shift has added another dimension to this entirely. Fortunately for city leavers lower property prices often enable a significant upsize, plus a bigger garden. Ensuring your living and working accommodation is suited for the whole family and longterm is vital. 

Where is your ‘local’ 

A village location with easy access to Oxford appealed to me, but I quickly found the local market towns were actually far more convenient for day to day shopping. Battling Oxford traffic to get to Waitrose or the post office became a chore, but a slightly longer drive in the opposite direction took me to the market town of Abingdon where town centre traffic and parking were much more accessible.

Village Pub vs Village Shop 

The ideal is of course both however many villages only possess one. The ideal of a cozy, friendly village pub is delightful but I often suggest that clients think carefully about how often in reality they will visit. Many find trips to the village shop much more frequent, and useful! 

Research

It is not possible to do too much! I take this element of our Home Search process very seriously. School runs and busses, commutes, traffic bottle necks, peak time parking at the local station are important factors and mistakes can irritate in the the long term. Getting location and lifestyle logistics right is as important as finding the right home. Some serious pre purchase due diligence is the the only way is to gain a realistic and thorough understanding of how your new home and location might work for you.

The OXON Property Search home search service is designed for clients who are not yet familiar with the area in which they wish to move. Our intricate local knowledge and twenty years of property experience both of allow us to benefit our clients with our insight, expertise and an all round head start. For more information on our Home Search service please don’t hesitate to contact us.