Pictures of Dorchester-on-Thames
About Dorchester-on-Thames
This is a delightful village set beside the River Thames at a point where the historic river is joined by the lesser known River Thame.
The village is renowned for its Abbey Church of St.Peter and St.Paul, a place of worship for more than 1300 years. It is one of the largest churches in Oxfordshire and is believed to stand on the site of a former Saxon Cathedral belonging to the 7th-century. The church we enter today is the only remaining part of an Augustinian Abbey founded in 1140.
The church has a somewhat unpretentious exterior which is more than compensated for by an interior showing an exquisite mixture of Norman and Gothic Church architecture. The most interesting features of the church are the three windows in the choir which date from the 14th-century. The window in the north aisle represents the Tree of Jesse, here there is a highly unorthodox use of stone and glass, as the designer sought to use the stonework to suggest the branches. The large east window has a buttress down the middle, and in the lower part of the south window there is a vision of a funeral procession.
Other interesting church features include the cast lead font from 1140, and the magnificent ornamental canopies over senior clergy seats, there is also a stone carving of a crusader.
In the medieval guest house adjoining the abbey there is a museum where visitors can see a window commemorating Sir Winston Churchill. A bright tea-room serving home-made cakes and light snacks makes a pleasant resting place for refreshment.
Past history reveals this may have been a Saxon Cathedral town, it is also known to have been a Roman station. Today, it is a pretty place, with nice shops and pleasant walks along the river paths where it is fun to watch river life and enjoy the entertainment provided by the rich wildlife habitation.
The village has some attractive buildings of which the 400 year old White Hart Hotel is notable
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 Dorchester-on-Thames
| Dorchester Abbey | (0.3 miles, 0.5 km) | Pictures |
| Wallingford Castle Gardens | (3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Didcot Railway Centre | (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Abingdon Abbey | (5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Abingdon Museum | (5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Museum | (7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Shotover Country Park | (7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Nuffield Place | (7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| The Kilns | (7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Champs Chapel Museum | (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Botanic Gardens of Oxford | (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Bate Collection of Musical Instruments | (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Christ Church Picture Gallery | (8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Museum of Modern Art | (8.4 miles, 13.6 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Museum of Oxford | (8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
All attractions in Dorchester-on-ThamesAll attractions in OxfordshireComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near Dorchester-on-Thames
Clifton Hampden in the county of Oxfordshire (2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction NW)
This is a popular Thames side village which was the choice of Jerome K. Jerome for a setting for one of the riotous scenes of his...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Chislehampton in the county of Oxfordshire (3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction N)
Dreamy village where the River Tame is crossed by a 16th-century stone bridge.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Abingdon in the county of Oxfordshire (5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction W)
Interesting town, developed around the gates of an abbey founded in 675.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
East Hendred in the county of Oxfordshire (8.2 miles, 13.3 km, direction SW)
East Hendred is one of the spring line villages nestling just below the Downs in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire (8.5 miles, 13.6 km, direction NW)
Oxford's fame is perhaps second only to Windsor, it is an acclaimed seat of learning with a University whose first college was founded in 1249, almost half a century after the first charter granted to the town by Henry II.
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Nettlebed in the county of Oxfordshire (8.8 miles, 14.1 km, direction SE)
Nettlebed is a lovely English village in the heart of rural Oxfordshire.
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Beckley in the county of Oxfordshire (10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction N)
The village lies in spacious countryside within a short distance of the River Ray where there is boating and fishing.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Thame in the county of Oxfordshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction NE)
Thame is an ancient market town whose charter was granted by Wulfhere, King of Mercia. It was later mentioned in the Doomsday...
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Long Crendon in the county of Buckinghamshire (11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction NE)
Long Crendon is a picture postcard village of thatched cottages hung with rich foliage strung out through a myriad of winding...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Bledlow in the county of Buckinghamshire (13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction E)
This is one of Buckinghamshire most attractive villages. Anyone visiting the area could be forgiven for thinking they had seen it somewhere before because the village has been the setting for scenes in the T.V. drama Midsommer Murders. Take a close look at the Church of The Holy Trinity - in one episode this became St.Michael's church.
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Hambleden in the county of Buckinghamshire (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction E)
Hambleden is an attractive village set in the valley of the Chilterns, close to the River Thames. It has a "Picture-Postcard" image with pretty flint and stone cottages spread out around the church.
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Haddenham in the county of Buckinghamshire (13.5 miles, 21.8 km, direction NE)
This is a large sprawling village in the heart of picturesque Buckinghamshire countryside.
The village has a long history,...
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Henley on Thames in the county of Oxfordshire (13.6 miles, 21.9 km, direction SE)
Henley held the very first regatta in 1839 and in the year 1851 Prince Albert became Patron of the Regatta, thus giving the event the pretigious title of Royal Henley Regatta.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Horsenden in the county of Buckinghamshire (14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction NE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Princes Risborough in the county of Buckinghamshire (15.2 miles, 24.4 km, direction E)
An exquisite feature of the town is the Norman Church of St.Mary, the church shows restoration work from the 13th and 14th centuries and a modern spire built during the early part of the 20th century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
All towns in OxfordshireComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Culham Station | (3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction W) |
| Appleford Station | (3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction W) |
| M40 Junction 8 | (7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction NE) |
| M40 Junction 7 | (7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction NE) |
| London Heathrow Airport | (32.9 miles, 52.9 km, direction E) |
| London Luton Airport | (37.5 miles, 60.3 km, direction NE) |
| Dorchester-on-Thames to London | (45.6 miles, 73.4 km, direction E) |
Hotels & Accommodation in Dorchester-on-Thames
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from Dorchester-on-Thames center |
| The George Hotel | (0.1 miles, 0.2 km) |
| Fleur De Lys Inn | (0.1 miles, 0.2 km) |
| White Hart Hotel | (1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction NE) |
| The Plough At Clifton Hampden | (2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction W) |
| The George Hotel | (3.4 miles, 5.5 km, direction SE) |
| Kingfisher Barn Holiday Cottages | (4.9 miles, 7.9 km, direction W) |
| The Upper Reaches | (5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction W) |
| The Springs Hotel & Golf Club | (5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction SE) |
| The Bat & Ball Inn | (5.6 miles, 8.9 km, direction N) |
| Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel | (6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction W) |
| All hotels in Dorchester-on-Thames |
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