If you're after community spirit and easy countryside access, this could be the place for you. The underrated commuter town under an hour from London with 'excellent trains' has been highlighted as a top relocation spot.
We're absolutely spoilt for choice in London when it comes to relocating to a commuter town or village. Residents opt to make the move for all sorts of reasons: the cost of living, access to the countryside, or simply to get away from the frenetic pace of the capital.
Haddenham: A Hidden Gem
Haddenham, where the typical property will cost you £539K according to Rightmove, is considerably more affordable than the London average of £671K. But it's not just more affordable housing that's landed Haddenham on The Telegraph's list of the top 100 commuter locations from London.
Haddenham boasts a strong 'sense of community', countryside rambles, and is rich in 'over 1,000 years of history'. MyLondon spoke to Parish Council Chair David Truesdale MBE about what it's like living in the town of just under 6,000 inhabitants.
Community and Heritage
Cllr Truesdale has been a resident of the area for more than three decades. He spoke enthusiastically about the Haddenham Conservation Area, which 'covers a large proportion of the village'.
He said: 'Its heart is a church that goes back with a history of 1,000 years. There are lots of heritage buildings, 120 of them are listed, including one at Grade I. Many of the older buildings are constructed of a particular building material, which gives a lot of character to the place, and this building material is Wychert.'
'It's a form of rammed earth, and so a lot of the older buildings are made of this earth material, and typically those buildings are surrounded by quite high, six-foot or more, walls which are built up on a stone base known as a grumpling and are capped with tiles. So that gives quite a lot of character to the conservation area.'
The surrounding countryside is equally impressive, according to Cllr Truesdale, who highlighted 'lots of walks I think and lots of public footpaths'. This makes it ideal for 'those keen on getting out, getting exercise, or dog walking'.
'Accessible is probably the best way to think of it, and it became very apparent during the pandemic,' he said. 'Many, many people were out walking and [it] was a great opportunity to be able to wave to people and wave to neighbours, some of whom you might never have seen previously.'
Activities and Transport
Cllr Truesdale was equally enthusiastic about the wealth of activities available in Haddenham. He said: 'I don't think I've ever been in a place where there are so many activities that one can get involved in. Everything from arts and crafts to local theatre, to sport and leisure groups. We have active football, junior football and senior football. We have active cricketers, active tennis.'
Cllr Truesdale also told MyLondon that Haddenham has become an attractive place to live, largely owing to its 'excellent' transport connections. He said: 'Transport is well-connected. We have an excellent rail service from Chiltern Railways, which has been one of the more successful of the train operating companies.'
'They provide a great service in London, but these days, not only in and out of London. That service goes right up to Birmingham and goes through to Oxford as well. You can go into the centre of Oxford from here far quicker than it could be in the car.'
Infrastructure Challenges
Despite speaking so glowingly of his home of three decades, Cllr Truesdale was candid about the area's infrastructure 'lagging behind' the rapid population growth. He noted that this is particularly affecting local schools, meaning children cannot always attend one nearby — something he regards as a cornerstone of community spirit.
Cllr Truesdale noted that in the last few years, 1,200 homes have been built, causing the population to surge from 4,500 in 2011 to 'nearly 7,000 today'. It is not, therefore, a question of newcomers being unwelcome, but rather a genuine concern amongst residents over whether local infrastructure can keep pace with such significant growth.
He said Haddenham has three schools, 'that's two infants and one junior'. He said: 'The schools are all full to bursting, so at the moment they cannot take more people, they can't take more kids, but we are still growing.'
'That suggests that some of those now who will be moving in aren't able necessarily to send their younger children to Haddenham schools, which is a real shame because so much interaction happens at the school gate - really important point for coming together of a community.'
