Witney
Witney is a thriving market town in Oxfordshire, just off the A40. Like many towns in the Cotswolds, Witney is known historically for its textiles specifically woolen blankets.
Understand
[edit]Those familiar with the writings of A. A. Milne, in particular Winnie-the-Pooh, might remember the game of "Pooh Sticks" from the book. The game is played on a bridge over a river and competitors drop their sticks in the river (at the same time) and see whose stick emerges downstream first. Childish fun, but these days the town hosts the annual World Pooh Sticks Championship. Organised by the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires and raising funds for the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires Charitable Trust Funds, it is held over the River Windrush close to the centre of town. There are both team and individual competitions, though advanced registration is required.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]The town lies on the A40 London to Fishguard main road. 12½ miles from Oxford, 30 miles from Cheltenham and 25 miles from Swindon (via the A4095 and A420).
By bus
[edit]The main buses to and from Oxford are the Stagecoach S1 and S2 from Carterton via Witney to Oxford.
S1 (Stagecoach): Carterton → Curbridge → Witney → Eynsham → Botley → Oxford
S2 (Stagecoach): Carterton → Curbridge → Witney → Eynsham → Summertown (Oxford)
Witney is on the route used by the Stagecoach 853 bus from Oxford to Gloucester. The Market Square bus stop is outside Blue Boar Inn to go towards Oxford and the other side of the road towards Gloucester.
853 (Stagecoach): Oxford → Cassington (A40) → Witney → Minster Lovell → Burford → Northleach → Andoversford → Cheltenham → Gloucester
By train
[edit]The town railway station was closed in 1965 and has now been re-developed into an industrial estate.
- 1 Long Hanborough Railway Station, Station Road, off Main Road, Long Hanborough, OX29 8LA (6 miles NE of town). Probably the nearest railway station to the town but is a small station with limited services. Station operated and services run by Great Western Railway
- 2 Oxford Railway Station, Park End St, Oxford OX1 1HS. Larger and more mainline station with more frequent services. Station operated and services run by Great Western Railway.
By bicycle
[edit]- The town is on National Cycle Route (NCR) 57 that runs from near Northleach to the W to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. NCR 57 links to NCR 5 at Oxford, NCR 6 at Harpenden and NCR 12 at Welwyn Garden City.
- National Cycle Route (NCR) 442 passes 3½ miles NE of the town. NCR 442 runs 77 mi (124 km) between Oxford and Worcester. Incormation of riding the route can be found on cycle.travel.
Get around
[edit]
Witney town centre is compact and can easily be covered on foot. Even the surrounding housing estates are no more than a brisk 15-minute walk from the town centre.
See
[edit]
- 1 Holy Trinity Parish Church, Woodgreen, Witney, OX28 1DN, ☏ +44 1993 779492. Consecrated in 1849.
- 2 Town Hall, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AG.
- 3 Oxford Bus & Morris Motors Museum, Main Rd, Long Hanborough OX29 8LA, ☏ +44 1993 883 617, info@oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk. W (all year), Sa (Jun, Jul & Aug), Su (all year), Bank Holiday Mondays 10:30AM-4:30PM.
- 4 Bishop's Palace, Mount House, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ, ☏ +44 1865 300557, museums.resource.centre@oxfordshire.gov.uk. M-F 10AM-5PM. Archaeological remains. Wheelchair access is available. Free.
- 5 Witney Museum, Gloucester Court Mews, 75 High St, Witney OX28 6JA, ☏ +44 1993 775915, witney.museum@btconnect.com. Apr-Oct only: W-Sa 10AM-4PM. Adult £2; Child free.
- 6 North Leigh Roman Villa, North Leigh, OX29 6PZ (4½ miles NE of town). Reasonable time during daylight hours. Archaeological remains. Free.
- 7 Witney Blanket Hall, 100 High St, OX28 6HL, ☏ +44 1993 706408, +44 7793007856. M: Closed, Tu-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: 10AM-4PM. Historic centre of the woolen blanket industry as the building was the headquarters of the Witney Company of Blanket Weavers from 1721 to its demise in 1847. The hall has a café and shop selling woolen blankets.
- 8 Wychwood Brewery, Eagle Industrial Estate, The Crofts, OX28 4DP, ☏ +44 1993 890800. M-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: Closed. Guided tours £12 per person.
- 9 Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Filkins, Lechlade GL17 3JJ, ☏ +44 1367 860660. W-Sa 10AM-6PM. Primarily now a retail outlet, but you can explore the old machinery, fabrics and tools.
Do
[edit]- 1 [dead link] World Pooh Sticks Championship, Crown Lane, near Cogges Manor Farm, Church Ln, Witney OX28 3LA (Close to Windrush Leisure Centre), enquiries@oxfordspiresrotary.org.uk. Regulation Pooh Sticks are provided. Individual entry £2.50, teams £10.
- 2 Forest of Wychwood (9mile Circular Walk).
- 3 Cogges Manor Farm, Church Lane, Witney OX28 3LA, ☏ +44 1993 772602. Daily until early November 10AM-17:00 (last entry 16:30). Historic farmyard, feed the animals, explore the manor house and grounds. Adult £5.90; Child £4.40.
- Riverside Festival is a free music festival in Charlbury six miles north of Witney. The next is 29-30 July 2023.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Witney Farmers Market, Market Place OX28 6AG, ☏ +44 7779 400421 (mobile), marketmanager@ymail.com. 4th Friday of the month 8:30AM-1:30PM.
Witney's main shopping areas are the appropriately named Woolgate and Marriotts Walk which have many familiar chain stores:
- 2 The Woolgate Centre, Market Square, OX28 6AP, ☏ +44 1993 778370. M-F: 7:30AM-8PM, Sa: 7:30AM-7PM, Su: 10:30AM-4:30PM. A shopping centre with mostly chain-stores such as Waitrose, Waterstones, WHSmith, Mountain Warehouse, GAME and Holland & Barrett. However there are a few independent shops such as Michael Lyne jewellers and the Truck entertainment store. Offers free parking.
- 3 Marriotts Walk, Woodford Way, Welch Way, OX28 6GW, ☏ +44 1993 704262. A shopping area with mostly clothing stores, a large M&S, a few restaurants and a Cineworld cinema.
Witney like most market towns, also has a handful of independent shops:
- 4 Church Green Books, 46 Market Square, OX28 6AL, ☏ +44 1993 700822. M-F: 10AM-4PM, Sa-Su: Closed. A small bookshop selling local and second-hand books.
There are also a large Sainsbury's supermarket in the area:
- 5 Sainsbury's (Superstore/Supermarket), Witan Way, Witney OX28 4FF, ☏ +44 993 776038. M-F, Sa: 7AM-11PM; Su: 10AM-4PM. ATMs. Cafe (different hours). Pharmacy
Cyclists
[edit]- 6 [dead link] Mickey Cranks (Sales, accessories, parts & workshop), Unit 2, Two Rivers Industrial Estate, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH, ☏ +44 1993 709149, enquiries@mickeycranks.com. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM.
Eat
[edit]- 1 The Oxfordshire Yeoman, 172 Wroslyn Rd, Freeland, ☏ +44 1993 881003.
- 2 [formerly dead link] The Plough (Restaurant & Pub), 98 High St, Witney OX28 6HL, ☏ +44 1993 899164, bookings@theploughwitney.co.uk. Pub: Tu-Th 5-11PM; F 5PM-midnight; Sa noon-midnight; Su noon-6PM. Food: Tu-F 6-10PM; Sa noon-3PM & 6-10PM; Su noon-4PM.
- 3 The Hollybush (Pub Food), 35 Corn St, Witney, OX28 6BT, ☏ +44 1993 708073. Su-Th 11AM-midnight; F Sa 11AM-1AM.
- 4 [dead link] Sixteen (Restaurant & Café), 16 High St, Witney OX28 6HB, ☏ +44 1993 700264, info@sixteen.restaurant. M-Th 9AM-10PM; F-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 9AM-4PM.
- 5 Il Gusto, 70 High St, OX28 6HJ, ☏ +44 1993 774055. 5:30pm-11pm. Charming rustic Italian restaurant with pizza and pasta along with a large wine selection. Has a good playlist with tracks from the 1950-60s.
Drink
[edit]Witney is home to the Wychwood Brewery, and many of the beers which it produces are available around the town. Priced around £2-3 per pint or bottle.
- 1 [formerly dead link] The Windrush Inn (Pub & Food), Burford Rd, Witney OX28 6DJ, ☏ +44 1993 702612, thewindrush@aol.com.
- 2 [dead link] The Three Pigeons (Pub & Food), 31 Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1DG, ☏ +44 1993 702803, threepidgeons@btconnect.com. Pub: M-Th 11AM-2:30PM & 6-11PM; F Sa 11AM-2:30PM & 6PM-midnight; Su noon-11PM. Food: M-Tu noon-2PM & 6-8PM. W-Sa noon-2PM & 6-9PM.
- 3 The Company of Weavers, 31 Market Square, Witney OX28 6AD, ☏ +44 1993 777930. M-W 8AM-midnight; Th-Sa 8AM-1AM; Su 8AM-midnight. The town's JD Wetherspoon pub.
- 4 The Fleece (Restaurant, Pub & Accommodation), 11 Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ, ☏ +44 1993 892270. M-F 8AM-11PM; Sa 8AM-midnight; Su 8AM-11PM.
- 5 The Horseshoes (Pub & Food), 78 Corn St, Witney OX28 6BS, ☏ +44 1993 703086. M-Th 11AM-midnight; F-Sa 11AM-1AM; Su noon-midnight.
- Blue Boar, 28 Market Square OX28 6BH, ☏ +44 1993 776353. Pub with great food in town centre, also has rooms, B&B double £90.
Sleep
[edit]Witney has a few hotels including a Premier Inn. The Marlborough overlooks the Market Square in the town centre. The Witney Hotel and the Fleece Hotel, a great gastro pub can be found nearby on the beautiful Church Green.
- 1 Oxford Witney Hotel, Ducklington Lane, ☏ +44 1993 779777, fax: +44 1993 703467, witney@four-pillars.co.uk. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. This 87-room hotel of the Four Pillars chain is on the outskirts of town, just off the A40/A415 roundabout. It offers modern 4 star rooms and a good on-site spa and pool. £90-185.
- 2 The Old Coutyard Hotel (Hotel, Restaurant & Bar), 39/43 Bridge St, Witney OX28 1DA, ☏ +44 1993 703228.
- 3 The Beeches (B&B), 6 Puck Lane, Witney OX28 6LD, ☏ +44 1993 771389, sr.thompson@btconnect.com. Check-in: 4-6PM, check-out: by 11AM. No children under 10 or pets. King or twin room £90 (discounts for longer stays).
- 4 The Laurels (B&B), 53 Burford Rd, Witney OX28 6DR, ☏ +44 1993 702193, info@thelaurelsguesthouse.co.uk. Single £40; Double/twin £55.
- 5 Crofters (Guesthouse), 29 Oxford Hill, Witney OX28 3JU, ☏ +44 1993 778165, booking@bedandbreakfastwitney.co.uk. Check-in: 4-6PM.
- 6 Artist Residence, Station Rd, South Leigh OX29 6XN, ☏ +44 1993 656220. Remarkable quirky small hotel in the countryside 3 miles from Witney, scores highly for decor, service and dining. B&B double £150.
- 7 The Double Red Duke, Bourton Rd, Bampton OX18 2RB, ☏ +44 1367 810222. Upscale restaurant with rooms in a 16th century country manor. B&B double £120.
- 8 Bablock Hythe Caravan Park, Northmoor, OX29 5AT, ☏ +44 1243 514433, email@greenwoodparks.net. Caravan Park with landscaped grounds and a mile of waterside frontage along river Thames. There are 2 hire caravans for weekly hire.
Connect
[edit]- 1 Post Office, Unit 20 Woolgate Shopping Centre, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AP. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM; Su 10AM-2PM.
Go next
[edit]Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby
- Oxford is close by
- Cheltenham
- Swindon
| Routes through Witney |
| Cheltenham ← Burford ← | W  E |
→ Eynsham → Oxford |
Banbury ← Charlbury ← merges with  ← |
N  SE |
→ merges with  |