At a Glance
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Population
- Approximately 450
- Nearest Station
- Kingham (5 minutes by car)
- London Journey Time
- Around 85-95 minutes to Paddington
- Average Property Price
- ££££
- Our Rating
- ★★★★☆
Best For
- Commuters
- Families
- Dog walkers
- Buyers who want a proper village green
Why We Love Bledington
Bledington is organised around a beautiful village green, and everything in village life happens on or around it: cricket in summer, the fete, the duck race, the Christmas tree.
The Evenlode river winds past stone cottages and a medieval church, and the whole place feels like it was designed to be painted.
Crucially, Kingham station is five minutes away and Daylesford is on the road there, so daily life is remarkably easy for such a small village.
It is one of the smallest communities on this list, and one of the most sought after.
The Village Atmosphere
Bledington feels like a village green come to life. You'll find:
- A perfect cricket green at the centre
- The Evenlode running through the village
- The King's Head Inn on the green
- A small but very active community
- Footpath links to Kingham, Icomb and Oddington
- The annual duck race on the Evenlode
With fewer than 500 residents, newcomers are noticed - and welcomed.
Transport & Connectivity
Rail
Bledington's commuters use Kingham station:
- Kingham (5 minutes by car, direct trains to London Paddington and Oxford)
Some hardcore commuters even walk or cycle it in summer.
Road
Driving Times:
- Kingham5 mins
- Stow-on-the-Wold10 mins
- Chipping Norton12 mins
- Oxford40 mins
- Central Londonapprox. 2 hours
Food & Drink
The King's Head Inn
A much-loved pub with rooms right on the green - real ales, good food and a garden that looks out over the cricket.
The Kingham Plough
Five minutes away, for the nights you want somewhere smarter.
Daylesford Farmshop & Café
Ten minutes away and effectively Bledington's second village shop.
Schools
State
- Bledington Primary School (in the village)
- Burford School
- The Cotswold School
Independent
- Kitebrook Preparatory School
- Tudor Hall
- Cheltenham Colleges
A village primary school and a five-minute station run make Bledington a family favourite.
Things To Do
The Evenlode valley paths radiate out from the green. Popular routes include:
- Bledington to Kingham
- Bledington to Icomb
- Bledington to Oddington
- The Evenlode valley circular
All are gentle, all are beautiful, and all end near a pub.
Nearby Attractions
- Daylesford Farm
- Stow-on-the-Wold
- Kingham
- Chipping Norton
- Cornbury Park
- Soho Farmhouse
The Property Market
Housing clusters around the green and church: Cotswold stone cottages, a handful of larger period houses and some well-designed newer homes that blend in remarkably well.
Buyers here tend to be seeking:
- Cottages facing the green
- Period houses by the Evenlode
- Homes within walking distance of Kingham station
- Houses with green views
Green-facing cottages are the crown jewels and almost never appear on the open market.
Pros
- ✅One of the best village greens in England
- ✅Five minutes from Kingham station
- ✅Village primary school
- ✅Good pub with rooms on the green
- ✅Strong community traditions and events
Cons
- ❌Very small community - everyone knows everything
- ❌Few houses come up for sale
- ❌No shop - you drive to Daylesford, Kingham or Stow
- ❌The green attracts gawping tourists on summer weekends
Our Verdict
Bledington delivers the classic Cotswold dream - green, pub, church, river - with the commuter line almost on the doorstep.
You accept a very small community and a house hunt that tests your patience.
If a green-facing cottage ever comes up, move fast. That is not marketing talk; that is local knowledge.
| Beauty | 10/10 |
| Community | 9/10 |
| Commuting | 9/10 |
| Schools | 9/10 |
| Food & Drink | 8/10 |
| Value for Money | 7/10 |
| Overall | 9.0/10 |
