Abingdon, England Tourist Attractions
Abingdon (pop. 22,000), 6mi/10km south of Oxford, is a charming town on the Thames and formerly the county town of Berkshire, which experienced its heyday during the period of the wool trade.
It has a large number of interesting houses and churches, including the old two-story County Hall (1678-82; now a local museum) and the beautiful St Helen's Church (Perpendicular), with a graceful spire, double aisles and elaborately painted paneling (1390) in the Lady Chapel. Many old hospitals from the period 1446-1797 can be visited, including Christ's Hospital, founded in 1553. Abingdon also has some parts left of the once influential Benedictine abbey, which was consecrated in 675 and dissolved in 1538: the Checker Hall (13th century), the Long Gallery (about 1500) and the abbey doorway (1450).
Abingdon has several leisure and recreation facilities -White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Tilsley Park and the Southern Town Park. Each year in October, the centre of town is closed for Ock Street Michaelmas Fair.
Wantage, England
Wantage (pop. 8,899) in the Vale of the White Horse is the birthplace of Alfred the Great (849-99) King of Wessex (871-99). There is a statue of the king in the market along with a number of shops featuring 18th century facades. The town of Wantage has had a church since the 10th century on the same site including the current Church of St Peter and St Paul that dates back to the 13th century.
Wallingford, England
Wallingford (pop. 6,328) is the sight of the negotiation of a treaty in 1153. Located on the western side of the River Thames, Wallingford has a notable medieval bridge across the river.The centre of the town has a 17th century arcaded town hall and the church of St Mary-le-More as well as a number of interesting shops.
Steventon Priory Cottages
Steventon Priory Cottages are former monastic buildings under the ownership of the National Trust. The Great Hall of the original priory has been preserved in the South Cottage, which is available for viewing.
Address:
1 Mill Street, Steventon, Abingdon OX13 6SP, England
Opening hours:
Apr 2 to Sep 26: 2pm-6pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £4.00, Adult £1.60, Child £.80
Useful tips: Open only by written appointment with tenant.
Admission only to Great Hall in South Cottage.
Transit: BritRail: Didcoat Parkway then a bus.
Abingdon County Hall
English Heritage property built in the 17th C to house the Assize Courts. It now houses the Abingdon Museum.
Address:
Market Place, England
Opening hours:
10:30am-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Christmas Eve - Christian (Dec 24), Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Adult £2.00, Child £.50
Useful tips: No dogs allowed. Only children over 6 yrs old admitted.
Transit: BritRail: Radley
Didcot, England
Didcot is a familiar junction on the rail lines from Oxford and Swindon. The Didcot Railway centre houses a collection of steam engines, wagons and coaches.
Railway Centre
The Didcot Railway Centre re-creates the age of the Great Western Railway. It has steam engines, rolling stock and many other attractions.
Faringdon, England
Faringdon is located on the A420, northeast of Swindon. On the east side of Faringdon is the Faringdon Folly, an outcropping that served as an ancient hill fort.
Buscot Old Parsonage
Buscot Old Parsonage is a National Trust property located near the town of Faringdon. The Cotswold stone house was built in 1703 on the banks of the Thames.
Address:
Coleshill Estate Office, Faringdon SN7 8DQ, England
Opening hours:
Apr 2 to Oct 29: 2pm-6pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £4.00, Adult £1.60, Child £.80
Useful tips: Open only by written appointment with tenant.
Transit: Bus: Stagecoach Oxford 64 Swindon-Carterton
Buscot Park
Buscot Park is a neo-classical house containing the Faringdon Collection of paintings and furniture. It is set in an attractive garden with walks and a lake.
Opening hours:
Mar 21 to Sep 26: 2pm-6pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Sat
Always opened on: Good Friday - Christian, Easter - Christian
Always closed on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug)
Entrance fee in GBP:
£7.50, Grounds / gardens only around attraction £5.00, Child £3.75
Useful tips: Also open on second and fourth weekends from March - September.
Last admission 1 hour prior to closing.
No dogs allowed.
Disability Access: No facilities for persons with disabilities.
Transit: Bus: Thamesdown 67 Swindon-Faringdon
Great Coxwell Barn
Great Coxwell Barn is a monastic barn that was stone-built in the 13th C. It is preserved and maintained by the National Trust.
Address:
Coleshill Estate Office, Faringdon SN7 8DQ, England
Entrance fee in GBP:
£1.50
Useful tips: Dogs allowed on leads. Open all year.
No toilet facilities.
Transit: Bus: Stagecoach Swindon & District 66 Swindon-Oxford from either station.
Pusey House
A garden is a more recent addition to this 18th century house.
Opening hours:
Apr 1 to Oct 31: 2pm-6pm; Closed: Mon, Fri
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug)
Pendon Museum
At the Pendon Museum model landscapes recapture the beauty of the English countryside and its railroads from the 1930s.
Address:
Long Wittenham, Abingdon OX14 4QD, England
Opening hours:
2pm-5:30pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £18.00, Adult £5.50, Senior over 60 £4.50, Child 16 & under £3.50, Child 6 & under FREE
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
