Banbury 2025 – Pencil It In Edition

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Now, I know we’re not quite done with 2024 but it’s never too early to at least start penciling in a few things in the diary for the upcoming year. And so, a heads up on some of the events we expect in and around Banbury during 2025.

Of course, circumstances for each may change (rumblings that the events schedule may be trimmed down have reached my ears and I am hoping no one in the position to do so would be that short sighted) and we’ll check on each closer to the time. For Banbury Town Council events, their events page has not yet been updated but we’ll keep an eye on it and let you know when it has – so we can confirm that their events are happening and when.

But for now, a rough idea of when each normally happens.

The monthly Banbury Car & Bike Meet is always worth mentioning. Jan / Feb / Mar / Oct / Nov / Dec events will all be on the first Sunday morning of each month. Spring and Summer meets are Weds evenings. Keep track of the details by following them on Facebook.

Taste of Spring and the Banbury Food & Drink Festival – Banbury Town Council’s two food fairs. Taste of Spring in April and Banbury Food & Drink Festival in August.

Banbury Triathlon – looks like the 2025 date is May 18.

The VMCC Banbury Run – as their website says, “the largest gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles & three-wheelers in the world. This annual event sees a whopping 500 veteran & vintage motorbikes ride out together from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon and make their way to and from Banbury.” – normally June.

Speaking of wheels, the Broughton Castle Sportive 2025 is on June 29.

Bloxham Steam & Country Fair is Sat 28th – Sun 29th Jun 2025 according to Steam Heritage website.

Also at some point in June will be the Avon Dassett Soap Box Derby – we went for the first time this past year and it was FANTASTIC!

Banbury Music Mix: one of the more recent additions to the Banbury Town Council Events schedule and one I would expect to continue in 2025 – mid to late July

Banbury Canal Festival: all along the canal as it snakes through the town centre. Early to mid- October.

Michaelmas Fair: I mean, obviously in October as it always is and runs about 4 days (Weds-Sat)

Banbury Camera Club Annual Exhibition: always at the Heseltine Gallery in Middleton Cheney and usually earlyish November

Christmas Market and Lights Switch-on – usually last weekend in November.

Banbury Christmas Tractor Run: yup, we just had it and it raised an impressive amount for Katharine House Hospice. Very likely to be a similar time in 2025 to previous years – mid-December.

This list is by no means exhaustive and if you’d like to suggest additions, we’d love to have them. There’s a lot going on in and around Banbury – let’s get the word out!

Banbury 2024 – End of Year Round Up

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I’ve been stupidly busy of late and not able to post as much as I would like. But I’ll definitely try and do better in 2025. I am more active on the Banburian Facebook page (sometimes easier to share things on the fly there) so you can always follow me there as well to make sure you don’t miss anything.

In the meantime. Just a list of things I have noted of late and which are relevant to our collective local interests. Continue reading “Banbury 2024 – End of Year Round Up” →

Banbury’s Historic Motoring & Motor Sport Landscape

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I have always said that one of the best things about Banbury is that it is so close to so many great things to see, do and visit. Put a pin in your map on Banbury and draw a circle – say, a 45-60 minute drive out and – whether you are a foodie, a literary lover, a petrol head or anything in between – you are spoiled for choice. It’s why we keep using the hashtag #GetThereFromBanbury.

We’ve already touched upon the great things a history or fan of manor house visits can find nearby.

Now, let’s look at the impressive array of “days out” the motoring enthusiast will find within 45 minutes or so of town.  Continue reading “Banbury’s Historic Motoring & Motor Sport Landscape” →

Castles and Manors and Gardens! Oh My!

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You may have noticed we’re using a new hashtag on the Banburian lately – #GetThereFromBanbury. What do we mean by that? Well, it occurred to us that there a lot of events and places of interest which you could reach in an hour or less from Banbury. So we decided that if you could #GetThereFromBanbury in an hour or less (most are a lot less), it qualified for the hashtag. It all ties in to our belief that Banbury is a great base for exploring some of the most beautiful, historic and interesting places in the country, no matter what your interests might be.

Wander the gardens at Blenheim

We’ve already touched upon how much the area offers for the motorsport and historic motoring fans. But what if your definition of a good time is a castle or a palace? Maybe grand homes, manors and gardens are more your speed? No worries. Banbury, so close to so many iconic locations, is the perfect base for you too. Here are just a few: Continue reading “Castles and Manors and Gardens! Oh My!” →

Who’s Riding to Which Cross?

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Tell someone you live in Banbury & they’ll start reciting:

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes.

Considering how well-known that little ditty is you’d think we’d know a lot about its origins but we don’t. We don’t know:

  • which cross they are talking about,
  • who is riding to that cross,
  • how many versions of the rhyme there are,
  • when the rhyme first showed up,
  • what they meant by cock-horse,
  • how the frog fits in.

There are quite likely people who have studied this whole thing in depth and can talk for hours about the origins and meaning of it all. To normal, everyday people (like me and I suspect, you) the information seems inconsistent and like many questions involving oral traditions of this type -definitive answers are lost in time. So what do we have? Thanks to those people who did all the studying – we have informed guesses. So let’s get to guessing. Continue reading “Who’s Riding to Which Cross?” →