Sophie’s guidebook
Sightseeing
You can walk to Blenheim Palace from The Garden Studio, it's 20 minutes to the parklands, then you can buy admission tickets for the palace.
657 locals recommend
Blenheim Palace
You can walk to Blenheim Palace from The Garden Studio, it's 20 minutes to the parklands, then you can buy admission tickets for the palace.
City of dreaming spires, only 10 miles from The Garden Studio, a 20 minute drive away - plenty of sightseeing and history to be had
556 locals recommend
Oxford
City of dreaming spires, only 10 miles from The Garden Studio, a 20 minute drive away - plenty of sightseeing and history to be had
Woodstock
Historic market town, home of Blenheim Palace
Burford
Historic Cotswold town, plenty of lovely shops and sightseeing
University of Oxford
Wellington SquareTake a guided tour of the famous histroric Oxford Colleges
Gorgeous Cotswold market town, lovely architecture, great places to eat, good place for a day out
192 locals recommend
Chipping Campden
Gorgeous Cotswold market town, lovely architecture, great places to eat, good place for a day out
Bourton on the Water
Cotswold market town, very pretty, lots to see and do there
Broadway
Pretty Cotswold market town, good places to eat and drink
Stow-on-the-Wold
Lovely shops, pubs and architecture, pretty cotswold town
Lovely shops and pubs, good place to have a mooch around, pretty countryside drive to get there
115 locals recommend
Moreton in Marsh
Lovely shops and pubs, good place to have a mooch around, pretty countryside drive to get there
The Rollright Stones is an ancient site located on the Oxfordshire & Warwickshire. The complex consists of three main elements, The King's Men stone circle, the King Stone, and the Whispering Knights. Well worth a visit, only 15 miles away - a 20 minute drive.
84 locals recommend
Rollright Stones
Rollright RoadThe Rollright Stones is an ancient site located on the Oxfordshire & Warwickshire. The complex consists of three main elements, The King's Men stone circle, the King Stone, and the Whispering Knights. Well worth a visit, only 15 miles away - a 20 minute drive.
Shopping
Shop till you drop - only a 30 minute drive away from the Garden Studio
413 locals recommend
Bicester Village
Shop till you drop - only a 30 minute drive away from the Garden Studio
Fantastic garden centre very good quality plants, plus amazing shopping and eating, all in one place - a must visit
13 locals recommend
Burford Garden Centre station
Fantastic garden centre very good quality plants, plus amazing shopping and eating, all in one place - a must visit
Good shops, a John Lewis store amongst others, a Blackwells book store, plus many others, and places to eat as well. Good for a shopping spree and lunch out.
22 locals recommend
Westgate Shopping Centre
Queen StreetGood shops, a John Lewis store amongst others, a Blackwells book store, plus many others, and places to eat as well. Good for a shopping spree and lunch out.
Art & History
Fabulous museum, a must see, lots of wonderful art and history exhibitions
374 locals recommend
Ashmolean Museum
Beaumont StreetFabulous museum, a must see, lots of wonderful art and history exhibitions
Home of Shakespeare, only a 45 minute drive away, book yourself tickets at the RSC for a memorable night of theatre, or explore the river Avon on a boat trip
533 locals recommend
Stratford-upon-Avon
Home of Shakespeare, only a 45 minute drive away, book yourself tickets at the RSC for a memorable night of theatre, or explore the river Avon on a boat trip
Pitt Rivers Museum
Parks RoadA wonderful quirky place to visit, full of interesting stuff
Modern Art Oxford
30 Pembroke StFull of interesting art, and exhibitions to suit all tastes
Bodleian Library
Broad StreetAn amazing place, so full of history and education
Lovely museum and art gallery here, in grounds of stately home. Well worth a visit, and not too far away.
33 locals recommend
Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park
Lovely museum and art gallery here, in grounds of stately home. Well worth a visit, and not too far away.
The home of William Morris, beautiful house close to the River Thames at Lechlade - full of wonderful design and art
45 locals recommend
Kelmscott Manor
The home of William Morris, beautiful house close to the River Thames at Lechlade - full of wonderful design and art
Food scene
Only 10 miles away, great place to eat and drink if you are a member
88 locals recommend
Soho Farmhouse
Only 10 miles away, great place to eat and drink if you are a member
A lovely place to eat and drink, or take in the Spa and treat yourself
273 locals recommend
Daylesford Kingham, Gloucestershire
A lovely place to eat and drink, or take in the Spa and treat yourself
The Bull
Sheep StreetGreat pub, good food, only 10 minutes drive away
The Duke Of Marlborough
Great local pub, good food, good ambience, only 5 minutes away
Great pub, good food and wine list, only 15 minutes drive away
7 locals recommend
The Royal Oak Ramsden
High StreetGreat pub, good food and wine list, only 15 minutes drive away
Jeremy Clarksons farm shop as seen on his Amazon Prime series, a must watch!
68 locals recommend
Diddly Squat Farm
Jeremy Clarksons farm shop as seen on his Amazon Prime series, a must watch!
Great pub, good food, quite close by, pretty drive and countryside
30 locals recommend
The Killingworth Castle
Glympton RoadGreat pub, good food, quite close by, pretty drive and countryside
You should definitely book a trip to the brewery where our local beer is made, you can have breakfast there too! Only 15 miles from The Garden Studio, pretty countryside around that area, good for walking.
51 locals recommend
Hook Norton Brewery
Brewery LaneYou should definitely book a trip to the brewery where our local beer is made, you can have breakfast there too! Only 15 miles from The Garden Studio, pretty countryside around that area, good for walking.
Great pub, fab food, lovely host/owner Micheal who welcomes everybody warmly and with good humour.
12 locals recommend
White Horse Inn
Daisy HillGreat pub, fab food, lovely host/owner Micheal who welcomes everybody warmly and with good humour.
Great pub and good food in historic village of Great Tew, good walking to be had too.
24 locals recommend
Falkland Arms
19-21 The GreenGreat pub and good food in historic village of Great Tew, good walking to be had too.
Swinbrook is a pretty Cotswold village, home of the Mitford sisters, good pub with good food, great walking along the Windrush Valley, very pretty.
37 locals recommend
The Swan Inn
A40Swinbrook is a pretty Cotswold village, home of the Mitford sisters, good pub with good food, great walking along the Windrush Valley, very pretty.
The Greedy Goose
Good pub, but expensive and you need to book.
The White Hart of Wytham
Lovely pub just on the edge of Oxford, by Wytham Woods.
Great pub in Wolvercote on the outskirts of Oxford, looking onto Port Meadow and the River Thames, lovely walks along the towpath of the river, in either direction.
73 locals recommend
The Trout Inn
195 Godstow RdGreat pub in Wolvercote on the outskirts of Oxford, looking onto Port Meadow and the River Thames, lovely walks along the towpath of the river, in either direction.
Another great pub on the edge of Oxford and Port Meadow, great walks along the towpath of the River Thames in either direction.
77 locals recommend
The Perch
Binsey LaneAnother great pub on the edge of Oxford and Port Meadow, great walks along the towpath of the River Thames in either direction.
Lovely family run restaurant, great food and good service. Very popular so you will need to book ahead, specially on weekends.
7 locals recommend
Thai Shire
7 Horse FairLovely family run restaurant, great food and good service. Very popular so you will need to book ahead, specially on weekends.
Gardens
Beautiful garden at Hidcote, National Trust property, well worth a visit
159 locals recommend
National Trust - Hidcote
Beautiful garden at Hidcote, National Trust property, well worth a visit
Wonderful ancient Botanic Garden, combine with a visit to the colleges
93 locals recommend
Oxford Botanic Garden
Rose LaneWonderful ancient Botanic Garden, combine with a visit to the colleges
A wonderful garden and nursery, full of amazing plants to buy, and different plants, more interesting than the usual garden centre plants on offer. Make a great day of to Great Malvern, and the Malvern Hills.
Picton Garden
A wonderful garden and nursery, full of amazing plants to buy, and different plants, more interesting than the usual garden centre plants on offer. Make a great day of to Great Malvern, and the Malvern Hills.
Wonderful pottery and shop and garden, beautiful pots to buy, and you can even see a demo of pots being made if you book a visit.
35 locals recommend
Whichford Pottery
Wonderful pottery and shop and garden, beautiful pots to buy, and you can even see a demo of pots being made if you book a visit.
Beautiful Arboretum, in Autumn the colours are amazing, you can walk for miles, got a lovely cafe and shop as well.
340 locals recommend
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Beautiful Arboretum, in Autumn the colours are amazing, you can walk for miles, got a lovely cafe and shop as well.
Gorgeous garden centre with shop and cafe - very good quality plants to be had there. Makes a nice trip out, only 18 miles away, about 30 mins drive.
33 locals recommend
Waterperry Gardens
Gorgeous garden centre with shop and cafe - very good quality plants to be had there. Makes a nice trip out, only 18 miles away, about 30 mins drive.
A truly stunning garden with amazing views over the Cotswold Escarpment, you can see all the way to Wales and Shropshire on a good day!
62 locals recommend
Kiftsgate Court Gardens
A truly stunning garden with amazing views over the Cotswold Escarpment, you can see all the way to Wales and Shropshire on a good day!
Animals
Lovely park, great animals and cute little train that takes you round the park.
442 locals recommend
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
Lovely park, great animals and cute little train that takes you round the park.
City/town information
Wonderful architecture, the dreaming spires, lots to explore, some good shops, the covered market is a great place too. Enjoy the history, a tour of the colleges can be had too. Some of them have really beautiful gardens and grounds. Or in the summer book a boat trip down the river Thames to Abingdon and back, or book a punting experience along the River Cherwell and stop off at a pub for refreshments.
556 locals recommend
Oxford
Wonderful architecture, the dreaming spires, lots to explore, some good shops, the covered market is a great place too. Enjoy the history, a tour of the colleges can be had too. Some of them have really beautiful gardens and grounds. Or in the summer book a boat trip down the river Thames to Abingdon and back, or book a punting experience along the River Cherwell and stop off at a pub for refreshments.