Living in Thame

Overview

Thame is a South Oxfordshire market town 13 miles east of Oxford, sitting conveniently between the M40 (Junction 7, Milton Common, ~3 miles south-west) and the Chiltern railway line at Haddenham & Thame Parkway station (2 miles north-east). For a town of just 13,000 people, it punches above its weight in commuter appeal — 39 minutes to London Marylebone is a genuine selling point, and the town's medieval high street and market square give it exactly the character that many London leavers are looking for.

Thame's long medieval high street is lined with 17th and 18th-century buildings and has been used repeatedly as a filming location for Midsomer Murders, standing in for the fictional town of "Causton". Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees lived at Prebendal House here from 1984 until his death in 2012.

Who it suits

• London commuters — 39 minutes to Marylebone on Chiltern Railways is one of the fastest rail connections from any South Oxfordshire town. The M40 adds a fast road alternative.
• Oxford workers — 13 miles by road; quick access via the A40 or A418; a practical commute for those who prefer a quieter base.
• M40 corridor employers — Kubota, Airbus Helicopters UK, JSP Safety, and Essentra are based in or near Thame. CPM Group has its HQ on the edge of town.
• Families seeking character — a genuine market town centre, Lord Williams's School (comprehensive, founded 1559, 1,800+ pupils), and countryside on the doorstep.
• Buyers from the south-east — families relocating from Bucks or Herts often find Thame a natural transition — character and countryside without sacrificing London access.

Housing

Thame has a compact but well-balanced housing market — Georgian and Victorian town-centre properties, post-war semis, 1990s–2000s estates on the south and west fringes, and some newer development. The town's appeal keeps prices above Banbury and Didcot but more affordable than Henley or central Oxford.

Source: Enterprise Oxfordshire / Rightmove / Zoopla.

Transport

• Haddenham & Thame Parkway — 2 miles north-east; Chiltern Railways to London Marylebone in ~39 min. Also serves Banbury (~40 min) and Birmingham Moor Street (~80 min).
• M40 Junction 7 — ~3 miles south-west (Milton Common); fast motorway access to London (A40/M40), Oxford, Birmingham, and the M25.
• A40 — road connection to Oxford (west) and London via Wheatley and High Wycombe (east).
• Phoenix Trail — dedicated cycle path following the old railway trackbed; connects Thame to Haddenham and the wider Buckinghamshire cycling network.

Schools

• Lord Williams's School — comprehensive secondary; 11–18; founded 1559; 1,800+ pupils; a well-regarded state secondary by national standards
• Several primary schools across town — St Mary & St John CofE, Icknield Community; check catchments carefully as Thame is popular

Trade-offs

• Station is 2 miles away: Haddenham & Thame Parkway is not in Thame — you need a car or taxi to reach it. Factor this into commute times and costs.
• Small town: 13,000 people means limited retail and nightlife diversity. Oxford (13 miles) is the natural go-to for broader choice.
• Expensive relative to size: the commuter premium from Chiltern rail access and M40 proximity means Thame costs more than towns of its size might suggest.