The What, When and Where around Banbury
I recently saw mention of English Tourism Week (March 14-23) approaching, so it seemed like the right time to shine a spotlight on Banbury, a town that is, in my opinion, unfairly overlooked by the tourism sector.
While nearby tourism heavyweights Oxford, Warwick, and Stratford-upon-Avon frequently feature on travel itineraries of visitors from around the world, Banbury does not. And that’s a shame because it genuinely does something to offer or both tourists – and tourism investors. It has historical points of interest and a few cultural gems of its own alongside both strategic accessibility and affordability that makes it an ideal destination for travellers and those who serve them.
We used to joke that the perfect tagline for the town would be ‘Banbury: You can get there from here.’ And it was a sort of joke. But it was also a serious point about why Banbury should be on more people’s travel radar when it comes to exploring the English countryside and towns. After all, not everything is London.
Now, you may be thinking that as someone who lives in Banbury and writes about Banbury, I may not be wholly objective about the place. I’m not, I suppose. But neither am I making something out of nothing.
Banbury’s tourism appeal lies its industrial heritage, perfectly preserved at sites like Tooley’s Boatyard. The Banbury Museum & Gallery, with its engaging exhibitions and educational programs, tells the story of a town that has been at the crossroads of English history for centuries. Indeed, the town’s strategic importance dates back to Roman times, with the ancient Salt Way cutting through what is now Banbury. These attractions don’t just preserve history – they make it accessible and relevant to modern visitors.
There are architectural gems like the Globe Room in the Ye Olde Reine Deer where Oliver Cromwell used to sit in judgement during Royalist trials or Lampreys (below).
Banbury’s central location makes it an ideal base for exploring some of England’s premier attractions without paying premier attraction prices for hotels. Stay at a hotel or B&B in Banbury and you are less than an hour – often less than 30 minutes – from a wealth of locations serving a wide range of interests.
After a long day of sight-seeing, what could be better than getting back to town and relaxing with an excellent meal. The town’s dining scene punches well above its weight, with award-winning restaurants offering cuisine from across the globe. This culinary diversity may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you hear ‘Banbury’ – maybe you think Banbury cake – but the truth is, Banbury’s food scene is modern, eclectic and diverse.
The Mill Arts Centre features music, theatre, comedy and dance performances all year round. St. Mary’s Church, in addition to being historically significant, also serves as another cultural hub in town – – especially when it comes to music with their Festival Singers performing at many events in town, hosting the Banbury Early Music Festival as well as partnering with the Banbury Choral Society and Banbury Symphony Orchestra. Then there is the annual calendar of events – a notably robust calendar of events that call the town centre home – such as food fairs, heritage events and music festivals ensures there’s always something new for visitors to discover.
The annual calendar of events such as food fairs, heritage events and music festivals creates year-round appeal, ensuring there’s always something new for visitors to discover.
For stakeholders in the hospitality industry and visitor services sector, Banbury represents an opportunity to invest in a destination that offers:
Destinations like Banbury exemplify the sector’s potential for growth and innovation. The town’s unique combination of historical significance, strategic location, and modern amenities – including significant recent upgrades to the train station and the canal-side development including Lock29 and The Light – makes it an ideal candidate for further tourism investment and promotion.
With major tourist attractions being proposed for nearby Bicester (the £300 million theme park from Puy du Fou and the Great Wolf development, for example) just strengthen Banbury’s position as an affordable, convenient location from which to explore the wider landscape.
For tourism developers, Banbury offers the rare opportunity to invest in a destination that already has strong fundamentals but hasn’t yet reached its full potential. Its position between major tourist hubs creates natural visitor flow, while its own attractions provide compelling reasons for extended stays.
As the visitor economy continues to evolve, destinations that can offer authentic experiences while serving as strategic bases for wider exploration will become increasingly valuable. So, in advance of English Tourism Week 2025, we invite everyone to take a closer look at what Banbury – and towns like it, towns slightly in the shadow of nearby attention-grabbing neighbors – can offer to the future of English tourism.
Whether through investment in tourism infrastructure, promotion of local attractions, or development of new visitor experiences, Banbury is primed to step forward and play a larger role in England’s tourism landscape.
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”
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!”
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:
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?”
This is especially effective when quoted while standing in front of 46 Parsons Street, which back in the day – way back – was the Shakespeare Inn. See, there he is still about Shelia’s Sweets, ready to greet all visitors.)
Banbury is, as you may know, associated with Banbury cake but one can’t live by cake alone (believe me, I’ve tried and it just cannot be done long-term). Enter the Bard and behold – Banbury Cheese!
Continue reading “Talk Like Shakespeare Day, Banbury-Style”