Around and About

Oxford has many interesting features from a historical point of view. It also has theatres where West End productions are being tested and quite a number of excellent restaurants. Only 5 minutes away we have Raymond Blanc's Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, one of Britain's best restaurants, rated with 2 Michelin stars. In the countryside around Langsmeade House, there are 4 other eating places of good national reputation.

The Chiltern Hills are only 15 minutes away and have been nominated as an area of outstanding beauty. The Cotswold Hills can be reached in 50 minutes. Oxford has an excellent connection with London by bus. The Oxford Tube alone makes 88 trips each way per day! After midnight buses go back to Oxford every half hour. We can drop you off and collect you from the first Oxford bus stop at Thornhill Park & Ride to spare you the trouble of going to London by car.

Golfing

Waterstock Golf Club is at walking distance. Its 18 courses and a man-made lake have been developed about 12 years ago on soft rolling hills, wedged between Wheatley and Waterstock. On week days a round of golf costs £ 23.-, in weekends £ 28.-. The Oxfordshire Golf Club on the A 329 is only 8 minutes away by car. A difficult course with few trees and a number of lakes, open to the elements and a challenge for the more proficient golfer. Green fees here are £ 70.- on week days and £ 80.- on weekends.

Fishing

Milton Pools Fisheries has a lay-out of 5 pools, a cafe and a shop. Overnight fishing is allowed. The fish population consists of pike, perch, tench and carp. Day tickets are £ 10.- for adults, £ 12.- for night fishing and £ 20.- for a 24 hour ticket. About 5 minutes away by car.

Shopping

Bicester Village, nicknamed the most fashionable street outside of London, is only 30 minutes away by car and an almost international tourist attraction. It promotes itself worldwide and attracts hordes of Japanese and Americans. Over 75 international designer outlet stores offer end of season merchandise at savings of up to 60%. Other outlets offer 'seconds' at reduced prices.

Antiques

The nearby Swan Antiques Centre in Tetsworth had been nominated best antique centre of England. It's located in an Elisabethan coach house and hosts a great variety of furniture, ceramics, glass and jewellery from all periods, displayed in 40 showrooms. The annex restaurant of the same name has an excellent reputation. Lassco in Milton Common sells architectural antiques. From huge garden statues to church doors and brass door knobs. The Lamb Arcade in Wallingford is approximately a 20 minutes drive away.

Railway History

In a radius of 30 miles, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire have railway museums that tribute the times of the steam engine. There is the Railway Museum in Didcot, the Indoor Model Village and Railways Museum in Pendon and the Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon. The Buckingham Railway Centre in Quainton is a working steam museum on a 25 acre site with one of the largest private railway collections on display. The Chinnor Steam train is run by volunteers and organises train rides on weekends in the summer season.

Gardens

Waterperry Gardens is a very special garden centre. Miss Beatrice Havergal founded a residential horticultural college for ladies in 1932. The 'Strawberry Queen' retired in 1971. The lay-out of the gardens around the big house is fantastic. Mature borders, rose gardens, sculptures, rockery, orchards with old fashioned pear and apple varieties and an art shop. The biggest yearly art event in Oxfordshire is Art in Action, held in the grounds of Waterperry.

House in the second half of July, organised by the Fellowship of the School of Economic Science.

Newington Nurseries, Chelsea gold medallist for garden design, specialises in unusual and exotic plants. There is a glass house with many varieties of orchids and show gardens with a tropical touch.

Waddesdon Manor, built in 1874 by Baron de Rothschild, has one of the finest Victorian gardens. The tree collection in the gardens of Blenheim Palace, seat of the Duke of Marlborough, is very impressive.