New homes in Wallingford

Whether you’re shopping at independent boutiques, uncovering TV history at the local museum or taking a walk along the banks of the Thames, there is a lot to see and do in picturesque Wallingford. Located in Oxfordshire just a short drive from Reading and Oxford, a new home in Wallingford is ideal if you’re looking for a charming place to live within easy reach of major towns and cities.

A quick history

Wallingford dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, at a crossing point on the Thames. The town was fortified in the 9th century and the defences can still be seen in the town centre to this day. When the Domesday Book was recorded after the Norman invasion, Wallingford was one of the biggest towns in the country.

Wallingford Castle was built in the 11th century and was used by the royals until it fell into disrepair. The castle was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. During the Middle Ages, the town was used for trade, and more recently brewing. The novelist Agatha Christie lived and died in Wallingford, and is buried in Cholsey nearby.

Business and industry

Wallingford is home to a number of businesses including Rowse Honey, Fugro Geoservices and scientific research not-for-profit, CABI. Major employers within commuting distance include the University of Oxford, Oxfordshire County Council and BMW Group Plant Oxford, while Reading is home to Microsoft UK, Oracle and Huawei UK.

Things to do in the area

Wallingford has a charming town centre, made famous as the setting for the TV series Midsomer Murders. There are lots of independent shops along with high street stores and antique shops in the Lamb Arcade. To find out more about the town’s history, including scripts and props from Midsomer Murders, you can pay a visit to Wallingford Museum.

If you want to enjoy the fresh air, you can go for a cycle ride in the Chilterns, try horse riding at Checkendon Equestrian Centre or take walk through Riverside Park, which also has an outdoor heated pool and a splash pool for the kids. On a sunny summer’s day, you can even hire a boat to take out on the Thames.

For families moving to the area with young children, there are lots of kid-friendly attractions nearby including Cholsey and Wallingford Railway, Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, and Pendon Indoor Model Village and Railways. Other places of interest in the town include The Corn Exchange Theatre and cinema, and The Castle Gardens and Meadow.

Travel and commuting

Despite its rural location, Wallingford is only a short drive away from the M40, M4 and A34. Although there’s no train station in the town, there are rail services from Cholsey nearby.

From Wallingford, the journey to both Oxford and Reading takes 30-minutes by car. Didcot is only a 15-minute drive away, while Henley-on-Thames can be reached in 25-minutes. If you’re going to London, the journey takes one hour 30-minutes by car or one hour 20-minutes by bus and train, changing to rail services at Didcot Parkway.

When you’re going on holiday, London Heathrow is only a 55-minute drive away, with flights to destinations right across the globe.