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Pictures of Banbury

a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire

Banbury, Oxfordshire

About Banbury

This is one of the best known town's in England. It was made famous by its celebrated cross of 1859, built in honour of the wedding of Prince Frederick of Prussia, it replaces an earlier cross believed to have been pulled down around 1600. Its other attribute is the famous nursery rhyme "Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross" the fine lady mentioned in the rhyme may have been Lady Godiva or Elizabeth I, she might even have been a local girl who rode in a May Day procession.

Banbury dates back to Saxon times. By the 13th-century it had become a noted centre of the wool trade. A castle was built here around 1135, it stood to the north of the Market Place on what is now Castle Quay shopping precinct. Of its former three crosses, only the High Cross which was rebuilt in the middle of the 19th-century remains, the others Bread Cross and White Cross have long disappeared, never to be replaced.

The beautiful parish church of St.Mary stands close to Banbury Cross, this was rebuilt at the end of the 18th-century to replace the original church burnt down in 1792. St.Mary's is a superb late Georgian building with an interior remodelled during the Victorian era. It is a richly decorated church with many treasures that are well worth seeing. The church is also a lovely place in which to spend a few moments of quiet prayer and reflection.

Banbury is a pleasant flower filled town with an attractive centre where there remains much of charm and character. There is a diverse range of shops, with a good mix of independent retailers and the usual high street stores. A market is held in the Market Place on Thursday's and Saturday. There is also a range of historic coaching inns, take a look at the exquisite herringbone brickwork of The New Flyer in Parsons Street, or visit Ye Olde Reindeer Inn which possibly dates from the 16th-century.

The town remains well known for its delicious Banbury cakes, still made in local bakeries and served in the town's cafe's and restaurants. The recipe for Banbury cakes has remained a well kept secret since the 16th-century.

Flowing through the town is the Oxford Canal, this offers new moorings for pleasure craft and scenic walks along its picturesque banks, home to a rich variety of wildlife. The peoples Park is built on land donated in 1899 when it was developed with a bandstand, bowling green and rose garden. It has a graceful War memorial in a pleasant grassed area, and more recent additions include a sensory garden, a children's play area and Aviary.

Several sections of the old Ironstone railway line still exist, these offer fine opportunities to explore the outstanding countryside surrounding Banbury.

A noted attraction is Upton House and Gardens, the house dates from the 17th-century and despite being heavily reworked in the 1920's remains an attractive place to visit. There is a fine collection of objects d'art including furniture, Brussels tapestries and superb paintings. The gardens are a joy with terraces, lake and a Doric temple.

Visitors to Banbury will find plenty of interest and an excellent choice of hotel accommodation.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Banbury

Banbury Museum(0.5 miles, 0.9 km)Pictures
Broughton Castle(2.6 miles, 4.1 km, direction SW)Pictures
Swalcliffe Barn(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction W)Pictures
Brook Cottage Gardens, Alkerton(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction W)Pictures
Upton House(6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction NW)Pictures
Sulgrave Manor(7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction NE)Pictures
Burton Dassett Hills Country Park(7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction NW)Pictures
Canons Ashby House(9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction NE)Pictures
Rollright Stones(11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction SW)Pictures
Chipping Norton Museum of Local History(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction SW)Pictures
Stowe Landscape Gardens(13.9 miles, 22.3 km, direction E)Pictures
Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit(13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction E)Pictures
Chastleton House(14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction SW)Pictures
The Oxfordshire Museum(14.9 miles, 23.9 km, direction S)Pictures
Blenheim Palace(15.4 miles, 24.7 km, direction S)Pictures

All attractions in Banbury
All attractions in Oxfordshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Banbury

Wroxton in the county of Oxfordshire (2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction W)
Quintessential pretty Oxfordshire village showing a wealth of attractive thatched cottages, built mostly following a fire which struck the village during the latter half of the 17th-century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Cropredy in the county of Oxfordshire (3.9 miles, 6.3 km, direction N)
Famous for the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, which took place in 1644 when on the 29th of June King Charles I was victorious over Waller, leader of the Cromwellian troops.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Farnborough in the county of Warwickshire (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction N)
Traditionally known as the last outpost of the Cotswolds.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Aynho in the county of Northamptonshire (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction SE)
There is a pale beauty about Aynho that is enhanced only by the pale golden fruit that flourishes in these parts and caused this lovely place to become known as 'The Apricot Village'.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Edgehill in the county of Warwickshire (6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction NW)
Historic Warwickshire spot where Charles I raised his standard in 1642.
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Culworth in the county of Northamptonshire (6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction NE)
Sweet Northamptonshire village set amid delightful open countryside which centuries ago was sufficiently important to have it's own fair and market.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sulgrave in the county of Northamptonshire (7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction NE)
USA President George Washington's ancestral home in England.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Burton Dassett in the county of Warwickshire (7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction NW)
Delightful place in pleasant Warwickshire countryside.
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Combrook in the county of Warwickshire (11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction NW)
A village to relish, set in leafy countryside bounded by quiet waterways.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Compton Verney in the county of Warwickshire (11.7 miles, 18.9 km, direction NW)
The village of Compton Verney takes it name from the great house acquired in the 15th-century by the ruthless Verney family.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chipping Norton in the county of Oxfordshire (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction SW)
Chipping Norton lies in the midst of beautiful cotswold countryside and is surrounded by other villages that radiate the glory of traditional honey-coloured cotswold stone Manor Houses and magnificent Churches.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Badby in the county of Northamptonshire (13.0 miles, 21.0 km, direction NE)
Badby is an attractive village spread around a hillside. It shows a confection of pretty cottages, some of which are thickly thatched with creeper climbing up to pretty dormer windows.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Everdon in the county of Northamptonshire (13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction NE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chadlington in the county of Oxfordshire (13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction SW)
Picturesque quiet Cotswold village set on Chadlington Downs amidst attractive walking country just a short distance away from the lovely River Evenlode.
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Chastleton in the county of Oxfordshire (14.7 miles, 23.6 km, direction SW)
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All towns in Oxfordshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Banbury Station(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
M40 Junction 11(1.2 miles, 2.0 km, direction NE)
Kings Sutton Station(3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction SE)
M40 Junction 10(9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction SE)
Birmingham International Airport(31.9 miles, 51.3 km, direction NW)
London Luton Airport(43.3 miles, 69.7 km, direction E)
Banbury to London(64.6 miles, 103.9 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Banbury

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Banbury center
Mercure Whately Hall Banbury(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
Best Western Banbury House(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
The Lismore Hotel(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
The Bowling Green Steakhouse Hotel(1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction E)
Best Western Wroxton House Hotel(2.4 miles, 3.8 km, direction W)
Red Lion Hotel(3.3 miles, 5.4 km, direction SE)
The Deddington Arms(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction S)
The Holcombe Hotel(5.7 miles, 9.1 km, direction S)
The White Horse(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction S)
Crown Hotel(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction E)
All hotels in Banbury


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