A Guide to Living in Headington
Perched on the hill to the east of the city, Headington is one of Oxford’s most established and dependable suburbs. It has grown up around two of the city’s biggest employers, Oxford Brookes University and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which gives it a steady, resilient character that has kept it popular with families, academics, medical professionals and commuters for decades.
Property in Headington
Headington’s housing stock is genuinely varied, which is part of its appeal. Old Headington, protected as a conservation area, is the village at the heart of it all, with 17th and 18th century stone cottages and Georgian houses lining narrow, characterful streets. Move south towards New Headington and the area opens out into a broader mix of solid 1930s semi-detached family homes with generous gardens, Victorian and Edwardian terraces, and a growing number of contemporary apartments aimed at hospital and university staff.
Buyers are drawn from a wide pool: families after good schools and space, NHS and Brookes staff wanting a short commute, and investors attracted by consistent rental demand. That mix keeps the market active across price points, from entry-level flats to substantial detached homes on the tree-lined roads near Headington Hill.
Living in Headington
Day-to-day life in Headington centres on London Road, where a mix of independent shops, cafes, pharmacies and supermarkets means most errands can be run without heading into the city centre. The junction at Headington Shops has long been the social hub of the area, and it’s also home to Headington’s best-known quirk, the Headington Shark, a fibreglass shark embedded in the roof of a terraced house on New High Street that has divided opinion since it appeared in 1986.
Green space is plentiful. Bury Knowle Park has tennis and basketball courts, play areas and a well-used library set in a historic house, while Shotover Country Park offers proper walking country on the edge of the city, all ancient woodland, heathland and views back over Oxford. Headington Hill Park and South Hill Park add further options for a lunchtime walk or a weekend with the children.
The area is understandably popular with medical professionals given its proximity to the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre hospitals, and Oxford Brookes University’s main campus on Gipsy Lane brings a steady flow of students and academics. For families, Headington has a strong selection of schools, including well-regarded state primaries and the independent Headington School. Transport links are excellent too, with frequent buses into the city centre, direct A40 access for London and the M40, and Oxford Parkway within easy reach for rail travel.
Thinking about moving to Headington?
If Headington sounds like the right fit, our team knows the area’s streets, schools and market inside out. Get in touch for a chat about buying, selling, or letting in Headington, or book a valuation to find out what your property could be worth.
Headington FAQs
What is Headington known for? Headington is known as Oxford’s medical and university quarter, home to the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre hospitals and the main Oxford Brookes University campus. It’s also known locally for the Headington Shark, one of the city’s most photographed oddities.
What types of property can you find in Headington? Headington offers a genuinely broad mix, from 17th and 18th century stone cottages in the Old Headington conservation area to 1930s semi-detached family homes, Victorian and Edwardian terraces, and newer apartment developments aimed at professionals working at the hospitals.
Is Headington a good area for families? Yes. Headington has a good choice of primary and secondary schools, several parks including Bury Knowle Park and Shotover Country Park, and a strong sense of community, which makes it consistently popular with family buyers.
