Witney

Witney is one of those places that I think I warmed to immediately. It’s situated in West Oxfordshire and very close to the much-mentioned-on-this-blog Cotswolds. I’ve visited it a few times now, as I have family nearby and also Burford, my favourite Cotswold town, is just a few minutes down the road. It’s also really close to Blenheim Palace and Woodstock…just planting a seed for you here…!

A classic market town, dating back to Saxon times, it’s now a town that nicely combines culture, history and shopping. An interesting point to note is that it’s well known for it’s wool; the famous Witney Blankets are indeed blankets from Witney!! Produced using water drawn from the River Windrush, this water is supposedly the secret to their high quality. During medieval times, a charter was granted by Queen Anne; any and all blankets made were sent to The Blanket Hall in Witney, to have their quality tested before they were shipped out to their final destinations, across the world. A testament to them…and now I am writing this, I do feel like I’ll need to go back there again and invest in one.

One of the brilliant pulls to this town, is the free parking, everywhere! It gives you the opportunity to wander about and explore without fretting about your parking running out.

There’s a few things to look at in Witney, so let’s break it all down…

Walkers

I’m yet to do there but if you head to Cogges Manor Farm, you’ll find 17 acres of land to explore! and there are also 3 River Windrush walks on Alltrails, which are circular and cover sections of the river between Witney and Burford, which I would recommend combining the two towns if you can!

Shoppers

What I love about Witney actually is the high number of independents. I came across so so many, not just on the main street, but down side streets; again this is a town I really suggest you take yourself off on left and rights because you will end up back on the high street, but the little lane-like streets have so many cafes and shops to pop into. There’s also a market on on Thursday’s and Saturday’s which carries all you would expect.
Also, the Witney Blanket Hall- if you can, head down there, even if just to have a look at the beautiful throws in the shop!
There’s also a more modern entertainment complex now with cinema and more shops that you’d recognise.

Drinkers

We visited the Plough, which is a beautiful cosy pub, holding an undisputed “Oldest Pub in Witney” claim. The staff again were really impressive and the surprise long pub garden, which backs (or fronts, I never know the correct term!) on to the River Windrush is very pretty. I’m so glad we found this!

There are quite a few pubs dotted about the main stretch through Witney, it feels like most corners you turn there’s another to explore.

Pubs I’d like to try:
The Beekeepers

Cafe’s / Delis

We visited (and have revisited) Hunters Cake Cafe on the high street where quite honestly you just will not beat the cakes here. There are so many to choose from; every time we have gone there, there’s always been a queue out of the door! I recommend the Toffee Crisp Brownie…it’s just amazing.

Again, alongside your well-loved coffee chains, you’ll find plenty of cafe’s and coffee shops to choose from, one I would love to try is:
The Eden Cafe which is located in one of the side streets, Wesley Walk.

Restaurants

We visited The Fleece, an unmissable Georgian gastro-pub facing the Green in Witney. The green is a lovely quiet spot at the top of the high street. The food was so tasty and the staff went above and beyond for us. I had wanted to go here before and if I was planning a stay, based on my experience there for lunch, I would be surprised if you’d be disappointed!

On my list to go to is
The Hollybush – an 18th century pub that has rave reviews for food

Hotels

As mentioned above, I would definitely look to stay at the Fleece, the Harcourt Arms also looks nice, as does The Bird in Hand, which is about 10 mins out of Witney; a nice looking and well reviewed base for Cotswold exploring.

Sightseeing

Another nod to the Witney Blanket Hall; it’s free entry (donations gratefully received) and you can have a good look around inside and out, stop at their onsite Pieshop, and look in the Woollen shop. It really is great if you are looking to learn about a place that Witney is most famed for.
There’s a thought provoking war memorial just at the start of the Green, this is just after you’ll have passed the Buttercross (stood on 11 stone pillars) which is worth a look at in the market square. In fact that whole route around the Green is lovely to walk about, taking in some of the really beautiful houses.
I also really like Corn Street to take a stroll up and down.

On my list to go to :
Cogges Manor Farm – about a 5min drive or 15 min walk from the centre of town, this beautiful manor house and farm is open to the public through to November, It looks like a great day out, perfect for families too.
Witney & District Museum for all your historical needs; this is run by volunteers, so do check opening times
St Mary’s Church – there are actually quite a few churches dotted about the town, so if you enjoy this, you’ll have plenty to view
There’s a lovely looking Corn Exchange centrally situated that hosts a variety of events from films to open mic nights, to craft markets. They always advertise really well what’s coming up, so check them out too.

Would I go back?

I would. Although I feel like I’ve seen the majority of this town now across several visits, I could definitely “complete” this in another day trip. It’s just a nice place to visit. I would recommend, if you wanted to go and see the best bits, that you could probably do this in a day and make it part of a weekend where you explore the surrounding areas too, depending on your interests. There’s no train station here, so basing yourself close by and getting the bus across would be manageable but with a car you could definitely stop by for the day. The Witney Carnival in July is supposed to be a really fun experience, so perhaps a summer weekend here!