English country cottages in Oxfordshire, England.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire enjoys a great central location in the heart of England, beautiful countryside, pretty towns and villages and, of course, the marvellous city of Oxford.
The city of Oxford is on the eastern edge of the Cotswold region. It's a stunning city: steeped in history and full of life. Many visitors wander around Oxford in search of the famous University, only to find that it's all around them. At every turn, there's a college, library or departmental building. The colleges tend to be tucked away amongst other buildings, and many of them are right in the centre of Oxford. Have a peek inside and you'll be able to appreciate their full impact: pretty stone quads centring around beautifully kept lawns and gardens. There's no escaping the academic atmosphere, with students and tutors cycling all about the place (if it's exam time, they'll even have their academic garb on!).
Christchurch College is particularly popular with visitors, being the biggest and grandest of the colleges. Harry Potter fans can spot parts of the college used in the shooting of the films. Christchurch meadow sweeps down to the river, where you can wander along the boat houses and watch Oxford's rowing crowd do their thing. If you're in Oxford in summer it's definitely worth having a go at punting - not as easy at it looks but lots of fun! A pedallo is an easier option, if not quite as traditional.
Also near the river are the lovely Oxford Botanical gardens. Plants are grown here to support the University's teaching programmes and research, but they're also very attractively presented and will prove an inspiration to any green-fingered visitors. On a rainy day, you can head to the 'Oxford Story' and experience a trip through Oxford's history in the form of a little indoor train.
Oxford has numerous museums, many of them owned by the University. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a good one, and makes a special effort to provide child-friendly displays and activities. The Pitt Rivers Museum is housed at the back of this large building, and has some intriguing anthropological and archaeological artefacts. Oxford also has a good modern Art Gallery, with an exciting turnover of exhibitions from sculptors, painters and designers.
There are several good hotels in Oxford, and lots of self-catering cottages in the surrounding countryside. If you fancy a break from cooking for yourself, come into Oxford and dine at one of the fine restaurants - the stylish area of Jericho has plenty to choose from. There are also some good old traditional pubs where you can enjoy local ales and pub grub. The 'Turf Tavern' is a student favourite, and 'The Eagle and Child' used to be frequented by CS Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein and fellow 'inklings'.
Just outside Oxford, in Woodstock, is Blenheim Palace, which stands in a beautiful park created by famous landscape gardener 'Capability' Brown. Blenheim Palace was presented by the English nation to John Churchill, first duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his victory in 1704 over French and Bavarian troops. It was built between 1705 and 1722 by some of the finest craftsmen around. Sir Winston Churchill, was born at Blenheim in 1874. If you're staying nearby then check out the timetable of what's on: Blenheim often hosts special events.
Choosing accommodation in or around Banbury will put you in a good position to explore the Northern part of the Cotswold countryside and to get to 'must see' locations such as Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford. Banbury is famous for its part in the nursery rhyme 'Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross'. Although the original cross was pulled down at the end of the 16th century, a new one was erected in 1859 to celebrate the wedding of the then Princess Royal to Prince Frederick of Prussia. Banbury is a town that combines the traditional with the modern. There are narrow streets and historical buildings, as well as new developments such as the Banbury Museum and the Castle Quay shopping centre. Banbury Cakes, made of fruit and pastry, are still produced here. Chipping Norton is the highest town in Oxfordshire. It was once an important centre for the wool trade and was given a charter by King John in 1205 to hold and annual wool fair. This later developed into a Mop fair, a tradition which is kept up today. Traditionally a market town, the centre of Chipping Norton is still dominated by an extensive sloping market place. St Mary's church lies at the bottom this slope, and the medieval town centre at the top. The distinctive structure of Bliss Tweed Mill, with its tall tower, is just down the valley.
Burford is a typical Cotswold town, situated just on the Oxfordshire side of the county boundary with Gloucestershire. It has a large wool church, St. John the Baptist, which was originally built in 1175 and enlarged throughout succeeding centuries to reach cathederal-like proportions. Burford's high street has a higgledy piggeldy row of little shops, tea rooms, hotels and pubs. The street sweeps down to a little stone bridge over the river Windrush, which winds through willows and meadows creating a truly picturesque scene.
The Cotswold Wildlife Park, just down the road from Burford, is set in 160 acres of parkland and gardens around a listed Victorian Manor House. The park is now home to mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates from all over the world. As well as the more exotic animals (parrots, monkeys, camels, zebras…) there's a petting zoo, children's play area and café. Visitors can learn all about the animals, and the park makes an effort to inspire the public to understand and respect the natural world. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is a member of EAZA (the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) - they share and exchange animals with other collections to further breeding programmes and protect rare breeds.
Buscot park, also in Oxfordshire and just south of the Cotswold Wildlife Park, is a National Trust owned Neo-classical mansion. It has some fine artwork from the Renaissance to the Pre-Raphaelite era. The grounds are impressive too - a soothing Italiante water garden, a walled garden and some lovely avenue walks. You can easily enjoy a whole day out here.
Oxfordshire sweeps away from the Cotswold region along the Thames Valley. Henley on Thames is best known for its Royal Regatta, which has been held every July since 1839. The wide, straight stretch of the Thames provides great racing waters, and the river banks take on a 'garden party' feel during the event. Henley's main street has lots of Georgian frontages, and its nice spot to potter around and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea. There are coaching inns, boutique shops and restaurants.
The Thames Path National Trail follows England's famous river for 294km (184 miles) from its source in the Cotswolds through varied countryside before entering London. It passes through Oxford and Henley, and goes past Windsor Castle, Hampton Court and Kew Gardens. The trail ends at the Thames Barrier in Greenwich. If you want to take your travels in England onward from your Cotswold retreat, then you might consider following the trail through the heart of England towards the capital. Walking the whole Thames Path would take about 14 days, but plenty of people just do one or two sections, or visit for a quick stroll beside the river. Look for riverside accommodation in the Thames Valley and you can take it all at your own pace.
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