MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Hi
any locals ?, just want to know what it's like from a 'living there' perspective (*as as 50+ yr old), I'm asking as I can commute to work (and so can gf - so unlike now), I like the local trails and think I would use the river (which poss gives it the edge over Wantage or Faringdon) , so are the locals talkative, can you get to meet people, if you wander about on Fri/Sat evening can you get a curry, are there lots of idiots hanging about, any codgers or folk music pubs (ie locals, chatting, nice buzz), pubs with food etc.
How busy is the road (ie is it an easy and safe cycle) to Cholsley station
Thanks
I've lived in Wallingford all my life (35 years) and have not found enough of a reason to leave yet. Trails from my doorstep being one of the reasons as you have the Chilterns across the bridge or the Downs out behind Cholsey if you want a change.
It's the south of England so people are as talkative as they have to be 🙂
There are enough establishments for a curry, italian etc to choose from. I'm not a drinker, so can't really comment on the pub front. Has occasionally been issues with the young ones getting drunk on a Friday/Saturday night, but no worse than anywhere else, probably better as it is a small town.
Have been a few accidents on the road to Cholsey, including a cyclist being killed, but it was a drunk driver as far as I remember,
If the large housing development ever occurs in Winterbrook then allegedly they will be funding a cycle link alongside this road to the station. I would take it with a pinch of salt myself!! Road is flat and not that busy to be honest, a lot ride it regularly.
As you are 50 plus, there is the GP surgery, community hospital, library and good buses into Reading and Oxford. Pavements are not great for the old and infirm, but I'm sure you'll be alright for a few years 😀
Nice area mate, i live not far away... plenty of nice XC riding around this way.
Also, there is only have a Waitrose at the moment, but word on the street is that Morrison might be putting in a planning application for a store at Hithercroft. Will be good to save the onset of suicidal tendencies when visiting Sainsbury or Tesco in Didcot.
Bear in mind it looks like the proposal for a gravel pit (extracting 4 million tonnes over 25 years) [i]may[/i] have been given the go ahead in the field next to Wallingford Road (the dead straight road from Wallingford to Cholsey). It's national speed limit but cars do go very fast down it. I haven't cycled it during rush hour, but plenty do, so you wouldn't be on your own...
Plenty of pubs, and lots of choices for eating (Indian/Thai/Chinese/Italian/Pizza Express and even a 'proper' restaurant [The Partridge]) in town, plus loads more in surrounding villages. The Cross Keys has live bands and the Coach and Horses used to have a bluegrass/turn up and play night, not sure if they still do. I'd avoid the Green Tree and the Boat House on a Friday/Saturday night.
People are fine, locals whose families have been there generations and newcomers who've moved in 'cause it's a nice place to live. It's a bit dead on a Sunday (only seems to be Waitrose that opens) and hasn't got great shopping, but you're only 20 mins from Reading and Oxford after all.
I worked there for the first 2 years of my career and from a work perspective it was good, usual small town. Got some drunken idiots on the weekend evenings, like you do anywhere but pick your pubs wisely and you can stay away. There always seemed nice restuarants and stuff there and I certainly wouldn't want to live in Didcot!