ABINGDON

Abingdon on Thames is a lovely old market town, with continuous historical and archaeological connections over 3 millennia, making it Britain’s “oldest town”. Much of the important 7^th century Abingdon Abbey disappeared following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1538, in fact the Abbey was the 6^th most affluent Abbey in Britain. The traditions of the past are very much alive in Abingdon, though it’s annual Michaelmas Fair, when the town centre is cut of for all traffic.  It was also the proud home of the MG sports car company and remains the home of the MG Sports Car Club.

The town of Abingdon is moving forward and after trebling in size during the last 40 odd years. New developments have brought and continue to bring change, but also opportunities. These opportunities combined with Abingdon’s unique and special features, and with the new industries and commerce make Abingdon a friendly, attractive, lively and modern community in which to live and work.

Abingdon has a wide range of shops and banks. As well as the main shopping area in the centre of the town, it has a out of town shopping area, which has a range of stores including Argos, Homebase and B&Q. Opposite this shopping park (Fair Acres) you will find a Tesco Supermarket.The town centre has a range of Pubs and restaurants and two nightclubs.

DIDCOT

The building of the Great Western Railway from London to Bristol sparked the growth of Didcot in the 19^th century.  It is now 160 years since the passing of the act authorising the construction of the line.  Didcot is still an important railway junction for North-South-East-West traffic with connections to Oxford, London, Bristol the North and the South Coast. Didcot is now a large scale town and the principal town of South Oxfordshire. It has numerous industrial estates and recently plaaning permission was given for a large out of town shooping development.

Currently the main shopping area for Didcot is the Broadway in the centre of the town where you will find a wide range of shops and banks. It has two large supermarkets and a wide range of supermarkets and pubs.

As stated Didcot has rail links to most parts of the country along with a good bus network to both Oxford And Reading. It also has the largest industrial site in the area.

GROVE

A large village amid a traditional farming area.  From a hamlet of 500, Grove has grown into a thriving community of some 9,000 inhabitants.  It has a village green though which the Letcombe Brook meanders on it's way to the River Thames in Abingdon.  Parts of the Wiltshire and Berkshire canal, once a bustling waterway, have been

restored to provide some very pleasant local walks.  At various times though out the ages Grove has accommodated differing modes of transport including boats, trams and aircraft and is at present home to the Williams Formula One team who have their headquarters located on the outskirts of the village.  Local events include the annual duck race from Millbrook Square to the Baytree Public House.

The village has two small shopping centres, each has a small supermarket. Grove only has one bank (Lloyds) but does have three ATM’s. It has three fast food take away’s, and three pub.  The area is on a main bus route to Abingdon, Didcot, Oxford and Wantage with buses running every ½ hour during the day and hourly at night.

SOUTHMOOR

A small village with three friendly pubs on the main road. The parish lies on the "golden Ridge" of limestone which runs from Cumnor to Faringdon. Its fertile soils have nurtured farms famous for their fruit and hops. The gardens at Kingston House are open in summer weekends and the house is the venue for the Church Fete on the last Saturday in June. The village only has a small convenience store and a garage.

WANTAGE

This engaging market town nestles under the ancient Ridgeway which is a remnant of one of the earliest pre-historic tracks in Europe. Wantage is the birthplace of one of England's most memorable kings, Alfred the Great in 849. Under his tenacious leadership warring tribes were united into the beginning of the English Nation. Anyone with an interest in English history can not miss Wantage which has been an important market town for over 2,000 years.  

Above Wantage you can access one of the richest arrays of prehistoric monuments – striking Iron Age hill forts, such as Segsbury Camp and Uffington Castle, Bronze Age burial mounds, and the ethereally beautiful White Horse, and Wayland’s Smithy, one of the Britain’s most impressive prehistoric tombs.

The town has a central shopping area, with a large variety of shops, banks, pubs, restaurants and take away’s. It has a nightclub and a cinema.