What’s to love about Oxted?

There’s so much to love about Oxted! This pretty, historic town famed for its large Arts & Crafts houses, timber framed stucco buildings and bustling high street, is situated at the foot of the North Downs in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB).

Known as a wealthy commuter or “stockbroker belt” town, it was listed in the top twenty richest towns in Britain by the Daily Telegraph in 2011, but has been a favourite of city workers since the railway arrived in 1884 and linked the growing settlement to London and the South Coast.  Oxted offers great transport links to the M25, by rail to London Bridge (33 minute direct train) and London Victoria (39 minutes), by Thameslink to St Pancras or Ashford for the Eurostar and direct train services to London Luton and easy access by car to both Gatwick (42 minutes) and Heathrow airports.

Historically, Oxted has always been a convenient stop-off between London and the South Coast, being the site of Roman Roads and ancient routes. Consequently, it also has a good number of lovely old pubs dotted through the old town and nearby settlements of Tandridge, Hurst Green, Limpsfield and Limpsfield Chart.

Mentioned in the Doomsday Book, the ancient Oxted settlement of “Oakstead” (place where oak trees grow) has been around since well before the Middle Ages, with remnants of a Roman Villa at Titsey Place to the east of the town. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside dotted with historic manor houses, farms and many large mansions that have been schools and hospitals or convalescent homes in their past, but have now been converted into fabulous apartments.

Oxted town centre straddles two sides of the railway line – Station Road East and West. It features lovely stucco wood framed buildings and is full of great shops, restaurants and bars, including Cucina Italian, Cattle & Cocktail, Toast Cafe, The Deli and The Ginistry Bar. There’s also a beautifully renovated art deco cinema with cocktail bar and a very popular theatre.

There are all the shops and services you need with plenty of excellent hair and beauty salons, clothes boutiques, homes & interiors and several high street banks. For food shopping, there’s also a huge Morrisons and smaller Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Co-op.

If you want to go further afield, then just take a 15-20 minute drive to the lovely shopping towns of Reigate and Sevenoaks as well as being only 35 minutes to Bluewater.

For those of the sporty persuasion, then there are many leisure facilities to keep you in shape, including the Tandridge Leisure Centre with its pool, sauna, gym and fitness classes, football, cricket and hockey clubs. You’ll also find the Limpsfield Club (tennis/squash) and Tandridge and Limpsfield Chart Golf Clubs as well as Oxted’s beautiful Master Park which is home to football, cricket and a small tennis club. Other local amenities include a livery yard and riding stables for equestrians and the local leisure centre with its pool, sauna, steam rooms and gym.

It’s also the home of the annual Oxted Beer Festival, a very popular event held every July that allows the locals to sample all the craft beers and ciders brewed in the area and attracts very well-known bands for its live music offering.

Much of the land that surrounds Oxted is National Trust or farmland, and sitting within a designated Green Belt area. It’s a beautiful place to live, with incredible views from many of its higher points, plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation – walks, riding, cycling and running routes, with lots of very active clubs for both adults and children including the Oxted & Limpsfield Cricket Club that has children’s cricket every Friday evening, Holland Sports and Raw Skills football club.

If you’ve got children or grandchildren, there are some great schools, both state and private together with several outstanding child care and pre-schools.

There’s also lots of clubs and parks to keep the kids entertained, and in the neighbouring area of Limpsfield Chart, you’ll discover a wonderful area – the National Trust’s Homes for Woodland Creatures – created and maintained by volunteers who have made the most amazing circuit of beautifully crafted wooden animal houses, such as Hedgehog Hall and Badgers Run. It’s a superb place for all the family to enjoy.

Constantly changing and developing, while retaining its special character, the town is now home to some beautiful apartments and developments, including Courtyard Gardens in the centre of the town.

Courtyard Gardens offers contemporary living in the historic town, enquire through our website or visit us at Robert Leech office to find out more.