It's not submitted to the gifte shoppe yet
What's going for it? If Thame were a person, I fancy it as Peter Bowles, in his late 70s To The Manor Born phase. Of a certain vintage, ruddy-faced, fruity. I imagine that behind the facades of the pretty old houses live antiques dealers who wear non-ironic cravats, or doughty ladies concerned about their ceanothuses, and with "pasts" long ago, on and off King's Road. Thame metamorphosed from cute-looking farming town to escape-for-raffish-up-from-Londoners in the 70s, when the M40 ended just outside ? extending the definition of home counties by a few miles. And all the lovely bygone property was snapped up. "It's never been the same since," a shopkeeper said. So I didn't dare bring up the M40's extension to Birmingham in the 90s, unleashing the denizens of Smethwick upon the town. It survived, needless to say, its model English town looks simply gaining a middle-aged spread of commuter estates, and the odd gift shop replacing country outfitters on the high street. These days, Thame hasn't relinquished itself entirely to those commuting hordes who can't quite afford the Cotswolds. There's still a great butcher's, a shop selling dolls' houses, a smashing bookshop, dreamy watermeadows and walks up on the Chiltern Hills.
The case against Not as expensive or snobbish as the Cotswolds have become, but not far off. Parochial, in the best and worst senses.
Well connected? Haddenham & Thame Parkway, a couple of miles out of town, gets you to Marylebone in Lonodn in 50-ish minutes and High Wycombe in 17, half-hourly; hourly to Birmingham, 85 minutes. The M40 makes Oxford 25 minutes away.
Schools Primary: St Joseph's Catholic, Barley Hill and John Hampden are all "good", says Ofsted. Secondary: Lord Williams's is "good" with "outstanding features".
Hang out at... The gorgeous garden at Sir Charles Napier in Chinnor.
Where to buy You'll want a nice period cottage in the old centre, won't you, or a farmhousey thing on the edge of town? Lovely Victorian terraces and small town houses on the streets surrounding the centre, too, and don't miss nearby villages such as Haddenham, Long Crendon and Chinnor. Everyone wants a honey-stone cottage: ergo the 70s estates are quite affordable.
Market values Large detacheds and town houses, �450,000-�750,000. Detacheds, �270,000-�450,000. Semis, �200,000-�400,000. Terraces, �170,000-�350,000. Flats, �125,000-�200,000
Bargain of the week One-bed terrace in the centre, �146,500, with Connells (01844 260000).
? Live in Thame? Join the debate below
From the streets
Elizabeth Chubb "There's a real community feeling ? you always bump into people you know. It has two good bookshops and a cattle market twice a week. The only downside is the Thame Fair ? four days of funfairs and louche behaviour."
Dr Andrew Markus "My wife and I have lived here for 50 years; it's kept its friendly market town feel, with small shops covering many needs."
Amy and Jay Critoph "There's a picturesque cycle path, beautiful walks in the Chiltern Hills, and pub food to the highest standard we've come across. The Thatch is good for a lazy Sunday lunch and the Rising Sun pub offers a surprisingly delicious Thai takeaway.
? Do you live in Norbury, south London? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please write, by Tuesday 31 May, to lets.move@guardian.co.uk
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/may/28/lets-move-to-thame-oxfordshire
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