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Witney serves as an excellent base from which to explore both the Cotswolds on the one hand and the upper reaches of the Thames Valley on the other: two quite different types of country and with the beautiful city of Oxford set between the two.

To the west of Witney the beautiful valley of the River Windrush reaches into the Cotswolds with its stone-built villages and ancient churches. First along this valley is the village of Minster Lovell with the ruins of the 15th century Manor House and dovecote, both of them open to the public for much of the year. Farther west along the Windrush, a gentle valley as lovely as its name, is the small town of Burford which, like Witney, owes its development to the woollen industry. Its beautiful medieval church stands alongside the river and from it the main street of shops, many of them devoted to arts and crafts, leads gently up between trees to the main Cheltenham A40 road at the top. Long the editorial home of the Countryman magazine, Burford is a place to be savoured.

A leisurely drive to the north of Witney brings one to another small country town - Woodstock, and the adjacent Blenheim Palace, home of the Duke of Marlborough and birth place of Sir Winston Churchill. Fletchers House in the town is the home of the Oxfordshire County Museum. This is a quite fine town house and garden with displays that tell the story of the county from the earliest times to the present day with, also, visiting exhibitions. The Museum, with its picnic area and refreshment facilities, is open daily for much of the year. Near to Woodstock is the village of Bladon in whose quiet churchyard is the grave of Sir Winston Churchill.

South from Witney is the Thames Valley, a pleasant stretch of countryside with its riverside pubs offering fishing and boating as well as excellent beer and food. One of the pleasant towns in this area is Abingdon (once the county town of Berkshire) with several interesting churches, a riverside lido and a museum housed in the old county hall which was built in 1677 to designs, so it is said, of Sir Christopher Wren. There are also, in the town, remains of the former abbey.

Only twelve miles east of Witney is the City of Oxford, a city not to be missed by anyone visiting this part of the world. The beautiful University college buildings, many of them several centuries old, make the streets and byways places to wander and enjoy the architecture - and most of them may be visited - at least the quadrangles and chapels are open. Christ Church is one of the finest and its chapel is now the Cathedral of Oxford, a majestic building indeed. The Christ Church Picture Gallery includes important old master paintings and drawings whilst other museums and galleries to be visited in Oxford include the world famous Ashmolean Museum; the Museum of History of Science; the Museum of Modern Art and the University and Pitt-Rivers Museum. The Botanic Gardens are well worthy of a leisurely visit as is the Oxford Story, a very imaginative presentation of the University’s history.

Throughout this part of Oxfordshire there is first rate accommodation to be found in hotels, pubs and welcoming houses that provide bed and breakfast. Full details of this accommodation, public transport, attractions and events in the area are readily available from the Visitor Information Centre at 3 Welch Way, Witney. Telephone 775802.