Wallingford or Henley on Thames anyone?

I’m reading different threads here, some fascinating subjects and comments, thoughtful, astute, humorous, thoroughly enjoying this excellent forum, thank you.

I don't know these areas but surely someone does.
What does your family think?

I’m fairly close to Wallingford and it’s a pretty town, you can go on to Facebook I’m sure there is a local page. Also try Trip Advisor and try Googling Wallingford, pros and cons of living there. They have a good Waitrose and a few small shops, but like most towns some shops have disappeared, tourists are around searching for the ‘Midsummer Murders’ locations.

I’m a bit too far from Henley to comment apart from going there as a ‘tourist’ and to the Regatta, but if you can afford a nice house away from the tourists then fine, but Google Henley as well and get the info on there too.
Good luck with the move.

I only live 8 miles from Henley and it has a lot going for it as follows.
Railway
Good bus service between Reading and High Wycombe
Marlow, lovely town, on the bus route
Cinema
One of the oldest small theatres in the country
Rowing Museum has fab cafe and Wind in the Willows display for kids
Waitrose in centre of town and Sainsbury’s, Tesco a mile or so away
Book festival every October
Nice places to sit by the river

I know Wallingford, but would choose Henley every time.

Downside expensive area.

I live 11 miles from Wallingford and know it well and a bit further from Henley, but do know the town.

Wallingford is smaller than Henley and has a more intimate feel. It has a good range of shops and you are less than 5 miles from Didcot, which is on the Bristol mainline, with trains to London within an hour.

People get very snobby about Didcot, but it is effectively a new town and the town centre has been expanded and now includes a large Sainsburies, M&S Food, Next and a host of other clothes shops, and cinema. Henley has plenty of shops, but mainly smart London shops with expensive prices. Wallingford is more 'ordinary'. The shopping in Didcot is standard High Street.

Here is a link to the Wallingford-Didcot bus service www.geopunk.co.uk/timetables/south-west/oxfordshire/33-abingdon-milton-park-didcot-wallingford

Wallingford is also convenient for Oxford and, again, there is a good regular bus service.

Unlike NanKate I would prefer Wallingford, far less traffic through it (it has a bypass), more ordinary and independent shops and less pretentious.

I would like to echo whatMonica has said.I passed through Wallingford on Monday on the bus and indeed it is only about 30 minutes from Oxford and a very pretty ride. It seemed quite compact around a main square whereas Henley is sprawling.We used to go a lot when the children were small and it is excellent for a day trip with boat rides and walks along the tow path.There are lots of places in Henley to sit and picnic but I would not like to live there. Back then even Wetherspons was more expensive than other branches. I don't know about now. I would go for Wallingford though there are other pretty villages round about if you still drive.

Greenfinch Monica I don’t know Wallingford as well as Henley so I think I should have been a bit more careful in what I said apologies.

Not at all NanKate. It is important for the OP to hear both sides of the story.It all comes down to personal experiences and preferences. Personally I would prefer Oxford to either of these two.

Henley is a lovely place to visit, but I too would choose Wallingford. I have a friend who has lived there very happily for many years. For food shopping there's a large Waitrose. There is a good bus service to Oxford from Wallingford.

Opinions will always differ NanKate and what the OP needs is a variety of different opinions to compare and contrast.

I think the next thing the OP should do, is search each town online, including RightMove and then visit for at least a day.

I am not sure where the OP is moving from, but Wallingford is expensive and Henley eyewatering expensive.

I will put a word in for Didcot, unlovely Didcot, but growing fast and where house prices are more reasonable and the power station has, sadly, gone. It has Sainsbury's and Tesco, M&S Food, Mainline station to almost anywhere in the country and lots of buses, big doctors surgery close to the town centre, cinema, arts centre and lots of places to eat.

Thank you all, for taking the time to reply.
Henley - it’s lovely to visit established family there, however it has its limitaions
I was hoping for opinions from residents of Wallingford or nearby with their own experiences, the ambience of either town is so very different.
Didcot, yes, Train, facilities, shopping, thank you MOnica.
This is such a wonderful forum!

Henley was my old stamping ground. It’s beautiful with plenty of shops, trains and of course the river! But hideously expensive. I don’t know Wallingford as well, but it is an interesting and historical town. I seem to remember a lovely upstairs tea room and decent craft shops. When I was last there, just before the pandemic, I bought a beautiful Victorian jug from an antique shop. If I had oodles of money, I would choose Henley to live in.
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