English Tourism Week 2026 in Banbury: A Cake That Travelled the World

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What better way to begin English Tourism Week in Banbury than with something Banbury has been famous for for centuries: the Banbury Cake.

At first glance, it is just a pastry – an oval parcel of flaky pastry filled with currants and spice. But Banbury cakes have a surprisingly long-standing story.

The oldest printed recipe for Banbury cakes was published by Gervase Markham in his book The English Huswife, first published in 1615. (Pictures below) It was quite a popular title in its day (a bestseller of its time, going through nine editions and at least two other reprints by 1683). Whether that was down to the popularity of the Banbury cake recipe, we cannot say.

Now, Banbury was known to be a stronghold of strict Puritans so it was only a matter of time before the Puritan authorities frowned officially on Banbury cakes (along with many festive foods associated with saints’ days). Despite that, the cakes endured. I suppose giving them an air of the forbidden just made them even more popular. Happens all the time, doesn’t it?

By the 18th and 19th centuries, they’d become one of Banbury’s best-known exports. Those passing through the town carried them away, and they were shipped far and wide – Australia, the East Indies and America just to name a few. What made them so good for long haul shipping? Their high sugar and spice content.

There is even a long-standing story that Queen Victoria enjoyed Banbury cakes and was given a supply every summer.

They are sometimes mistaken for Eccles cake but Banbury cakes are flatter and more oval, with a filling that often carries a sharper hit of spice and lemon peel.

There were two shops in Banbury most closely associated with the cakes over the years – The Original Cake Shop, located at 12 Parsons Street and Betts’ Cake Shop at 85 High Street. Four hundred years later, Banbury Cakes are still part of the town’s identity – and a rather tasty piece of local history and – with my marketing hat on – impressive brand longevity.

Not bad for something that began as a small local pastry.

So, the question of the day is: Have you ever actually tried a Banbury Cake? What did you think?

Banbury Area Businesses Awash in Awards

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It may not be the Oscars but there’s been a lot of awards won around town lately –

First the 2025/26 Good Food Award winners were announced on November 10, two of my favourites here in Banbury won many well-deserved kudos.

  • Pizza Calzone (Parsons St) was awarded a Blue Ribbon, not for the first time either.
  • And Reg’s Cafe (Thorpe Way) got the VERY IMPRESSIVE and highly-regarded Gold Seal. The Gold Seal goes to businesses that achieve consistently high customer ratings/votes over three years. This is the fourth or fifth year in a row that Reg’s has gotten a Good Food Award.

And then The 9th Annual Food Awards England came out and both Pizza Calzone and Reg’s won praise once more!

  • Pizza Calzone took two categories – Best Italian Establishment (South) and Outstanding Achievement in the Pizza of the Year category
  • Regs Café captured Café / Bistro of the Year (South)

And in the wider Banbury visitor landscape, Hook Norton Brewery was one of the winners at the VisitEngland Attractions Accolade Awards. They were awarded the VisitEngland Hidden Gem Accolade, which means it is being officially recognised as a top-tier visitor attraction.

These opinions not for sale

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I got an absolutely hilarious comment over on the Banburian Facebook page. I was posting about why some people were gonna moan no matter what and pointed out once again that I’d rather highlight new stuff, share news from local businesses, find interesting stuff, and make constructive suggestions about changes (because nothing is perfect) than wallow in complaint about parking and hairdressers. . And the vast majority of people who follow that page and some all new people seemed very much on the same page. But then someone in the comments asked, ‘How much are you being paid to post that?’

And reader, I must tell you, I howled with laughter. As if! First of all, The Banburian – blog, Facebook and Instagram – are all 100% my own view, mostly my own pictures (sometimes Modern Parlance Photos pictures) and definitely completely unpaid. I mean, I wouldn’t take pay for this stuff – and second, who on earth do they think would pay for it?

Ridiculous. And I said so.

So, I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page as far as that goes. What you read here is my take and my take alone. No one has to agree with me – I would be amazed if everyone did – but no one, absolutely NO ONE is paying for favourable coverage or mentions.

Banbury as ‘Town of Culture’? Anything’s possible…

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Earlier this month, news trickled out that there was to be a brand-new UK Town of Culture competition — a sort of sister effort to the more established City of Culture programme. And someone who writes about a UK town quite a lot, I got to thinking – what if Banbury were to put itself forward? What would that involve and — perhaps a bigger question — does Banbury have the cultural points to make a serious bid?

On the assumption that the City of Culture process would almost certainly form the blueprint for Town of Culture, I gave the documentation a read through and this list is the result.

5 points that credible submissions should include and how, IMO, Banbury stacks up.

1. A clear purpose and a long-term vision

Winning isn’t about throwing a year-long festival. It’s about culture as a driver of regeneration, community identity, pride and economic growth. Local participation, skills development, creative industries, tourism and long-term legacy all matter.

Banbury would need to show:

  • How culture boosts access and inclusion
  • How creativity fuels the local economy
  • How community cohesion is strengthened
  • How the benefits would last well beyond “the year of culture”

In short: it’s not about one big event. It’s about cultural transformation.

2. A compelling story — the “why Banbury, why now?”

Strong bids tell a story rooted in local identity, history, community character and connection to wider cultural networks. Banbury’s story is… layered, and frankly, pretty fascinating.

We have:

  • A multi-era heritage: Civil War, industrial history, canal culture, and literary connections
  • A famous identity thanks to a certain nursery rhyme
  • A town in transition, redefining itself in a modern context
  • Regional cultural links (Banbury Museum’s touring exhibitions are a great example)

A good submission weaves these strands together into something coherent and compelling.

3. The ability to deliver

A beautiful story won’t win on its own — applicants need a proven structure for delivering cultural programmes. The City of Culture criteria emphasise leadership, track record, cross-sector cooperation and sustainable planning. Banbury has excellent organisations and quite a few passionate stakeholders — but the collaborative structures would, again IMO, need real strengthening.

4. Measurable impact

There would need to be evaluation plans made to collect baseline data and to measure KPIs linked to expected outcomes. Much of which continues long after any win is announced. Winning isn’t the end; it’s the midpoint. The government wants to see a return on investment.

5. Inclusivity and access

A winning bid must involve everyone — not just established cultural players or the traditionally defined ‘great and the good.’ Grassroots groups, young people, diverse communities, neighbourhoods outside the town centre — all need a place in the plan. Fortunately, Banbury’s grassroots scene is strong: arts groups, choirs, music nights, heritage societies and community-led projects all contribute to a vibrant cultural fabric.

So… what does Banbury have going for it? A lot.

Heritage & History

  • Banbury Museum & Gallery
  • Tooley’s Boatyard
  • Banbury Cross, the Fine Lady statue
  • Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn
  • St Mary’s Church
  • The Oxford Canal

Arts & Culture

  • The Mill Arts Centre
  • Public art trails
  • A lively live-music scene
  • Local orchestras, choirs, amateur dramatics

Identity & Traditions

  • Banbury Cakes
  • The Hobby Horse tradition
  • The iconic nursery rhyme

Food & Family Culture

  • Lock29
  • The Light
  • Two major food festivals
  • A notably international restaurant scene — Turkish, Thai, Japanese, Polish, Italian, Indian and more

The Surrounding Cultural Ecosystem – more on this topic later but it is a significant part of a submission)

  • Broughton Castle
  • Upton House
  • Sulgrave Manor
  • Hook Norton Brewery
  • The Edgehill battlefield
  • British Motor Museum
  • Bicester Heritage

These assets tell a story of a town with depth, character and huge potential — not one that needs to invent a cultural identity, but one that already has one.

Could Banbury win?

It wouldn’t be easy. It would take collaboration and ambition. But the building blocks are absolutely there. Even the process of preparing a submission could spark new partnerships, projects and pride.

And honestly? It might just be worth it.

Staycations: the joys of local exploring

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Living in Banbury gives me so many fab opportunities for staycation days right on my doorstep. I have joked for years that the tagline for Banbury should be ‘Banbury, you can get there from here.’  And since we’re on a long weekend, it felt like a perfect time to share again why I think local days out and nearby adventures are a great way to recharge.

One thing to clarify before I wax lyrical about staycations. I don’t define a staycation as domestic tourism as seems to be more and more common these days. I define a staycation as not traveling to other accommodations, staying at home with day trips to local attractions. You define it however you like. But that’s what I mean when I use the phrase.

From Staycation 2016: Wordsworth may have called Bibury the prettiest village in England but he never saw that little yellow car. I rather like the sassiness of the little car. It drives the neighbors and tourists crazy but what’s owner supposed to do? It’s the only place the park.

6 Reasons to choose a staycation:

  • Time friendly and time efficient: staycations mean you don’t have to be at an airport 2-3 hours before your flight. You don’t spend time flying, getting to and from airports at both ends. You start your adventure faster and have more time to enjoy! As for when to take them – they fit in almost anywhere: long weekend, regular weekend, random day off? We’ve even done a week-long series of staycations. It was fantastic!
  • Less stressful: overall planning is less involved, bookings are often much less complicated, no airport queues, no cancelled flights or missed flights or late flights. No lost luggage. Heck, no packing (other than maybe a snack in the tote bag) and no post-trip laundry marathons.
  • Easier on the wallet: amazing how not having to pay for flights or accommodation can enhance a day’s fun. Also, staycations don’t require visas, travel insurance, or currency exchange. Will you spend money? Yes. But you’ll be spending money on the food, the fun and the finding out about stuff. Not on the paperwork and logistics.
  • Discovering hidden gems: I’ve enjoyed countless places that never make it to the top ten places to visit, never get mentioned on travels – but which are all talked about in local groups, found in brochures on display at local museums and on flyers around town.
  • Reducing environmental impact of travel: No one can change the impact of travel and tourism on the environment on their own. But everyone can do their part. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go on longer trips or further distance trips – but you don’t have to do it every time the travel bug bites.
  • Support local economies: I am a huge supporter of #ShopLocal and staycations are one way to help sustain local jobs, businesses, attractions, and communities. You can’t buy these experiences online.
From staycation 2025: The Radcliffe Camera looking resplendent in the late afternoon light in Oxford.

5 staycation destinations near Banbury worth exploring:

  • Oxford: 20 minutes by train. What could be easier and quicker? The Bodleian tour alone is worth a day in Oxford to me. It was one of the first things I did on my first trip to Oxford and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
  • British Motor Museum: We’ve gone a few times and it never ceases to impress – even if you are not, strictly speaking, a petrol head.
  • Cotswold Wildlife Park: this may be one of the best wildlife parks I have ever visited and I have visited a LOT. It’s just outside Burford (a nearly picture postcard perfect village worth a visit on its own) and contains 160 acres of well thought out paths, enclosures and displays of wildlife from rhinos to red pandas. I will never, ever get enough of red pandas.
  • Hook Norton Brewery: never heard of it before moving to Banbury and I suspect most people traveling to the UK will never hear about it either. Whisky distilleries, yes. Wineries, sure. But not this. And that’s a shame because it is a true gem and if you can go there, you really ought to. Naturally, the tour includes not just seeing the brewing in action but samples as well.
  • Sulgrave Manor: We’re always told about national trust properties (plenty of those around Banbury – Upton House, just one fine example) and we hear about Blenheim (everyone loves a palace) and we have a local castle (Broughton, which will be familiar to anyone who watched Wolf Hall). But rarely does Sulgrave get mentioned except locally. As an American, I was very amused to hear that George Washington’s ancestral home was basically 15 minutes away.

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What are your favorite local day trips? Maybe you’ll help someone near you find hidden gems near them!