Summertown is the family suburb I recommend most often in Oxford, and it is where most university and hospital families ask to look first. It is a mile and a half north of the centre up the Banbury Road, it has a proper high street with independent shops, cafes and the supermarkets, and it has some of the most sought after state schools in the city.
The housing is a mix of big Victorian and Edwardian houses on the roads off the Banbury Road, 1930s semis further north, and a good number of flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks. Gardens are normal; driveways exist on the later streets.
It is the most expensive of the three, the supply of family houses is thin, and good ones go within days. Schools have tight catchments that move year to year, so check the exact address.
Matthew Duckett · 16 years in property · updated 14 Oct 2026
What it costs to rent in Summertown
Every bed count on the same scale. The bar is where most homes list, the dot is the typical asking rent, and the dashed line is the council-wide ONS average that covers every tenancy, old and new.
1-bed Live listings · read 14 Oct 2026 across OX2
Not enough house listings to split out; all 1-beds around Summertown (within 1,062 m) £1,640 (15 listings).
The ONS average for all private rents in Oxford, 1-bed, is £1,353 a month (July 2026). New tenants across OX2 pay about 15% more.
Live listings, read 14 Oct 2026. ONS Price Index of Private Rents, Oxford, July 2026.
2-bed Live listings · read 14 Oct 2026 in OX2 7 and across OX2, and in Summertown itself (OX2 7)
The ONS average for all private rents in Oxford, 2-bed, is £1,669 a month (July 2026). New tenants across OX2 pay about 21% more.
Live listings, read 14 Oct 2026. ONS Price Index of Private Rents, Oxford, July 2026.
3-bed Live listings · read 14 Oct 2026 across OX2
Not enough flat listings to split out; all 3-beds around Summertown (within 1,062 m) £3,245 (15 listings).
The ONS average for all private rents in Oxford, 3-bed, is £2,037 a month (July 2026). New tenants across OX2 pay about 27% more.
Live listings, read 14 Oct 2026. ONS Price Index of Private Rents, Oxford, July 2026.
Council tax, Band D
Oxford council area, 2026-27. Your band depends on the property, so check it for any address.
MHCLG, 2026-27.
Examples, not recommendations
Nearest schools
Primary
- Cutteslowe Primary School
- Wolvercote Primary School
- St Philip and James' Church of England Aided Primary School Oxford
Secondary
- The Cherwell School
- The Swan School
- Cheney School
Distances are from our map point for Summertown, not from any particular home. A nearby school is not the same as an available place.
Contact the council’s admissions team first. No address needed.
Source: Department for Education register (GIAS), read 8 Sep 2026.
Getting into Oxford station
Driving time calculated for a weekday 8am departure, 14 Oct 2026. Cycling and walking times calculated 14 Oct 2026.
From Matthew
There is no station in Summertown. Buses run down the Banbury Road into the centre every few minutes and take ten to fifteen minutes. By bike the centre is ten minutes and the John Radcliffe fifteen. By car the A34 and the ring road are five minutes north for Harwell and Heathrow.
What to check in Summertown
- Check school admissions distances from the exact address.
- Ask about parking; the roads off Banbury Road are permits.
- On the big Victorian houses check the EPC and the heating bills.
- If it is a converted flat, ask about the service charge and who manages the building.
- Ask how long it has been on the market; the good ones go in days.
Which part of Summertown fits your work, budget and schools is what I work out in your Blueprint.
Your Blueprint is drawn up around your job, your budget, your household and your arrival date. Delivered within one working day of us having everything we need.
Some of the areas we know well
Other areas we know in Oxford
Not a ranking: which area fits depends on your work, budget and household.
Questions people ask about Summertown
How much is rent in Summertown?
For all 2-beds, flats and houses together: a typical asking rent of £2,020 a month across OX2, from 90 live listings read 14 Oct 2026. Most list between £1,650 and £2,600.
What is council tax in Summertown?
Band D council tax in the Oxford council area is £2,678 a year for 2026-27 (MHCLG). Your band depends on the property.
How long does it take to get from Summertown to Oxford station?
About 15 minutes by car, calculated for a weekday 8am departure on 14 Oct 2026.
Which council covers Summertown?
Summertown (OX2) is in the Oxford council area.