How to spend 24 hours in Banbury.
DAYTIME
Broughton Castle
A moated and fortified house set in parkland, this has been the family home of the 21st Lord and Lady Saye & Sele since 1447. Castle, garden and tearoom open until the end of September. broughtoncastle.com
Sulgrave Manor & Garden
George Washington’s ancestral home is an accredited museum housed in a Grade I-listed building. Open to the public until October 31. Sulgrave Explorers themed open days run from July 23-August 12, 2023. sulgravemanor.org.uk
Upton House & Gardens
Lord and Lady Bearsted’s 1930s country retreat, with dramatic terraced gardens and world-renowned art collection. Visit The Pavilion Café and gift shop with second-hand books and plant centre. nationaltrust.org.uk
NIGHT TIME
The Mill Arts Centre
A lively cultural hub supporting local artists as well as a busy professional programme, with theatre, dance, live music, film and comedy. The centre also hosts workshops in a variety of creative arts. themillartscentre.co.uk
The Three Pigeons Inn
A traditional 17th-century inn with individually designed boutique rooms: ‘The Peacocks’, situated over the original hay bale store; the four-person ‘Dove Cote’; and ‘The Sleepy Owl’ on the second floor of the old barn. thethreepigeons.com
Easington House
Set in a 15th-century stone farmhouse with expansive gardens, this elegant four-star hotel is a few minutes’ walk from the centre and features exposed timbers, stone flooring and wood panelling. easingtonhouse.co.uk
EATING
The Old Auctioneer
Set on Banbury’s Parson’s Street, this eclectic and historic inn serves delicious cooked-to-order comfort food, including hand-thrown artisan pizzas, hugely popular chicken wings, burgers and steaks. theoldauctioneer.com
La Foglia
This lovely Italian restaurant on North Bar Street offers a wide variety of authentic dishes, including gnocchi con salsa al Gorgonzola, risotto frutti di mare, and filetto al dolcelatte. Outdoor seating for summer evenings. facebook.com/lafogliabanbury
3 Flavours
The chef at this modern British and Asian restaurant and wine bar trained under the likes of Marcus Wareing, Mark Hix and Gordon Ramsay. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a courtyard garden. 3flavours.co.uk
SHOP TIME
White Horse Gallery
A contemporary independent art gallery showcasing brilliant original and exclusive art from across the globe, with artists including Jackie Morris, Quentin Blake, Iain Faulkner, and Michiel Folkers. whitehorsegallery.co.uk
Marsh Farm Shop
Supplying the highest quality eggs for over 60 years, the shop also sells Appletree Farm Products, Fowlers’ Cheeses, Matthews Cotswold Flour, locally-produced honey, jams and chutney, and other local produce. marshfarmshopbanbury.co.uk
Wykham Park Farm Shop
Just south of Banbury, this farm shop is full of local produce, including meat from their own sheep and Longhorn cattle, seasonal fruit and veg, exceptional cheese counter, and the new Farm & Table café. wykhampark.co.uk
