Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-nbsp">WHY?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Brill &#8211; affectionately known as &#8216;Brill on the Hill&#8217; &#8211; has a Grade II-listed windmill sitting atop a (yes, you guessed it) huge hill overlooking the border between Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It&#8217;s a suitably rural symbol for this sweet, red-bricked little village that woos residents and visitors alike with its bucolic charms yet is only a 15-minute drive to Thame and 33 mins to Oxford.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/ThePointer.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-150874" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/ThePointer.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/ThePointer-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/ThePointer-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/ThePointer-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Pointer in Brill</figcaption></figure>



<p><a aria-label="The Pointer (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pointer-brill-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pointer</a>&nbsp;in Brill is a country pub with rooms, all cosy nooks and timber beams, which prides itself on a seasonal menu and a warm welcome. It&#8217;s just the sort of place you&#8217;d be delighted to see after a winter walk. If you can&#8217;t stay in one of its eight en-suite rooms, you might find time to pop next door to the pub&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thepointerbrill.co.uk/about-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butcher&#8217;s shop</a>, which sells local meats, eggs and charcuterie &#8211; plus freshly baked bread and other goodies on Saturdays. Another locals&#8217; haunt is <a href="https://www.thepheasantbrill.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pheasant</a> &#8211; it&#8217;s a foodie pub and B&amp;B with cracking views of Brill Windmill. And it&#8217;s a winner of the Channel 4 reality show <em>Four in a Bed</em>, to boot. Also worth checking out are local Italian <a href="https://caffegloria.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gloria&#8217;s</a> in Thame and <a href="https://www.theclifdenarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Clifden Arms</a> in Worminghall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/HoweFarmFlowers.jpg" alt="Howe Farm Flowers Best Places to Live Brill" class="wp-image-172521" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/HoweFarmFlowers.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/HoweFarmFlowers-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/HoweFarmFlowers-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/HoweFarmFlowers-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Howe Farm Flowers</figcaption></figure>



<p>Brill is small, which is precisely why it&#8217;s so revered. So aside from the butchers/deli and two pubs, Brill has two convenience stores (one is a post office) to meet day-to-day needs. You can drive to Thame for a bigger shop (it has a large Waitrose) but Brill benefits from visiting merchants who&#8217;ll come to you too. Darran&#8217;s fresh Grimsby fish van comes to Brill every Tuesday, and <a href="https://www.howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Howe and Co</a>&#8216;s fish and chip van stops by the main square on Saturday evenings. Brill is also surrounded by farms where you can buy local produce, such as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/terrythameanddaughters/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Annie Acres</a> down the hill, <a href="https://www.waterperryfarmshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waterperry Farm Shop</a> east of Oxford, and <a href="http://www.howefarmflowers.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Howe Farm Flowers</a>&nbsp;in neighbouring Dorton. Howe Farm offers a PYO service and workshops on how to cut and arrange the farm&#8217;s beautiful homegrown blooms.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Looking after yourself is made pretty easy in Brill. Head to Thame for the <a href="https://eraclinics.co.uk/">ERA Skin &amp; Laser Clinic</a>, a top choice for the rejuvenating technologies and expert tweakments. You&#8217;re also super close to the charming village of Long Crendon, home to <a href="https://www.byfirelight.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Firelight</a>&#8216;s yoga retreats, wellness and live music events at Lopemede Farm, all accompanied by stunning views. If it&#8217;s pure relaxation you&#8217;re after, <a href="https://www.hartwell-house.com/the-spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hartwell House</a> nr Aylesbury has glorious spa facilities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.brillparishcouncil.co.uk/brill-community-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brill Market</a> has been going since Medieval times and now takes place monthly, replete with local meat, veg and eggs &#8211; pick up a coffee and a bacon roll before going for a walk round the green. The parish is a tight-knit community here and hosts weekly sports, social, wellbeing and children&#8217;s <a href="https://www.brillparishcouncil.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">events</a>. There&#8217;s also an annual get-together at the village social club to celebrate everything that makes Brill so brilliant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/North-front-Waddesdon-Manor.-Photo-Chris-Lacey-c-National-Trust-Waddesdon-Manor-2.jpg" alt="Waddesdon Manor buckinghamshire" class="wp-image-148655" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/North-front-Waddesdon-Manor.-Photo-Chris-Lacey-c-National-Trust-Waddesdon-Manor-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/North-front-Waddesdon-Manor.-Photo-Chris-Lacey-c-National-Trust-Waddesdon-Manor-2-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/North-front-Waddesdon-Manor.-Photo-Chris-Lacey-c-National-Trust-Waddesdon-Manor-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/North-front-Waddesdon-Manor.-Photo-Chris-Lacey-c-National-Trust-Waddesdon-Manor-2-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Waddesdon Manor</figcaption></figure>



<p>Aside from the&nbsp;lovely <a href="http://www.brillwindmill.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brill Windmill</a>,&nbsp;a top local beauty spot is <a href="https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/rushbeds-wood" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rushbeds Wood</a>, where&#8217;s there&#8217;s a gentle wildlife walk set amongst the ancient woodland. For a day out, the Rothschilds&#8217; magnificent <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/waddesdon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waddesdon Manor</a> is less than 20 mins away, providing all-weather activities across the French renaissance-style chateau and gardens &#8211; topped by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos&#8217; fabulous wedding cake folly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>The stylish&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aylesbury Waterside Theatre</a>, built in 2010, is a 30 minute drive east, and Oxford&#8217;s array of theatres (<a data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/" href="https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Theatre</a>, <a data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/" href="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford Playhouse</a> et al) are about the same distance to the southwest. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/talfestival/?locale=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thame Arts and Literature Festival</a> is a local cultural highlight, and for film nights there&#8217;s <a href="https://thamecinema.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thame Cinema 4 All</a> and <a href="https://www.haddenhamscreen.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haddenham Screen</a>. Head North from Brill, and you&#8217;ll get to Bicester in under half an hour. The cultural highlight there (aside from retail therapy at Bicester Village!) is the William Kent-designed and privately owned <a href="https://rousham.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rousham Gardens</a>. Note: no kids under 15 allowed and no coffee shop! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Houses in Brill have sold for an average of £349,667 over the last year. The majority of sales were terraced properties, going for an average of&nbsp;£295,357, while sales of semi-detacheds averaged at £425,700.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="663" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Brill-Best-Places-.png" alt="A beautiful family home, with gardens, grounds and stables down the road in Murcott. On the market with Knight Frank for £1.45m." class="wp-image-172530" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Brill-Best-Places-.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Brill-Best-Places--800x530.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Brill-Best-Places--400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A beautiful family home, with gardens, grounds and stables down the road in Murcott. <a href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/murcott-oxford-oxfordshire-ox5/oxf012259637" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market with Knight Frank for £1.45m</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.windmillpreschoolbrill.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Windmill Pre-School</a>, rated &#8216;Outstanding&#8217; by Ofsted, is next to the village primary school and has lovely countryside views. <a href="http://www.oakleypreschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oakley Pre-school</a>, a term-time nursery and pre-school, is a short drive away.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools-nbsp">SCHOOLS&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brill.bucks.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">C of E village school</a>&nbsp;goes through from Reception to Year 6 and is reassuringly &#8216;Good&#8217;, according to Ofsted. For secondary, there&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lord Williams&#8217;s School</a> in Thame, <a href="https://waddesdonschool.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waddesdon School</a>&nbsp;and the well regarded grammar schools in Aylesbury (one girls&#8217;, one boys&#8217; and one co-ed!). For independent schools, Oxford has it sorted. Brilliant co-ed day and boarding school&nbsp;<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/doverbroecks-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">d’Overbroecks</a>&nbsp;is progressive with excellent results, academic powerhouse<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/magdalen-college/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Magdalen College School</a> is one of the UK&#8217;s top schools, and for high-achieving girls&#8217; schools&nbsp;there&#8217;s <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/headington-school-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Headington Rye School</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/oxford-high-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford High</a>. <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/wychwood-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wychwood School</a> is nurturing and creative, Looking for a Prep option? Enter <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-dragon-school-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dragon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/summer-fields-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer Fields</a>, and <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/christ-church-cathedral/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christchurch Cathedral School</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST-KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Brill was featured in John Betjeman&#8217;s 1973 documentary&nbsp;<em>Metro-Land</em>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Perch_co-working-1000x667.jpg" alt="Sofas at the Perch Co-working in Bicester" class="wp-image-174331" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Perch_co-working-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Perch_co-working-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Perch_co-working-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Perch_co-working.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Perch Co-working, Bicester</figcaption></figure>



<p>Not so brill – it&#8217;s 55 miles to London. You have two options by train: from Haddenham &amp; Thame Parkway (20 min drive, 39 mins on the fast train, £5,132 for an annual full-time season ticket) or from Bicester (18 mins drive, 50 mins on the fast train, £6,220 for an annual season ticket). It&#8217;s 1 hr 26 mins by car, subject to traffic. Want the co-working space without the commute? Hop in the car and you’ll be at <a href="https://pointofdifference.co.uk/co-working-space-bicester/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perch</a>, a slick, stylish boutique office space in Bicester, in a jiffy. There&#8217;s a Sainsbury&#8217;s supermarket (with ample parking) one minute away and Bicester Village winking at you from around the corner.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


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