Bucks &amp; Oxon


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



<p>Well it&#8217;s on the Thames, encased by both the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs for a start, so it has all the lazy-English-summer-loveliness that you&#8217;d expect from such a scenic setting. Goring bridges Oxfordshire and Berkshire &#8211; literally with its bridge connecting across to Streatley in Berks (on the right bank of the river). The two settlements share most of their facilities including the train station which is served by the Great Western Mainline, snapping you into the capital in double-quick time.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2022" height="2048" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/277469064_7344172255625179_7316306145449386641_n.jpg" alt="Pierreponts cafe and shop Goring Oxfordshire" class="wp-image-173167" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/277469064_7344172255625179_7316306145449386641_n.jpg 2022w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/277469064_7344172255625179_7316306145449386641_n-790x800.jpg 790w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/277469064_7344172255625179_7316306145449386641_n-987x1000.jpg 987w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/277469064_7344172255625179_7316306145449386641_n-395x400.jpg 395w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/277469064_7344172255625179_7316306145449386641_n-1517x1536.jpg 1517w" sizes="(max-width: 2022px) 100vw, 2022px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pierreponts Café</figcaption></figure>



<p> <a href="https://www.tcwgoring.co.uk/index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Catherine Wheel</a> pub is an 18th century local with a large beer garden and its own annual music festival, and <a href="https://leathernebottel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Leatherne Bottel</a> has an enviable riverside position for its Don Giovanni Italian fine dining (ask for the table right on the waterside and you could be in Venice). There&#8217;s also a chippy if you want to keep it more lo-fi and superb takeaway salads and sarnies at the grocer, more on which below. Just on the Goring side of the bridge is the fab brunch/afternoon tea spot, <a href="https://pierreponts.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pierreponts</a> (its French toast or Turkish eggs are the stuff of legend). </p>



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



<p>Artisan foodies, listen up. <a href="https://www.goringgrocer.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Goring Grocer</a> is where you need to be as it&#8217;s a shop laden with fresh vegetables, condiments, wines, pasta, nuts, pulses and all the things that will allow you to make an Ottolenghi recipe without crying.  Reading and Henley are both within 20 minutes for bigger shops. For the practical things in life, Goring Hardware (on Red Cross Road) is the kind of DIY Aladdin&#8217;s Cave we all want just down the road, plus there&#8217;s a cute little card/balloon and gift shop, called Inspiration, and nearby Goring Village Butchers and Reeds for picture framing.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/52749629-0f5e-4389-93d4-d1855c5f7c38_0JEP64001.jpg" alt="Woman doing weights at Swan at Streatley gym" class="wp-image-173170" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/52749629-0f5e-4389-93d4-d1855c5f7c38_0JEP64001.jpg 1920w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/52749629-0f5e-4389-93d4-d1855c5f7c38_0JEP64001-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/52749629-0f5e-4389-93d4-d1855c5f7c38_0JEP64001-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/52749629-0f5e-4389-93d4-d1855c5f7c38_0JEP64001-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/52749629-0f5e-4389-93d4-d1855c5f7c38_0JEP64001-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Swan at Streatley gym</figcaption></figure>



<p><a aria-label="Virgo Beauty (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.virgobeauty.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virgo Beauty</a> is your go-to for body primping, and <a aria-label="Albert Fields (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.albertfields.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Albert Fields</a> for your barnet. To get the full body glow-up, look no further than <a aria-label="The Swan at Streatley (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.theswanatstreatley.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Swan at Streatley</a>, a gorgeous riverside country house hotel run by the Coppa Club, which is a 5 min meander over the bridge. It&#8217;s got a gorgeous gym plus yoga classes (we love the riverside studio), plus an innovative programme of events from SUP Yoga and wild swimming to outdoor fitness. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</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/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-11-1000x667.png" alt="Goring Gap Festival" class="wp-image-171455" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-11-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-11-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-11-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-11.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Goring Gap Festival</figcaption></figure>



<p>Goring&#8217;s events calendar is busting with community get-togethers, be it music, food, wellness or even Bridge! The annual <a href="https://www.thegapfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goring Gap</a> festival in June is one of the biggies and then there&#8217;s the local football, tennis and golf clubs, all with their own social whirl. If you like your geraniums just so, then get on board with the many village-of-the-year-type events that Goring frequently enters &#8211; and wins &#8211; for its pretty front gardens and community sustainability projects.</p>



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



<p>There&#8217;s the river, of course, and the picturesque weir, and glorious walks on the nearby hills including <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/basildon-park/the-meadows-and-woodlands-of-streatley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this scenic 3km circular</a> through woodland and with great views from the top of the steep climb. It is a region ripe with nature reserves (<a href="http://www.withymead.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Withymead</a>, <a href="https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/hartslock" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hartslock</a>) so you probably need to dig out your walking boots. <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Basildon Park</a> is the National Trust&#8217;s nearest outpost, just two miles from Goring.  </p>



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



<p>If you&#8217;re not joining the action yourself (or supporting the neighbours) with the <a href="https://www.goringgapplayers.co.uk/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goring Gap Players</a>, who put on up to three productions a year at the Morrell Room, Streatley and in Goring&#8217;s Village Hall, then it&#8217;s off to Wallingford for its superb <a href="https://www.cornexchange.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corn Exchange</a>, which puts on theatre, films and NT Live events. A step up from that would be <a href="https://whatsonreading.com/hexagon/whats-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reading&#8217;s Hexagon Theatre</a>, 25 minutes away or <a href="https://www.readingrep.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reading Rep Theatre</a>, <a href="https://rabbletheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rabble Theatre</a> or the tiny <a href="https://whatsonreading.com/venues/south-street/whats-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Street Arts Centre</a> &#8211; so plenty to choose from then. If you love art, there&#8217;s a little gallery, Reeds, in Goring and another one, Modern Artists Gallery, in Pangbourne. They&#8217;re as much about selling as viewing though, so don&#8217;t hover too long or you&#8217;ll be in for a costly visit. </p>



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



<p>Properties in Goring had an average price of £1,040,288 over the last year. For detached properties you can expect to pay £1.22m, with semis £815,000 and terraced houses £503,750. Prices have bucked the trend here, with house prices up 23% on the previous year.</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/GORING-HOT-PROPERTY.png" alt="Goring Best Places to Live Oxfordshire" class="wp-image-176939" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/GORING-HOT-PROPERTY.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/GORING-HOT-PROPERTY-800x532.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/GORING-HOT-PROPERTY-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A stunning Edwardian property with gardens of 1.4 acres and panoramic countryside views. <a href="https://www.warmingham.com/#/properties/S5347" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £3.25m</a>.</figcaption></figure>



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



<p>The best independent options nearby are the idyllically-situated (and now co-ed) prep <a aria-label="Moulsford (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/moulsford-prep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moulsford</a>, the nurturing <a aria-label="Manor Prep (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/manor-prep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manor Prep</a> in Abingdon, the Catholic mixed day and boarding <a aria-label="Oratory Prep (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/oratory-prep-reading/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oratory Prep</a>, <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/cranford-school-moulsford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cranford House School</a> (co-ed, with Sixth Form), and over the border in Berkshire, Pangbourne College, <a aria-label="Queen Anne’s (opens in a new tab)" href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/queen-annes-caversham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Anne’s</a> and all girls&#8217; powerhouse <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-abbey-school-reading-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Abbey</a>. In terms of state schools, both <a href="http://www.goring.oxon.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goring</a> and <a href="http://www.streatleyprimary.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Streatley</a> have C of E primary schools rated ‘Good’. <a href="https://www.langtreeschool.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Langtree School</a> is the nearest secondary, also with a ‘Good’ from Ofsted. Meanwhile, the Streatley side of the river is in catchment for the sought-after <a href="https://www.thedownsschool.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Downs School</a>, while Goring is just outside. </p>



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



<p>George Michael isn&#8217;t the only music icon with links to Goring &#8211; The Who&#8217;s Pete Townshend was born here.  </p>



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



<p>It&#8217;s just under 90 mins in the car but you&#8217;ll have to haggle with both the M4&nbsp;<em>and</em> M25. Far more sensible to catch the rush hour train and it&#8217;ll whip you into Paddington in under an hour. Season tickets from £5,340.</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>


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