Witney is a bustling market town on the banks of the River Rush, in Oxfordshire, surrounded by green, rolling hills. It is famous for manufacturing gloves, blankets and other woollen goods, and was recently named as one of the best places to live in Britain. As you explore the town centre from your holiday cottage in Witney, you will notice striking historical architecture such as the Norman church of St Mary the Virgin and Holy Trinity Parish Church, which was built in 1849. In the heart of the town, a pretty market square fills up with stalls on Thursdays and Saturdays, where you can pick up fresh, local produce or a woollen blanket made by one of the town’s famous manufacturers. Witney has four museums: Cogges Manor Farm Museum, which is housed in a 13th century manor house and explores the town’s farming history, Whitney Blanket Hall, built in the 18th century by the Company of Blanket Makers, Whitney and District Museum and Wychwood Brewery
A couple of miles outside Witney, Minster Lovell is a picturesque village with thatched cottages and a ruined manor house. If you fancy a walk in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, head for Witney Lake and Meadows, on the outskirts of the town. Nearby, Blenheim Palace is the opulent home of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Some of Oxfordshire’s best restaurants are a stone’s throw from holiday cottages in Witney. The Horseshoes, the Hollybush and Como Lounge are good options. Head to Fat Lil’s for Mexican and American food and live music. A short drive from Witney, the magnificent city of Oxford is not to be missed, with stunning, honey-coloured university buildings to explore. Self-catering holidays in Whitney are also a good opportunity to visit the glorious countryside and villages of the Cotswolds, a few miles to north.
