Oxfordshire Travel Guide - Towns and Villages

England
Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire Towns and Villages

The major attraction for most visitors to Oxfordshire is the county town (really a city, as it has a cathedral) of Oxford. Aside from the 'city of dreaming spires' there are some lovely historic towns and villages to explore. Here are some of our favourites.

Abingdon   Abingdon is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the UK, set beside the River Thames south of Oxford. Abingdon has been settled since at least the early Saxon period. Alfred the great held the manor of Abingdon, and his descendant Athelstan had a royal residence here in he 10th century. There are a wealth of historic buildings to see in Abingdon, including the ruins of medieval Abingdon Abbey, set on the banks of the Thames. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Town Location: On the A34, 6 miles south of Oxford Details of Abingdon - Photos of Abingdon OS SU498978 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Ascott under Wychwood   A lovely village on the banks of the River Evenlode, featuring a 12th century church and Norman castle remains, and a memorial to the 16 women of the Ascott Martyrs. Ascott under Wychwood, Oxfordshire, England, OX76AN Attraction Type: Village Location: on a minor road off the A361 one mile north of Shipton under Wyychwood Website: Ascott under Wychwood Location map Details of Ascott under Wychwood OS SP302186 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Bampton   The small Oxfordshire market town of Bampton has a long history. It was known for many years as 'Bampton in the Bush', because it was located in the centre of a large expanse of common land. The town dates to the Saxon era, and by the time of the Norman Conquest it was the third largest town in Oxfordshire. Its early prominence was based upon salt mining but even better times were ahead; during the medieval period Bampton grew and prospered enormously from the booming wool trade. Bampton, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Town Location: At the junction of the A4095 and B4449 about 6 miles south of Witney - Photos of Bampton OS SP320046 Heritage Highlight: The 12th century church of St Mary contains vestiges of Saxon stonework. Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Brize Norton   A small village east of Carterton, famous for the nearby RAF Brize Norton air force base, the largest RAF base in the UK. The village itself is quite attractive, composed largely of Cotswold stone cottages, and the occasional old thatched cottage. Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Location: On a minor road south of the A40, just east of Carterton OS SP298076 Heritage Highlight: The Norman church of St Britius boasts a carved Norman door and the effigy of a 13th century knight. Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Buckland   An almost perfect estate village, built for workers at Buckland House. The village is composed of a lovely mix of traditional thatched cottages, with an attractive mix of more modern houses, all built of golden Cotswold stone. The 12th century parish church of St Mary is an absolute gem, boasting 15th century stained glass shields, a 16th century memorial brass, and a very well preserved 14th century font, in addition to the ebullient Barcote Chapel, a late Victorian addition well worth seeing for its colourful tiles. Beside the church is Buckland Manor, which was the residence of the Lords of the Manor until the building of Buckland House around 1750. Buckland House is a superb Palladian mansion build by Sir John Wood the Younger for Robert Throckmorton. Buckland, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Location: Off the A420 4 miles east of Faringdon - Photos of Buckland OS SU348993 Heritage Highlight: Buckland House, a fabulous Palladian mansion built in 1750 for Robert Throckmorton. Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Burford   The lovely town of Burford is the western gateway to the Cotswolds. Burford is built on a fairly steep hill above the River Windrush, and the view from the top of the hill looking down the High Street to the river is one of the classic panoramas of the Cotswolds. Burford, Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Town Location: On the A40 Oxford to Cheltenham road Details of Burford - Photos of Burford OS SP251 121 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Charlbury   The historic market town of Charlbury sits on a hill above the Evenlode valley. The town began as little more than a clearing in the ancient royal hunting ground of Wychwood Forest. Little remains of the forest today, but Charlbury has maintained its historic roots. The town is full of pretty 17th and 18th century cottages built of Cotswold stone, giving the buildings a warm, golden look. Much of Charlbury's prosperity is down to its heritage as a centre for glove-making during the 17th and 18th centuries. Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Town Location: On the B4437 about 5 miles west of Woodstock Website: Charlbury - Photos of Charlbury OS SP360202 Heritage Highlight: Armada Cottage, an unaltered Elizabethan building Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Minster Lovell   One of the prettiest of Oxford's villages. The ruins of a medieval manor, Minster Lovell Hall, stand beside the River Windrush. Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Minster Lovell - Photos of Minster Lovell OS SP314 110 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Oxford   The county town of Oxfordshire sits astride the River Thames. The real treasure of Oxford is the architectural beauty of the university college buildings, many of which date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Oxford, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Town Details of Oxford OS SP514 062 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Shipton under Wychwood   A lovely village in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, with a 12th century church on the site of a Saxon minster, a 14th century inn that was once the guest house for Bruern Abbey, and Shipton Court, one of the largest and finest Elizabethan manors in the country. Shipton under Wychwood, Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Location: On the A361, 4 miles north of Burford Details of Shipton under Wychwood OS SP279180 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Stanford in the Vale   A large village in the Vale of White Horse, a few miles south east of Faringdon. The name is thought to refer to an early stone ford across the River Ock (or perhaps across Frogmore Brook). There is evidence of settlement here during the prehistoric period. The Romans settled here as early as 43-45 AD. Christianity came to the area around 635, under the influence of St. Birinus, Bishop of nearby Dorchester. The first known Christian church was built at Stanford in 939. Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Location: On a minor road off the A417 4 miles east of Faringdon. - Photos of Stanford in the Vale OS SU348950 Heritage Highlight: The attractive 12th century church of St Denys, which may have been the site of the wedding of Anne Clifford and Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Swinbrook   A quiet Cotswold village just a few miles from Burford, famous for the striking 17th century Fettiplace Monuments in the small church. Swinbrook, Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Swinbrook - Photos of Swinbrook OS SP280 121 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Westwell   A quiet village near Burford, site of the most westerly well in Oxfordshire Westwell, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Village Details of Westwell OS SP225 100 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Witney   The historic market town of Witney boasts a lovely wide green, a medieval Butter Cross, and a superb Early English parish church. Witney was for many centuries a centre for blanket manufacture. Among the many elegant old buildings that surround the green is the Henry Box School, founded in 1660. Witney, Oxfordshire, England Attraction Type: Town Location: On the A40, 10 miles west of Oxford Details of Witney - Photos of Witney OS SP358099 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts