Book a stay at The Crown & Thistle and explore the history and beauty of Abingdon-on-Thames and the surrounding areas. Below is our suggested itinerary to make the most of your stay in the heart of Oxfordshire.

Arrival Day:

The charming riverside town of Abingdon-on-Thames lies in southern Oxfordshire within the ‘Vale of the White Horse’, named after the oldest chalk figure in England which can be found south west of here. Abingdon is well located, a stone’s throw away from the North Wessex Downs and the Chiltern Hills which are both Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The county town of Oxford is also a mere 20 minutes away by local bus. Independent coffee shops and delis abound here, and Abingdon’s locals are warm and welcoming. Your hotel, The Crown & Thistle, has a history dating back to 1605.  Its famous visitors include the prominent Victorian thinker and writer, John Ruskin, and American actor and producer Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Claimed to be the oldest continually inhabited place in Britain, Abingdon retains some historically and architecturally important old buildings, including the affectionately known County Hall. Baroque in style and dating from 1683, her solid arches sit in the heart of the town. She’s had many uses over the years, including housing the Market within the open arcade, and as Town Hall and County Hall. Since her restoration by the ministry of works between 1952-56, the building has housed the town’s Museum. In the cellar, you’ll find a café called The Mouse Hole, and the roof gives you panoramic views - it’s from this roof that local dignitaries still hurl buns in an ancient ceremony dating back 400 years. On East St Helens street, you’ll find many attractive ancient houses and, at the end, St. Helens Church. At over 1000 years old, the church is a major landmark in the town. Abingdon Abbey was once the sixth largest in the country, before its dissolution in 1538, and its outline is marked out in Abbey Gardens. Two groups of Abbey buildings survived though, and these can be seen and visited in the town. Without doubt, the best way to discover Abingdon is with the local guiding company, Walk About Abingdon. They will start the story of Abingdon 150 million years ago, and tell you about the fascinating history of the town and its lost Abbey. Walks normally begin at 11am and 2pm but check the website for further details. Enjoy a lovely evening meal at the Crown and Thistle before getting a good nights’ sleep.

Day Two: Oxford or Didcot Railway Centre

Oxford is described as ‘the City of Dreaming Spires’ and in Abingdon you are only 20 minutes away by bus. The visit is best conducted on foot so that you don’t  miss any of the highlights, like the Bridge of Sighs, the Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church Cathedral and, of course, the Bodleian Library. These sights are brought alive when you join an official Walking Tour. Following this, grab a coffee and cake at the historic Covered Market. Here you’ll see, smell, and taste local produce. Some of the finest museums in the world are located here. The Ashmolean is the oldest museum in the world, and the Museum of Natural History is very well regarded. Before taking a punt down the river from the famous Magdalen Bridge, pay a visit to the 400-year-old Botanical Gardens nearby, a must for horticulturalists. The options for lunch are numerous. At the ‘Head of the River’ pub you can sit next to the river after a punt or, much easier, take a cruise. At Gee’s restaurant there is a Mediterranean theme to the food within a light conservatory setting, and for desert head for the friendly George and Davis for homemade ice cream. These are just some of the many eateries to choose from and a small taster of what’s at your fingertips in Oxford. Alternatively, on a sunny summer day you can pick up some food from the delicatessens in the covered market and have a picnic lunch in the beautiful Christchurch meadow.

If you don’t fancy the city, then why not visit the Didcot Railway Centre, only 8 miles from Abingdon, and enjoy 200 years of railway heritage? In this 21-acre open air museum you can explore the age of steam railways and, if your visit is on a ‘themed’ day, you might have the chance of riding in a period Great Western Railway carriage pulled by one of the classic steam engines. As well as getting up close to some classic steam engines, you can explore many other original railway paraphernalia here. The volunteers who work here are passionate about the railway and keen to share their knowledge, so it’s a great day out for the whole family. Don’t forget your camera!

Day Three: Woodstock/Bleinheim Palace or The Ridgeway Trail

Just beyond Oxford, and 25 minutes by car, is the little village of Woodstock with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace next door. Grand and epic on a huge scale, Blenheim has always been and still remains the country home of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of the British wartime leader, Winston Churchill. Churchill gave some of his most famous speeches on the south lawn at Blenheim. The Palace of Blenheim, named after a Battle of the same name in 1704, owes the status of Palace to its location built within the Royal grounds of the Manor of Woodstock. The Palace of Woodstock, now gone, saw many historical events. There is lots to do here including visiting the Palace State Rooms and the Formal Gardens which surround the Palace. There are numerous walks in the grounds, and a family friendly miniature train and pleasure gardens. Outside of Blenheim, in Woodstock, there are two important museums which are located on the same site, The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum and The Oxfordshire Museum.

If a stately home doesn’t appeal, grab a picnic and head 19 miles by car to the highest point in Oxfordshire, to spend a morning walking the ancient Ridgeway National Trail. With its 360-degree panoramic views, it is the location of the renowned Uffington White Horse, originally cut by the ancient celts into the hillside revealing the chalk. This is one of many ancient figures across the chalk downlands of southern England, and there are walks of various lengths to choose from here. If you would prefer a pub lunch to a picnic, then just ten minutes’ drive away is Wantage, the birthplace of the Saxon King, Alfred the Great. In the afternoon, you might visit the Vale and Downland Museum in the town, a great way for the whole family to gain insight into the rich natural and human history of the area. From here, it’s then just ten minutes back to the hotel.

Departure Day:

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast but before saying goodbye to this beautiful location by the River, why not take a last local walk-about? There are many local short walks you could discover before departing. If you fancied a more hands-on experience, hire a boat down by the river, or there might be a cruise available. Before leaving, you could make a final stop en route home, at the last resting place of an internationally renowned author and social commentator, Eric Arthur Blair, more commonly known as George Orwell. Orwell was buried in a simple grave in the medieval church of nearby village, Sutton Courtenay. It’s not far to walk there on the Thames Path from Abingdon, or you could drive. The choice is yours and we hope to see you again in the future.