Oxfordshire

Situated to the north of the River Thames and brimming with history and beauty, makes Oxfordshire an unforgettable treat for any visitor to the area.

To the north of Oxfordshire, Cherwell Valley is centered on the famous town of Banbury. 

Banbury is famous for the ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ nursery rhyme:

"Ride a cock horse to
Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady
upon a white horse,
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She shall have music
where-ever she goes"

The original cross was pulled down at the end of the 16th century. The present cross was erected in 1859 to celebrate the wedding of the then Princess Royal to Prince Frederick of Prussia.

The cross is a must-see for tourists and will take you about 10 minutes to walk to the cross from the station. 

While in Banbury, it’s also worth visiting the Banbury Museum, here you can explore the stories that have made Banbury Famous.  Admission is free to this museum. 

There is also Sulgrave Manor, the home of George Washington’s family and has the largest UK collection of George Washington memorabilia demonstrating the British contribution to the origins of the USA with a separate exhibition on George's life and career in the US. To get to Sulgrave Manor from Banbury Station you will need to get a taxis.  There are taxis at Banbury station and the ride takes about 15 minutes and costs approximately £13.

Another great place to visit is Broughton Castle, which is a historic 14 century moated castle that was enlarged in the 16th Century.  It has splendid plaster ceilings, fireplaces and panelling.  To get to this beautiful attraction, you will need to take the 480 bus from Banbury Station.  Remember, if you go by train to Banbury you will be able to get 2 for 1 on entry into the castle.  Further information about this and the voucher that you will need to fill in, can be found in our Days Out by train leaflet.  You can pick this leaflet up from any staffed station. 

It’s also worth exploring Blenheim Palace which is situated in Woodstock and is where Winston Churchill was born. It was built by the great architect John Vanbrugh for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, after he had won the battle of Blenheim. The gardens, which can be visited, were designed by the landscape gardener "Capability Brown", who planted the trees in the battle formation of the victorious troops.