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Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a magnificent mansion constructed in the baroque style, between 1705 and 1722. It was gifted to John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, by Queen Anne for his triumph at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704 and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Many of the staterooms are open to the public, which contain much fine period furnishing, paintings, tapestries and sculptures. Visitors can also view the Churchill Exhibition and see the room where Churchill was born in 1874. The palace has beautiful formal gardens and is surrounded by 2100 acres of parkland, landscaped by 'Capability' Brown.

Opening times: Palace: 10.30 to 17.30; Park: 09.00 to 18.00 or dusk if earlier. Formal Gardens: 10.00 to 17.30. Pleasure Gardens: 10.30 to 17.30 - Admission Charges Apply
Location: Woodstock, OX20 1PX - Tel: 01993 810530
Website: blenheimpalace.com
Facilities: Parking, shop, café, restaurant
Image Credit: Blenheim Palace

Banbury Museum

Located in an attractive waterside location near the centre of Banbury town. The museum provides displays of local history spanning the last 400 years, including, local manufacturing, life on the Oxford canal and the effects of the Civil War. Plus a number of changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Opening times: Mon - Sat 10am to 5pm, BH 10.30am to 4.30pm (closed Xmas & NY) Free Entry
Location: Castle Quay Shopping Centre, Banbury, OX16 2PQ - Tel: 01295 753752 - Website
Facilities: Parking (nearby), shop, restaurant

Broughton Castle

This charming moated manor house, which dates back to the early 14th century, was built by Sir John de Broughton. The property is surrounded by a pleasant water filled moat and includes a church and a gatehouse, with some delightful walled and formal gardens to the rear of the house. The house contains fine period furnishings, furniture, paintings and several Civil War relics.

Opening times: Opening times vary see Website for details - Admission Charge
Location: Broughton, O15 5EB - Tel: 01295 276070
Facilities: Parking, shop, café
Image Credit: David Stowell (CC2)

Buscot Park

This magnificent 18th-c Palladian house is the family home of Lord Faringdon. Maintained by The National Trust, the house and its landscaped parkland and water gardens are now open to the public. The house is also a gallery for The Faringdon Collection of paintings, which include works by Murillo, Rembrandt, Reynolds, Rubens and Van Dyck.

Opening times: Opening times for house and grounds vary, see Website for details - Admission Charge
Location: Buscot, SN7 8BU - Tel: 01367 240786
Facilities: Parking, café
Image Credit: © National Trust Images/David Sellman

Chastleton House

One of Britain's finest Jacobean country residences. The house and gardens, which have remained virtually unchanged since its construction in 1612, are now conserved by the National Trust and open to the public. The house, which was once the home of Robert Catesby a conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot, contains an unusual mix of rare and commonplace objects and period furniture. The gardens are laid out in a typical Elizabethan style with Jacobean topiary. Run by National Trust.

Opening times: Times: Open 28 Mar to 29 Sep: 1am to 5pm, 3-27 Oct: 1pm to 4pm - Admission Charge
Location: Chastleton (near Moreton-in-Marsh) GL56 0SU - Tel: 01608 674355 - Website
Facilities: Parking
Image Credit: © National Trust Images/Peter Greenway

Cotswold Wildlife Park

One of the Oxfordshire's leading attractions. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is a vast 160-acre landscaped zoological enclosure, containing a varied collection of animals from all over the world. Visitors can walk around or take a ride through it on a miniature railway. There is also an adventure playground and children's farmyard. The park's luscious gardens are worth visiting in themselves, with vibrant summer displays and varied plantings for all year round interest.

Opening times: all year, daily from 10am (closed Xmas) Admission Charge
Location: Burford, OX18 4JW - Tel:01993 823006 - Website
Facilities: Parking, shop, café, licensed restaurant, free hire of wheelchairs, toilets for disabled

Didcot Railway Centre

A fine tribute to Britain's heritage age of steam and the Great Western Railway. Located in an original GWR engine shed, the centre is home to one of the largest collections of GWR steam locomotives, carriages and wagons. The short demonstration track at Didcot runs between authentically reconstructed GWR station platforms, signaling equipment and restored railway buildings. Visitors can also see a reconstructed section of Brunel's original broad gauge track.

Opening times: all year, times vary see website for details - Admission Charge
Location: Didcot, OX11 7NJ - Tel: 01235 817200 - Website
Facilities: Parking (100 m), café, restaurant, shop
Image Credit: Ashley Dace (CC2)

Greys Court

A brick built Tudor style manor house dating mainly from the 16th-c. The house built on the site of a much older castle. Its name derives from Lord de Grey, one of the original Knights of the Garter. The house contains fine plasterwork, period furniture and a unique collection of miniature rooms of various periods.

The surrounding gardens include a courtyard, walled gardens, ornamental vegetable garden and maze. The remains of a medieval fortified tower, pertaining to the original castle, still stands in the grounds. Also in the grounds is a well-house and a donkey-wheel for raising the water. Run by National Trust.

Opening times: times vary see Website for details.
Admission Charge
Location: Rotherfield Greys, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 4PG - Tel: 01491 628529
Facilities: Parking, café, shop
Image Credit: © National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel

Minster Lovell Hall & Dovecot

The picturesque crumbling ruins of this 15th-c riverside manor house, were once home to the Lovells, once one of the richest families in England. One of the manor's key features is a surviving 15th-c circular dovecote.

Opening times: any reasonable time Free Entry
Location: Minster Lovell (adjacent to the church), OX8 5RN - Website

Rousham House

An attractive castellated house mansion house, built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer. Later owned and modified by William Kent (1685-1748), whose landscaped gardens still remain as he originally designed them. It was garrisoned by the Royalist during the Civil War and shooting holes used by the Royalist are still visible in some of its doorways. Its treasures include many fine portraits, bronzes and contemporary furniture.

Opening times: Garden open daily 10am to 4:30pm. House: Jun-Aug, Sun & BH Mon 2pm to 4:30pm Admission Charge
Location: Rousham, OX25 4QX - Tel:01869 347110 - Website
Facilities: Parking
Image Credit: Humphrey Bolton (CC2)

Stonor House & Park

A Tudor style brick built mansion house dating back to 1190, set in a wooded valley with beautiful gardens and a deer park. The property was the seat of the Roman Catholic Stonor family for around 800 years, and its medieval Catholic chapel is still in use to this today. The house's many lavishly decorated rooms are home to rare furniture, fine art works, sculptures and tapestries from around the world.

Opening times: 1 Apr to 9 Sep: Sun & BH Mon (+ Wed in Jul & Aug) 2pm to 5:30pm Admission Charge
Location: Stonor, RG9 6HF - Tel: 01491 638587 - Website
Facilities: Parking, café, shop

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Towns and Villages in Oxfordshire

Abingdon, Bampton, Banbury, Bicester, Burford, Buscot, Carterton, Henley-on-Thames, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Didcot, Dorchester, Thame, Oxford, Wallingford Wantage, Witney, Woodstock

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Attractions in Oxford City

Please note that the above information was accurate at the time this page was last updated. This information is subject to change at any time (opening times in particular), therefore if you plan on visiting any of the above attractions, please check the owner's website first or phone them for the latest details.