Bucks &amp; Oxon


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



<p>If you&#8217;re looking for all the perks of well-heeled Cotswolds living, but without being under the tourist microscope, then Charlbury could be right up your street. The town has a strong sense of community, easy access to London as well as a thriving social calendar.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/TheBullCharlburyJun23-5977-Edit-scaled-1.jpeg" alt="The Bull Inn Charlbury" class="wp-image-150978" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/TheBullCharlburyJun23-5977-Edit-scaled-1.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/TheBullCharlburyJun23-5977-Edit-scaled-1-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/TheBullCharlburyJun23-5977-Edit-scaled-1-1000x563.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/TheBullCharlburyJun23-5977-Edit-scaled-1-400x225.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/TheBullCharlburyJun23-5977-Edit-scaled-1-900x506.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Bull Inn, Charlbury</figcaption></figure>



<p>The village is literally riddled with beautiful places to park yourself for breakfast, lunch and dinner. <a href="https://thebullcharlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull</a> is a 500-year-old institution with as a classic gastropub menu alongside Insta-worthy interiors and this year <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/2024-michelin-star-winners-near-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">was awarded</a> its first Bib Gourmand from Michelin. Chef Chloe Horner (formerly of Oxfork in Oxford) has her eponymous restaurant <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChloesCharlbury">Chloe’s</a> – hugely popular for its Friday night suppers. Now there&#8217;s a new addition to the village – Brazillian chef Marcia Harvey&#8217;s <a href="https://amarelobistro.co.uk/">Amarelo</a>, a South-American inspired restaurant on the site of the former Old Post Office. Two villages along in Chadlington you have <a href="https://cafedelapost.com/">Café de la Post</a>&nbsp;– a coffee shop with well-attended evening pizza nights as well as an off-licence. </p>



<p>Serving no-fuss, rustic lunches in the gorgeous rural setting of the AONB Evenlode Valley is family-run coffee shop <a href="https://www.theoldshedcharlbury.co.uk/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Old Shed</a>, just a short drive (or 20 minute walk) from the town centre. Be sure to try one of the delicious homemade cakes and a game of Disc Golf (golf but, erm, with discs) in the surrounding woodland. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-scaled.jpeg" alt="Mark's Cotswold Bakery" class="wp-image-173192" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-scaled.jpeg 1920w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-750x1000.jpeg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-300x400.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_0776-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mark&#8217;s Cotswolds Bakery</figcaption></figure>



<p>Charlbury is quiet on the shopping scene though there&#8217;s a Co-Op and Londis locally. However, there is the fantastic <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://charlburydeli.cafe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlbury Deli &amp; Café</a> (owned by 120 local shareholders) where 80% of the produce stocked is from Oxfordshire suppliers including coffee from New Ground and seriously good sourdough from <a aria-label="Marks Cotswold Bakery (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.markscotswoldbakery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark&#8217;s Cotswold Bakery</a>. Whilst your picking up your sourdough, you can snag yourself a painting from <a href="//www.branch-arts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Branch Arts</a> run by ex Photographer&#8217;s Gallery and Royal Academy publicist (and local resident) Susie Lawson. You&#8217;re 15 mins from Burford, Witney and Woodstock for more choice.</p>



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



<p>With its winding country roads, little traffic and rural vistas Charlbury is a popular cycling destination on the <a aria-label="Cotswold Line Cycle Route (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/cotswold-line" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cotswold Line Cycle Route</a> that follows paths from Oxford to Worcester. There are acres and acres of parkland and woodland to explore nearby including <a aria-label="Wychwood Forest (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wychwood Forest</a> (the Wychwood Loop is an excellent cycle route), plus there are walking routes with stunning views around the perimeter of <a href="https://www.cornburypark.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornbury Park</a> (usually closed to the public until festival season with Wilderness held on the estate). There&#8217;s a yoga joint in the town run by <a href="https://www.charlburyyogastudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew Greenfield</a> who&#8217;s created a light and airy loft studio for group and private classes.</p>



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



<p>Events in the surrounds include an annual <a aria-label="Beer Festival (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.charlburybeerfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beer Festival</a> (with&nbsp;the Aunt Sally Singles World Championship no less), <a aria-label="Charlbury Street Fair (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.charlbury.info/community/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlbury Street Fair</a>, <a aria-label="Riverside Festival (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riverside Festival</a>, and Oxfordshire&#8217;s coolest festival jaunt <a aria-label="Wilderness (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wildernessfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wilderness</a> – think a heady mix of right-on hippiness (yoga, skinny-dipping, hot hubs) and top-tier music and food. Looking for local history? <a href="https://charlburycornerhouse.co.uk/charlbury-museum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlbury Museum</a> is based in the Corner House.</p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blenheim Palace</a>, in Woodstock, is just a 13 min drive with a jam-packed calendar of events throughout the year and you&#8217;re 20 mins from Soho Farmhouse if you can snaffle a membership. One of my favourite National Trust properties, the atmospheric Jacobean <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/chastleton">Chastleton House</a> (where <em>Wolf Hall</em> was filmed), is 20 mins away. For kids in the village, there&#8217;s local consultation about extending the skate park and also making it more enticing for girls. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</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/3/2021/03/wilderness-3.jpg" alt="Wilderness Festival" class="wp-image-113551" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/wilderness-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/wilderness-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/wilderness-3-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/wilderness-3-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/wilderness-3-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wilderness</figcaption></figure>



<p>Such a treat being this close to August&#8217;s new annual <a href="https://www.wildernessfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wilderness Festival</a>.  The festival takes place in Cornbury Park, an &#8216;Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty&#8217; Cornbury Park, has boasted previous big names such as Years &amp; Years and Jungle, has a stage for spoken word and talks, family events and crafts, and even a lakeside spa! Cornbury Park also hosts <a href="https://www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk/venues/cornbury-estate-charlbury-outdoor-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outdoor theatre</a> of Shakespeare, classics and family shows. Charlbury&#8217;s <a href="https://www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riverside Festival</a> is completely free to attend, with over 30 bands playing across 3 stages.  It is also just a 17 min drive to the family-friendly <a href="https://thebigfeastival.com/"> Big Feastival</a> run by Blur&#8217;s Alex James, for A-list live music and a line up of excellent chefs. </p>



<p>The closest theatre is the lovely Chipping Norton Theatre (known locally as Chippy Theatre), renowned for its sell-out panto. There&#8217;s also the newish <a href="https://www.thelivingroomcinemachippy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Living Room Cinema</a> in Chipping Norton. If you&#8217;re not a member of Soho Farmhouse, make a friend who is &#8211; there&#8217;s an Electric Cinema there. </p>



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



<p>Affordable for this part of the country. Average prices are £555,214 over the last year, with semi-detached properties averaging £400,346 and detached properties sold for an average of £919,667. Sold prices in Charlbury are up at 9% up on the previous year, according to Right Move.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Charlbury-1.jpeg" alt="An open plan 5 bed, 3 bath house in Charlbury, On the market for £1.59m." class="wp-image-150972" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Charlbury-1.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Charlbury-1-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Charlbury-1-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Charlbury-1-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Charlbury-1-788x525.jpeg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An open plan 5 bed, 3 bath house in Charlbury, <a href="https://www.johndwood.co.uk/properties/17227464/sales/OXF190217#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £1.59m</a>.</figcaption></figure>



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



<p><a href="https://littlemonkeyscharlbury.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Monkeys</a> in the heart of Charlbury is rated Ofsted &#8216;Good&#8217; and provides home cooked meals. The smaller 28 place <a href="https://charlburypreschool.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlbury Pre School</a> is also very central and rated Good, as is <a href="https://naracharlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nära Charlbury</a>  over the river.</p>



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



<p>Charlbury is spoilt for choice of top state primaries, with <a href="https://www.finstock.oxon.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finstock Church of England Primary</a> and <a href="https://www.holy-trinity.oxon.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Holy Trinity Catholic School</a> both rated &#8216;Outstanding&#8217; by Ofsted. <a href="https://chipping-norton.oxon.sch.uk/">Chipping Norton School</a> is a &#8216;Good&#8217;-rated academy and probably the best local state senior option. Lovely rural <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/kingham-hill-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kingham Hill</a> with its 100 acre site (so huge they need buggies to get around!) is just a 20 min drive; equally nurturing <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/bloxham-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sibford School</a>, <a href="https://www.tudorhallschool.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tudor Hall</a> senior school for girls, <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/oxford-high-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carrdus</a> Prep and stong all-rounder <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/carrdus-school-banbury-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloxham School</a> and are 20 mins away near Banbury. Or there&#8217;s Oxford, with its extensive list of excellent schools is just 15 minutes from Charlbury station. Options include academic powerhouse <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/magdalen-college/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Magdalen College</a> (boys all though with mixed Sixth Form); outstanding progressive school <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/doverbroecks-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">d’Overbroeck’s</a> (co-ed, from 7 &#8211; 18 yrs); <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/oxford-high-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford High</a> (girls, 3 – 18 yrs); newly merged <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/headington-school-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Headington Rye</a> School (co-ed prep 3 – 11 yrs, girls&#8217; senior 11 &#8211; 18 yrs); and <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-dragon-school-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dragon School</a> day and boarding prep (co-ed, 4 – 13 yrs, be prepared to rub shoulders with A-list parents).</p>



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



<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/blenheim-farm" target="_blank">Blenheim Farm</a> is a peaceful one-hectare nature reserve brimming with wildlife (look out for songbirds and butterflies) just outside Charlbury. Top tip: park for free in the lay-by at the bottom of the hill in Charlbury to access the footpath by Blenheim Farm House.</p>



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



<p>Charlbury has its own train station where you can reach London in 1 hr 13 mins on the fastest train. Season tickets from £8,000. On average driving takes 1 hr 48 mins (70 miles).</p>



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


Charlbury

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