South Oxon Area Guide

Why live here in South Oxon

South Oxfordshire is a beautiful region that offers the best of country living. For those who enjoy being outdoors, it has designated cycle routes and picturesque hiking trails. Residents also have easy access to award-winning restaurants, plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for families, and a hectic annual schedule of cultural and music festivals.

South Oxfordshire is the home of...

The Henley Royal Regatta (www.hrr.co.uk)
Henley’s Festival of Music and the Arts (www.henley-festival.co.uk)
The Wallingford’s BunkFest folk and roots music festival (www.bunkfest.co.uk)
The annual Henley Food Festival (www.henleyfoodfestival.co.uk)
The Thame Show, which is a showcase for the area’s agricultural heritage (www.thameshow.co.uk)

Property type

South Oxfordshire offers a range of accommodation, from old rectories and manor houses, to farmhouses and cottages.

History of South Oxon

Ancient history
Celtic, Roman and Saxon graves and artefacts are frequently discovered in South Oxfordshire and it is thought that Wittenham Clumps, the oldest clump of trees in the country, was the site of an Iron Age hill fort.

Old school
Geoffrey Chaucer’s granddaughter Alice inherited the manor of Ewelme from her mother and devoted her life to the building of almshouses and a school. The school she founded is the oldest in England.

The origins of Wallingford
King Alfred built the town of Wallingford in the 9th century and its castle was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. The ruins still stand, attracting visitors to this day.

Run for the hills
Stonor Park, a 12th century catholic family home, has an uneven number of windows on either side of the front door. One of these hides a “priest hole” where a man of the cloth could escape through the roof in times of religious persecution.

Places of Interest in South Oxon

Mapledurham House and water mill, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Fawley Court near Henley, which has a world-famous garden by Capability Brown
The Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery at Henley
Dorchester Abbey
Greys Court Palace
The Little Wittenham Nature Reserve

Getting to South Oxon

Didcot Parkway Station proves access to London Paddington in just 45 minutes.

South Oxon Local authority

South Oxfordshire District Council,
Benson Lane,
Crowmarsh Gifford,
Wallingford,
Oxfordshire
OX10 8ED
Tel: +44 (0)1491 823000

Where to go out in South Oxon

The Swan
High Street, Tetsworth
Thame
Oxfordshire OX9 7AB

The Three Horseshoes
16 The Green
Garsington
Oxford
Oxfordshire, OX44 9DF
01865 361395

The Crazy Bear
Bear Lane
Stadhampton
Oxfordshire OX44 7UR
01865 890714

Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons
Church Road, Great Milton
Oxford
01844278881

Schools in South Oxon
St. Hugh's School Carswell Manor Faringdon Oxfordshire SN7 8PT 01367 870700	The School of St Helen & St Katharine, Faringdon Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1BE. 01235 520173	Cothill House Abingdon Oxfordshire OX13 6JL 01865390800
Moulsford Preparatory School Moulsford-on-Thames Oxfordshire OX10 9HR 01491 651438	Downe House at Thatcham Hermitage Road, Cold Ash Thatcham Berkshire RG18 9JJ 01635 200286