Bucks &amp; Oxon


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



<p>The small town of Deddington sits neatly between pretty and stately with its market place and grand Georgian architecture, all built in north Oxfordshire&#8217;s traditional dark brown marlstone. North Oxfordshire has been given a shot of cool with the launch of Soho Farmhouse a few years back (still rocking it and just 10 minutes down the road), and Deddington strikes the right balance between rural and down-to-earth but chic and well-heeled.</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="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130627.392.jpg" alt="Eagles Fine Food Deddington" class="wp-image-171966" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130627.392.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130627.392-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130627.392-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130627.392-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Eagles Food Hall</figcaption></figure>



<p>Aside from the award-winning <a href="https://www.deddingtonfarmersmarket.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farmer&#8217;s market</a> on the fourth Saturday of every month, the town is home to Foodies Coffee Shop and Deli and&nbsp;<a href="https://eaglesfinefood.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eagles Food Hall</a> (&#8216;The Harrods of Deddington&#8217;), so there&#8217;s no shortage of epicurean delights. If you want someone else to do the hard work, there&#8217;s options galore. <a href="https://www.deddington-arms-hotel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Deddington Arms</a>, which overlooks the market square, works for a drink and meal of simple pub classics, or there are a couple of local pubs that go up and down in standing. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.thegeorgebarford.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The George Inn</a>, a couple of miles away in Barford, is a good bet for a meal out and has nine elegantly decorated bedrooms if you&#8217;re in need of some extra beds for guests, and <a href="https://dunstewwhitehorse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The White Horse</a> in Duns Tew is only a few minutes in the car. Otherwise it&#8217;s a nine minute drive to the excellent <a aria-label="The Boxing Hare (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/boxing-hare-chipping-norton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Boxing Hare</a>, one of the best pubs in the area. </p>



<p>Deddington residents are also luck to have the serene&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nicholsonsgb.com/yurt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yurt Café at Nicholsons</a> on their doorstep, serving up beautiful dishes beneath a jasmine-clad pergola in the award-winning nursery (read our <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-the-yurt-at-nicholsons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">latest review</a> here). There are private dining huts as well as a fabulous brunch offering. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1440" height="1440" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n.jpg" alt="Nellie and Dove Shop front at night" class="wp-image-173195" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n.jpg 1440w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/449751096_957302969673966_3608126516814415102_n-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nellie &amp; Dove</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://nellieanddove.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nellie &amp; Dove</a> is an expansive independent boutique that sells an impressive selection of both men and women&#8217;s clothes, shoes, jewellery and homeware. Similarly likely to relieve you of your hard-earned pennies is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wychwoodart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wychwood Art Gallery</a>, which hosts over 350 contemporary artists and is owned by Deborah Allen who cut her teeth at Christie&#8217;s and Bonhams. In Bloxham, a ten minute drive, there&#8217;s a clutch of shops  including <a href="https://huntbespokekitchens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunt Bespoke Kitchens &amp; Interiors </a>(much loved by the Cotswolds set), <a href="https://dandelion-antiques.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dandelion Antiques</a>, a Co-op, a couple of florists and a barber. A 25-minute drive away is <a href="https://www.whichfordpottery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whichford Pottery</a>, whose flowerpots are world-renowned and whose onsite café, Straw Kitchen, is a bit of a hidden gem, though its pop-up guest chef nights sell out in a few hours. </p>



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



<p>Deddington boasts its own glow-up spots: <a href="https://cedartherapy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cedar Therapy</a>, with its high tech facials, massages, manis and pedis, and the cute <a href="https://www.bee-beautiful.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bee Beautiful</a>, which offers facials, massages, manis, pedis, waxing and tanning. Further afield in Bloxham, there&#8217;s <a href="https://theloftbeautyrooms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Loft Beauty Rooms</a>, which serves up face and body buff-ups in gorgeous surroundings &#8211; one to pop on the Christmas list. For inner beauty and calm try <a href="https://www.youfloriayoga.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouFloria yoga studios</a> in Middle Aston, which has a varied class timetable and does retreats and workshops for kids and adults themed around the seasons. </p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.thewindmilldeddington.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Windmill Centre</a> in Deddington is a bit of a gem of a community centre with everything from toddler classes to fitness, dog obedience, adult ballet, scouts, wine festival, am dram and more. The village Facebook groups is lively with yard sale/handy man/event/loose dog shout outs and on the whole it&#8217;s an easy place to meet people and get stuck in.</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="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130713.059.jpg" alt="Soho Farmhouse " class="wp-image-171965" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130713.059.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130713.059-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130713.059-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-2024-09-23T130713.059-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Soho Farmhouse</figcaption></figure>



<p>The famed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sohohouse.com/houses/soho-farmhouse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Soho Farmhouse</a> (above) is close-by if you have a membership (or know someone who does). The beautiful, privately owned <a href="https://rousham.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rousham House &amp; Gardens </a>are an absolute must &#8211; one of the most famous 18th century gardens in England, almost exactly as its designer William Kent left it.&nbsp;And lucky you, you&#8217;re local to <a aria-label="Broughton Castle (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.broughtoncastle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broughton Castle</a> (actually a fortified manor house but let&#8217;s not be picky) largely unknown even to Oxfordshire dwellers, again privately owned by the Fiennes family and often used in period dramas with its stunning moat and gardens. </p>



<p>If you&#8217;ve got kids in tow, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/adventure-play/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adventure playground at Blenheim’s Walled Garden</a>&nbsp;is the King of play areas – it has towers, walkways, climbing walls, cargo nets, slides, swings, three zipwires and a river feature that kids can skip across. It’s all beautifully planted and elegantly landscaped, with a café and pizza restaurant at hand to turbocharge knackered parents &#8211; speaking of which, <a href="https://www.tbvsc.com/bicester-village/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bicester Village</a> is a short drive away when it&#8217;s time for your fun day out and some cut-price Prada.</p>



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



<p>Banbury&#8217;s <a href="https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Mill Arts Centre</a> is going to be your nearest theatre with a lively schedule of comedy, music, dance, theatre and workshops for adults and kids. <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blenheim Palace</a> is within striking distance if you want culture from photography to outdoor sculpture. The annual festival of folk and rock music, headed by British folk-rock band Fairport Convention, is held&nbsp;on the edge of neighbouring village Cropredy. </p>



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



<p>Properties in Deddington averaged £434,135 over the last year, 29% down on the previous year and 16% down on the 2021 peak of £518,310. Most sales in the past 12 months have been of detached houses, selling for an average £678,333. </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="1000" height="665" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Deddington-Hot-Property.png" alt="Deddington Hot Property" class="wp-image-176072" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Deddington-Hot-Property.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Deddington-Hot-Property-800x532.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Deddington-Hot-Property-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A spacious extended four-bed detached house backing on to open farmland. <a href="https://www.mark-david.co.uk/property/the-beeches-deddington-oxfordshire-ox15-0ty-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £695,000</a>. </figcaption></figure>



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



<p><a href="https://deddingtonnurseryandpfsu.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deddington Nursery and Pre-School</a> takes littlies from age 2 yrs to school, taking 16 children in the nursery and 20 in the pre-school in a cute setting with outdoor play area and a big focus on nature. It&#8217;s open 8am-6pm term time only and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.</p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.deddingtonprimaryschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deddington Primary School</a> was given a Good rating by Ofsted in 2021 or there&#8217;s <a href="https://st-johns-banbury.oxon.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St John’s Roman Catholic Primary School</a>&nbsp;in nearby Banbury. Both feed into the <a href="https://www.thewarrinerschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warriner</a>&nbsp;School in Bloxham, known for its 120-acre farm and farm shop run by the pupils or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blessedgeorgenapier.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blessed George Napier School</a>&nbsp;in Banbury.</p>



<p>You&#8217;re in a smart neck of the woods here for independent schoool. Nearby is excellent all-rounder day and boarding school <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/bloxham-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloxham</a>, Senior girls’ schools <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/tudor-hall-school-banbury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tudor Hall </a>and bucolic <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/thornton-college-milton-keynes-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thornton College</a>, nurturing co-ed prep <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/carrdus-school-banbury-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carrdus</a> and idyllic co-ed <a aria-label="Kingham Hill (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/kingham-hill-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kingham Hill</a>. Over the Northants border in Brackley, 19 mins in the car, you&#8217;ll find two more replete Prep options &#8211; the all-rounder <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/winchester-house-brackley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Winchester House School</a> and the rural idyll of <a aria-label="Beachborough School (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/beachborough-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beachborough School</a>.</p>



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



<p>While there is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/deddington-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deddington Castle</a>, there is no castle to be seen. What remains of a 11th-century motte and bailey structure is now just earthworks but it&#8217;s excellent for dog walking.</p>



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



<p>The closest station is Banbury, a 15 min drive away, and the train to London takes 56 mins. Season tickets from £6,116. By car it takes 1hr 37 mins.</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>


Deddington

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