Banbury Regional Information

Help and advice on buying property in Banbury and the surrounding villages

Nestled on the edge of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Banbury is an interesting town that achieves a wonderfully crafted balance between historical lineage and current day bustling life. Located 64 miles north east of London on the River Cherwell, it offers easy access to the rest of the country via well-served train and motorway networks.

Being so well connected travel-wise, many house hunters thus concentrate their focus on the wonderful villages dotted around Banbury to find their dream home. It’s a wise choice, for there is lots to delight! To the west lie the Cotswolds, with plenty to grab attention. However, Banbury is also a gatekeeper to the ‘secret shires’, and if you head east you’ll find yourself captivated by the gorgeous Northamptonshire countryside… once discovered, most never want to leave.

Transport Links

As a town supporting many picturesque villages, Banbury is nicely served with respect to transport links, so commuters are well provided for. It has a main line station that’s only about an hour from London with trains heading directly into Marylebone. However, it’s also within easy reach of Reading, Oxford and Coventry, with Birmingham being also under an hour by train. Plus towns relatively nearby, such as Long Buckby and Milton Keynes, can provide good commuting opportunities for those who need to reach the Euston side of the capital.

Being effectively at the intersection of three counties – Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire – Banbury is also well located for the road network too, with access to the M40 immediately available from the town. This ensures that travel north to Coventry, Birmingham and beyond is easily accessible, and south to the M25 or southwest to A34 very straightforward as well. The A361 provides access to the west, and enables drivers to enjoy some truly stunning Cotswold scenery as they head further afield to places like Wales, and the South West.

Looking for Property Near Banbury

Beyond Banbury itself, inhabitants of the surrounding area get to enjoy peace and tranquillity of beautiful countryside whilst also benefitting from good access to popular business locations. This makes it ideal for commuters and families alike. And with a rich range of property types and sizes available too, it can suit all budgets.

To the west, sit little treats such as Hook Norton, the home of Old Hooky for those who love a good pint. And to the south you’ll find pleasant locations such as Aynho and Deddington. To the north, Cropredy will draw you into its music festival annually and get you tapping your toes. But if you prefer, you can head further along the A361 to picturesque villages such as Chipping Warden, Wardington, Byfield, and Badby before you then reach Daventry; so named for being where the Danes halted their advance in medieval times. Off the A361, if you wish to explore east, you can drive towards historic Sulgrave, Wappenham, Syresham, and Silverstone before reaching Towcester, with pretty much every hamlet and village along the way offering chocolate-box style delights as you move deeper into this hidden part of England.

Such cute rural idylls don’t mean you have to compromise on the comfort of modern amenities. The area and villages that surround Banbury are well catered for with entertainment, shopping, indoor and outdoor activities, and more practical features such as health care facilities. There’s plenty to capture the interest for all ages, and couples, families, and retirees alike will find enjoyable pursuits to fill their time throughout the year.

Schools Serving the Banbury Area and Surrounding Villages

Though Banbury is in Oxfordshire, it is very convenient for Northamptonshire and Warwickshire too. This means the offering to those living in the surrounding area with regard to schools is wide, and we’d recommend that you check the catchment of a particular school if you have one in mind.

With a population of nearly 50,000, there are a good selection of government funded schools in the town itself. However, many pupils attend schools beyond the town, for example the highly recommended grammar schools in Rugby, such as Lawrence Sheriff School (boys only) and Rugby High School (girls only).

Excellent independent schools are also nearby, and include Rugby School, Princethorpe, Stowe, and Bloxham. However, other boarding schools such as Uppingham, Oakham, Oundle, Wellingborough, and Spratton Hall are within easy reach too.

Points of Local Interest In and Around Banbury

It’s very hard to mention Banbury without someone making reference to a famous nursery rhyme. And the fact that the site of Banbury Cross is still celebrated is testament to the amount of history that oozes through the town. However, the whole area surrounding Banbury is steeped in history. Nearby is Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington’s forebears. And the National Trust’s beautiful Canons Ashby Elizabethan manor house is but a few miles drive, welcoming visitors in to enjoy a saunter around the glorious gardens.

Outdoor activities are plentiful, with opportunities to enjoy fishing and horse riding, whilst the canal network is also very accessible. Plus the many reservoirs in the area can provide hours of endless fun on the water, including sailing, windsurfing, and canoeing. But for those with a fascination for motorsport, of course Silverstone racing circuit offers lots of entertainment, nicely supported by the National Motor Museum that’s within easy reach too.

Future

The Proposed HS2 route does pass through this area, near Brackley. Whilst it is obviously important to understand the impact of future developments, works have started and it is possible to find out more detail regarding a location once you’ve pinned one down. Of course it is impossible to know for sure on any house purchase what might happen in the future, though, and this must be borne in mind. For example, the impact of HS2 will vary enormously from house to house, and sound can travel in unexpected ways rather than line of sight. Also, when it is built, it is claimed the HS2 trains will be electric, a far less nuisance than current trains. It is possible that some properties may be adversely affected during the construction phase, even a long way from the actual route. But with careful research and an open mind, you may feel that the eventual impact will not be significant for you, and you can potentially invest in a property at a good price.

How Can We Help?

As a property finder, we help not only with your house hunt but we also oversee the purchase process all the way to completion. And in taking on this role, we thus remove all the obstacles from your path, organising surveyors, conveyancers, and tradespeople etc. as necessary.

Our clients may be moving some distance, or be local; they may be too busy or not know where to begin; they may be unable to find a suitable house or have too much choice – see our case studies to see how we’ve helped people in your situation.