Oxfordshire 2016 Cotswolds ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Contents 3 Welcome 4 Uncovering the past Welcome 6 Family fun 8 A thriving cultural landscape 10 The great outdoors 12 Shop ’til you drop 14 Bustling market towns and picturesque villages OWNS and villages of golden stone set 16 Set jetting amongst green and rolling hills, the 18 Celebrating local food and drink Oxfordshire Cotswolds is rural England at its 19 Eating out finest – the perfect place to do as much or as 22 Diary dates little as you like. 23 Some highlights for 2016 24 Attractions History lovers can wander around ancient ruins, historic 26 Glorious English gardens Thouses, medieval towns and villages and a fascinating 38 Visitor Information Centres selection of museums; food lovers can indulge 50 Competition themselves in the great selection of tea rooms, pubs and 51 Map restaurants; shoppers will love the market towns, their Accommodation high streets full of independent boutiques and family run 39 Accommodation information and symbols shops; walkers and cyclists can happily roam the 500 40 Serviced accommodation miles of footpaths and bridleways that criss-cross the 47 Self catering Oxfordshire Cotswolds; buses and trains, crocodiles and 49 Caravans & camping rhinos, goats and pigs, mazes and play areas – children 49 Glamping should certainly not be bored! Evening walk - Gavin Robinson We look forward to welcoming you to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds soon. @OxCots www.facebook.com/oxcots Discovering the wider Cotswolds The Cotswolds is England’s largest Area of www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/youtube Outstanding Natural Beauty stretching all the way from Bath in the south to Stratford upon Avon in the north, www.pinterest.com/oxcots and from Tewkesbury, Stroud and Cheltenham in the west towards Oxford in the east. West Oxfordshire District Council, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB This guide covers only the north eastern section of the www.westoxon.gov.uk E [email protected] Cotswolds. Designed and Printed by Paddock Print Ltd Blenheim winter - Guy Austin For information on the wider Cotswolds, visit www.cotswolds.com Visitor Information Centres Our Visitor Information Centre staff are professionally Front page pictures trained local experts who are passionate about the area and Top row, from left: Burford - Tom Bown. On Form exhibition, Asthall want to ensure you have the very best experience possible Manor. Rousham - Harpur Garden Images. whilst here. So, whether you want help in planning your visit Middle row, from left: Blenheim Palace Italian Garden. Cornbury before leaving home, or once you arrive, let our staff share Music Festival. Kelmscott Manor. with you some of their best suggestions and tips for enjoying Bottom: Wheatfield near Enstone - Paul Chapman. the area. Both of our Visitor Information Centres (VICs) are Enjoy England Official Partners so you can expect a warm Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in welcome and professional service. this guide is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of Burford VIC: T 01993 823558 E [email protected] printing. West Oxfordshire District Council cannot accept any Witney VIC: T 01993 775802 E [email protected] responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions, nor does inclusion necessarily imply approval or recommendation. 2 Chastleton House Dressmakers Dummies - Peter Greenway Snakeshead fritillary - Peter Greenway 3 ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Uncovering the past Chastleton House Blenheim Palace Historic houses from across the ages UNESCO World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace is a Kelmscott Manor was home to William Morris, true masterpiece of Baroque architecture, with its founder of the Arts & Crafts Movement in the late 19th sumptuous state rooms and ‘Capability’ Brown century and contains an outstanding collection of the landscaped parkland. The birthplace of Sir Winston works and possessions of Morris and his contemporaries. Cogges Churchill, Blenheim Palace has a special exhibition and memorial garden dedicated to his life. The manor house at Cogges was first established in Chastleton House is one of England’s best-preserved the 11th century and has been added to and altered Jacobean houses. Virtually unchanged for 400 years it ever since, providing a complex history. It has been St Mary’s Church, Witney exudes an informal and timeless atmosphere. used as a film set for various period dramas including Downton Abbey. The wool trade Rousham was built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer, The story of wool weaves its way into the history of the whose descendants still live in the house today, and is For a more sombre reminder of the past, visit the Cotswolds, which were known for many years for surrounded by landscaped gardens designed by dramatic ruins of the large 15th century manor house producing the finest quality wool in Europe. The wealth William Kent, one of the few gardens of this date to Minster Lovell Hall on the banks of the River generated by this burgeoning trade built many of the Rousham House escape alteration. Windrush. churches in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, and helped to enrich towns like Burford and Witney, where you can Churches Ancient times see the fascinating historic buildings associated with The churches and Step further back in the town’s blanket-making industry. chapels dotted across time and uncover the the Oxfordshire mystery of the Museums Cotswolds towns and Rollright Stones , a Local history is brought to life in the fascinating villages tell their own Neolithic stone circle museums located in the towns and villages of the historical tales. Many surrounded by myth Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Packed full of artefacts and have Norman origins and legend, or visit interesting exhibits and staffed by volunteer and have been added the remains of a large enthusiasts, they tell the absorbing stories of local to throughout the and well-built Roman people and how they lived. Fans of industrial heritage course of the medieval Villa at North Leigh will particularly enjoy Combe Mill , a Victorian steam and modern eras, with its near and water powered sawmill, and the Oxford Bus providing layers of complete mosaic Museum and Morris Motors Museum , home to over history to uncover. floor. 40 vintage buses and coaches, along with cars and bikes from the past 100 years. Burford Church Rollright Stones Charlbury Museum (left) and Combe Mill (right) 4 5 ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Family fun HE Oxfordshire Cotswolds has so much to offer the whole family; whether it’s for a day trip or for a fortnight’s holiday you’ll find a variety of things to do, come rain or shine! Wild things We’re lucky to have not just one, but three world-class wildlife attractions in our area. Cotswold Wildlife Park T Kilkenny Lane Country Park & Gardens provides an entertaining day for all the family, with over 260 species of animals, including giraffes, rhinos, lions, meerkats, penguins and lemurs, plus a fantastic adventure playground and sky maze. Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens The UK’s only crocodile zoo, Crocodiles of the World , World Heritage sized fun Blenheim Palace is a World Heritage Site with masses to boasts a large selection of crocs, alligators, caimans do for families, including the giant Marlborough Maze, and lizards, plus otters, meerkats and tamarins. adventure play area, beautiful butterfly house and miniature Birdland Park & Gardens is home to over 500 rare train. There are also 2,000 acres of parkland and gardens and exotic birds, including England’s only collection of to explore and a great programme of family events. King Penguins, plus a new Jurassic Journey trail taking you back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Marvellous museums Great for rainy days, the Oxfordshire Cotswolds has Cotswolds! some fantastic local museums which will entertain Down on the farm children of all ages (and parents too!). The Oxfordshire Cogges provides a wonderful experience for children, Museum has lots of hands-on, interactive exhibits including a dinosaur garden with life-size Megalosaur, with their friendly farm animals. There are creative Crocodiles of the World activities and historical dressing up costumes in the and a lively programme of events and creative activities manor house and impressive adventure play areas for children. Board a vintage bus at the Oxford Bus which make the most of the natural environment. Museum , take a trip back in time through Oxfordshire’s motoring heritage at the Morris Motors Museum and Ramsden Rare Breeds is a family-run smallholding explore the authentic Victorian steam and water- where you have the opportunity to feel, touch and smell powered Combe Mill . the animals and learn about farming. Children will love the woolly Mangalitsa pigs, pygmy goats, miniature A world of play donkeys and lion-head rabbits. If all the kids want to do is burn off some excess energy then visit the exciting adventure play area at Kilkenny Fairytale Farm is a Lane Country Park , go for a swim at our leisure centres unique attraction or outdoor pools in Chipping Norton and Woodstock designed around the needs of during the summer, or try wakeboarding, water skiing or children with disabilities but ringo-riding at Hardwick Parks Watersports Centre . open to all, with friendly farm And if that isn’t enough to tire them out there are lots of animals and fairytale themed family-friendly cycle rides and walks which can be interactive play zones. downloaded from our website. Fairytale Farm Family cycling 6 7 ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org ww w.oxfordshirecotswolds.org A thriving cultural landscape HE Oxfordshire Cotswolds has a vibrant cultural scene, with art, theatre, live music and comedy events throughout the year. Live performance Cornbury Festival West Ox Arts The Theatre Chipping Norton has an Visual art Tenviable programme of plays, comedy, The landscapes of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds music and cinema and is known for have long inspired artists and craftspeople.