This evening was the Annual Public Meeting of the Choose Abingdon Partnership.

The outgoing Chairman (pictured) has been in the job for the three years – since the partnership started – and a new chap took over tonight.

The most interesting part of the evening was a report on how visitors perceive Abingdon.  Good perceptions were:  the town’s appearance and cleanliness,  good service and welcome in shops / eating places – service was particularly good at the Tourist Information Centre. Not so good were: public toilets, vacant shops and confusing signage.

Visitors tended to be 56 years or older, and come for a family or public event, and are not drawn in by publicity but by word of mouth, or they are revisiting. They will come back and will recommend the town.

My report is an oversimplification. The full report will be available on the internet in due course.

There are two Abingdon Roads in London. I plan to visit the other, somewhere south of the river, in due course, but Abingdon Road W.8 looks a good place to live – being just off the Kensington High Street, with Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall only five minutes walk away.

The adjoining road Abingdon Villas also has some nice properties.

Take Abingdon Court, built in 1903. Or you could live in Abingdon Gardens, Abingdon Lodge, or even Abingdon Mansions.

Should you want to go out for a meal in the evening then you can do no better than go to The Abingdon.

I looked in the window of Harpers and Harrison, one of two estate agents on the Abingdon Road, W.8 , and see that you can get a short term let for £725 a week : that includes double bedroom, large kitchen / dining room, reception etc … Available until June 2012.

“Shorter Lets may be considered…”

I wonder if they would consider a let of one week. That would work out as quite reasonable for a weeks holiday on what is a very select road in central London.