Charlbury Tourist Information and Travel Guide Cotswolds

Charlbury located 6 miles North of Witney in the English County of Oxfordshire

The small Market Town of Charlbury is snugly situated in the Evenload valley well away from busy main roads. It looks across the valley to the fine 600 acre Cornbury Park estate almost surrounded by the great woodlands of Wychwood Forest.

The town started life as a small village in a clearing in Wychwood Forest. The town was made prosperous during the 18th century thanks to it's glove making industry. In the attractive town nowadays, there are many fascinating old buildings to see and many shops and country inns.

Whilst in Charlbury, pay a visit to Cornbury Park, owned by Lord Rotherwick, part of which is a National Nature Reserve where many forms of wildlife, including fallow deer, roam freely. The only access to the reserve is via a public footpath which runs through the forest. There is no general access to the reserve for environmental reasons. The environmental value of the forest is largely in its micro-ecology and flora, which is particularly vulnerable to damage from walkers and their pets.

The little Charlbury Museum in Market Street has displays illustrating the town's traditional crafts and industries. Opening Hours: April to end of September Saturdays 10am - 12noon Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays 2.30pm - 4pm Telephone: + 44 (0) 1608 810060.

The small green, known as Playing Close, has a series of attractive cottages looking across to a little neo-Jacobean drinking fountain.

It is possible to walk eastwards from Charlbury, along bridleways running not far from the fine mansion of Ditchley Park. The meandering Oxfordshire Way also passes through the town. In addition there is a nice circular walk taking in the village of Finstock, part of Cornbury Park, and the villages of Chilson and Shorthampton.

The largely perpendicular church of St Mary was heavily restored by the Victorians and blends in well with the nearby stone-fronted shops and inns.

Charlbury is know for its annual beer festival normally second week in July and Cornbury Park for its yearly music festival. The Cornbury Festival is one-of-a-kind: an eclectic and eccentric musical carnival - a dynamic summer festival disguised as a country fayre - a lovingly crafted, top notch, very English open air party, tailor-made for the whole family.

Charlbury Railway Station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Cotswold railway line follows the Evenlode Valley, and trains link the town with Oxford (15 minutes journey), London Paddington, Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham.

Charlbury Tourist Information and Travel Guide Cotswolds England UK