New Homes in Abingdon

Welcome to Abingdon

Whether you’re exploring historic buildings, taking a day trip with the children or simply enjoying a spot of retail therapy, Abingdon is full of places to see and things to do. Located just 30 minutes south of Oxford, new homes in Abingdon are an easy commute from the city, part of a friendly local community and surrounded by rural landscapes.

A quick history

Abingdon is one of the oldest towns in England, with evidence of human life stretching all the way back to the Ice Age. During the Medieval era, Abingdon was an important place run by Benedictine monks and the ruins of the old Abbey buildings are still visible to this day. Over the centuries, the town grew and grew as different industries brought wealth to the town, including the market place, book making and brewing. Abingdon became the county town of Berkshire in 1556, but was eventually overtaken in size by Reading, and today is part of Oxfordshire.

Business and industry

Historically Abingdon has centred on manufacturing and trade industries, including an MG factory which opened in 1929 and eventually closed in 1980. Today Abingdon is home to a wide range of businesses including Abingdon & Witney College, Taylor and Francis Group, and Sophos PLC. Some of the biggest employers in the local region include Oxford University, Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council, the NHS, BMW (UK) Manufacturing and Thames Valley Police, while London is also within commuting distance by train.

Things to do in the area

If you’ve moved to Abingdon with a young family, there’s lots to keep the little ones entertained in the local area. The Abingdon Treasure Trail is a fun self-guided hunt ideal, while Abbey Meadow Open Air Swimming Pool is also popular with families during the summer months. Pendon Indoor Model Village and Railways, Millets Farm Centre, Didcot Railway Centre and South Oxford Adventure Playground are also close by.

If you want to explore slightly further afield, the city of Oxford is home to lots of different attractions including the Museum of Oxford, Bates Collection of Musical Instruments, The Story Museum, the Museum of the History of Science, and the University of Oxford Botanic Garden.

Abingdon also hosts many different events throughout the year, ideal if you want to be part of a vibrant and welcoming community. The town’s bun-throwing ceremony is a tradition that spans four centuries, marking royal occasions including the Jubilee in 2012. Other unique traditions in Abingdon include the Election of the Mock Mayor of Ock Street which happens close to the summer solstice and includes a real election and lots of dancing. The town’s Michaelmas Fair is also the longest of its kind in Europe.

Travel and commuting

Abingdon is located close to Oxford, so it’s a popular place for commuters to live. The drive from Abingdon to Oxford takes around 30 minutes via the A34, while the bus takes around the same time to reach the city centre. There’s no train station in Abingdon, with the closest stations located in Radley and Culham. Travelling from Radley, Oxford station is less than nine minutes away by train.

Heading further afield, London is just one hour away from Oxford travelling by train or around one hour 30 minutes from Abingdon by car. For international travel, Heathrow Airport is just under one hour away from Abingdon via the M40.