Witney

United_Kingdom

Witney is a thriving market town in Oxfordshire, just off the A40 Cheltenham to Oxford road. Like many towns in the Cotswolds, Witney is known historically for its textiles specifically woolen blankets. Church Green High Street

Those familiar with the writings of A. A. Milne, in particular Winnie-the-Pooh, might remember the game of "Pooh Sticks" from the book. The game is played on a bridge over a river and competitors drop their sticks in the river (at the same time) and see whose stick emerges downstream first. Childish fun, but these days the town hosts the annual World Pooh Sticks Championship. Organised by the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires and raising funds for the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires Charitable Trust Funds, it is held over the River Windrush close to the centre of town. There are both team and individual competitions, though advanced registration is required.

  • World Pooh Sticks Championship, Crown Lane, near Cogges Manor Farm, Church Ln, Witney OX28 3LA (Close to Windrush Leisure Centre. Regulation Pooh Sticks are provided. Individual entry £2.50, teams £10.

World Pooh Sticks Championship, Crown Lane, near Cogges Manor Farm, Church Ln, Witney OX28 3LA (Close to Windrush Leisure Centre. Regulation Pooh Sticks are provided. Individual entry £2.50, teams £10.

Holy Trinity Church Riverside Cottage Riverside House

  • Holy Trinity Parish Church, Woodgreen, Witney, OX28 1DN, +44 1993 779492. Consecrated in 1849.
  • Town Hall, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AG.
  • Oxford Bus & Morris Motors Museum, Main Rd, Long Hanborough OX29 8LA, +44 1993 883 617. W (all year), Sa (Jun, Jul & Aug), Su (all year), Bank Holiday Mon 10:30AM-4:30PM.
  • Bishop's Palace, Mount House, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ, +44 1865 300557. M-F 10AM-5PM. Wheelchair access is available. Free.
  • Witney Museum, Gloucester Court Mews, 75 High St, Witney OX28 6JA, +44 1993 775915. Apr-Oct only: W-Sa 10AM-4PM. Adult £2; Child free.
  • North Leigh Roman Villa, North Leigh, OX29 6PZ (4½ miles NE of town. Reasonable time during daylight hours. Free.
  • Witney Blanket Hall, 100 High St, OX28 6HL, +44 1993 706408 or +44 7793007856. M: Closed, Tu-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: 10AM-4PM. Historic centre of the woolen blanket industry as the building was the headquarters of the Witney Company of Blanket Weavers from 1721 to its demise in 1847. The hall has a café and shop selling woolen blankets.
  • Wychwood Brewery, Eagle Industrial Estate, The Crofts, OX28 4DP, +44 1993 890800. M-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: Closed. Guided tours £12 per person.

Holy Trinity Parish Church, Woodgreen, Witney, OX28 1DN, +44 1993 779492. Consecrated in 1849.

Town Hall, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AG.

Oxford Bus & Morris Motors Museum, Main Rd, Long Hanborough OX29 8LA, +44 1993 883 617. W (all year), Sa (Jun, Jul & Aug), Su (all year), Bank Holiday Mon 10:30AM-4:30PM.

Bishop's Palace, Mount House, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ, +44 1865 300557. M-F 10AM-5PM. Wheelchair access is available. Free.

Witney Museum, Gloucester Court Mews, 75 High St, Witney OX28 6JA, +44 1993 775915. Apr-Oct only: W-Sa 10AM-4PM. Adult £2; Child free.

North Leigh Roman Villa, North Leigh, OX29 6PZ (4½ miles NE of town. Reasonable time during daylight hours. Free.

Witney Blanket Hall, 100 High St, OX28 6HL, +44 1993 706408 or +44 7793007856. M: Closed, Tu-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: 10AM-4PM. Historic centre of the woolen blanket industry as the building was the headquarters of the Witney Company of Blanket Weavers from 1721 to its demise in 1847. The hall has a café and shop selling woolen blankets.

Wychwood Brewery, Eagle Industrial Estate, The Crofts, OX28 4DP, +44 1993 890800. M-Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: Closed. Guided tours £12 per person.

  • Forest of Wychwood.
  • Cogges Manor Farm, Church Lane, Witney OX28 3LA, +44 1993 772602. Daily until early November 10AM-17:00 (last entry 16:30). Historic farmyard, feed the animals, explore the manor house and grounds. Adult £5.90; Child £4.40.

Forest of Wychwood.

Cogges Manor Farm, Church Lane, Witney OX28 3LA, +44 1993 772602. Daily until early November 10AM-17:00 (last entry 16:30). Historic farmyard, feed the animals, explore the manor house and grounds. Adult £5.90; Child £4.40.

  • Witney Farmers Market, Market Place OX28 6AG, +44 7779 400421 (mobile). 4th Friday of the month 8:30AM-1:30PM.

Witney's main shopping areas are the appropriately named Woolgate and Marriotts Walk which have many familiar chain stores:

  • The Woolgate Centre, Market Square, OX28 6AP, +44 1993 778370. M-F: 7:30AM-8PM, Sa: 7:30AM-7PM, Su: 10:30AM-4:30PM. A shopping centre with mostly chain-stores such as Waitrose, Waterstones, WHSmith, Mountain Warehouse, GAME and Holland & Barrett. However there are a few independent shops such as Michael Lyne jewellers and the Rapture entertainment store. Offers free parking.
  • Marriotts Walk, Woodford Way, Welch Way, OX28 6GW, +44 1993 704262. A shopping area with mostly clothing stores, a large M&S, a few restaurants and a Cineworld cinema.

Witney like most market towns, also has a handful of independent shops:

There are also a large Sainsbury's supermarket in the area:

  • Sainsbury's, Witan Way, Witney OX28 4FF, +44 993 776038. M-F, Sa: 7AM-11PM; Su: 10AM-4PM. ATMs. Cafe (different hours). Pharmacy

  • Mickey Cranks, Unit 2, Two Rivers Industrial Estate, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH, +44 1993 709149. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM.

Mickey Cranks, Unit 2, Two Rivers Industrial Estate, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH, +44 1993 709149. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM.

Witney Farmers Market, Market Place OX28 6AG, +44 7779 400421 (mobile). 4th Friday of the month 8:30AM-1:30PM.

The Woolgate Centre, Market Square, OX28 6AP, +44 1993 778370. M-F: 7:30AM-8PM, Sa: 7:30AM-7PM, Su: 10:30AM-4:30PM. A shopping centre with mostly chain-stores such as Waitrose, Waterstones, WHSmith, Mountain Warehouse, GAME and Holland & Barrett. However there are a few independent shops such as Michael Lyne jewellers and the Rapture entertainment store. Offers free parking.

Marriotts Walk, Woodford Way, Welch Way, OX28 6GW, +44 1993 704262. A shopping area with mostly clothing stores, a large M&S, a few restaurants and a Cineworld cinema.

Church Green Books, 46 Market Square, OX28 6AL, +44 1993 700822. M-F: 10AM-4PM, Sa-Su: Closed. A small bookshop selling local and second-hand books.

Sainsbury's, Witan Way, Witney OX28 4FF, +44 993 776038. M-F, Sa: 7AM-11PM; Su: 10AM-4PM. ATMs. Cafe (different hours). Pharmacy

  • The Oxfordshire Yeoman, 172 Wroslyn Rd, Freeland, +44 1993 881003.
  • The Plough, 98 High St, Witney OX28 6HL, +44 1993 899164. Pub: Tu-Th 5-11PM; F 5PM-midnight; Sa noon-midnight; Su noon-6PM. Food: Tu-F 6-10PM; Sa noon-3PM & 6-10PM; Su noon-4PM.
  • The Hollybush, 35 Corn St, Witney, OX28 6BT, +44 1993 708073. Su-Th 11AM-midnight; F Sa 11AM-1AM.
  • Sixteen, 16 High St, Witney OX28 6HB, +44 1993 700264. M-Th 9AM-10PM; F-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 9AM-4PM.
  • Frankie & Bennys, Unit R1 Marriotts Close, Witney, OX28 6GW, +44 1993 899890. M-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 9AM-10:30PM.

The Oxfordshire Yeoman, 172 Wroslyn Rd, Freeland, +44 1993 881003.

The Plough, 98 High St, Witney OX28 6HL, +44 1993 899164. Pub: Tu-Th 5-11PM; F 5PM-midnight; Sa noon-midnight; Su noon-6PM. Food: Tu-F 6-10PM; Sa noon-3PM & 6-10PM; Su noon-4PM.

The Hollybush, 35 Corn St, Witney, OX28 6BT, +44 1993 708073. Su-Th 11AM-midnight; F Sa 11AM-1AM.

Sixteen, 16 High St, Witney OX28 6HB, +44 1993 700264. M-Th 9AM-10PM; F-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 9AM-4PM.

Frankie & Bennys, Unit R1 Marriotts Close, Witney, OX28 6GW, +44 1993 899890. M-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 9AM-10:30PM.

Witney is home to the Wychwood Brewery, and many of the beers which it produces are available around the town. Priced around £2-3 per pint or bottle.

  • The Windrush Inn, Burford Rd, Witney OX28 6DJ, +44 1993 702612.
  • The Three Pigeons, 31 Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1DG, +44 1993 702803. Pub: M-Th 11AM-2:30PM & 6-11PM; F Sa 11AM-2:30PM & 6PM-midnight; Su noon-11PM. Food: M-Tu noon-2PM & 6-8PM. W-Sa noon-2PM & 6-9PM.
  • The Company of Weavers, 31 Market Square, Witney OX28 6AD, +44 1993 777930. M-W 8AM-midnight; Th-Sa 8AM-1AM; Su 8AM-midnight. The town's JD Wetherspoon pub.
  • The Fleece, 11 Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ, +44 1993 892270. M-F 8AM-11PM; Sa 8AM-midnight; Su 8AM-11PM.
  • The Horseshoes, 78 Corn St, Witney OX28 6BS, +44 1993 703086. M-Th 11AM-midnight; F-Sa 11AM-1AM; Su noon-midnight.

The Windrush Inn, Burford Rd, Witney OX28 6DJ, +44 1993 702612.

The Three Pigeons, 31 Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1DG, +44 1993 702803. Pub: M-Th 11AM-2:30PM & 6-11PM; F Sa 11AM-2:30PM & 6PM-midnight; Su noon-11PM. Food: M-Tu noon-2PM & 6-8PM. W-Sa noon-2PM & 6-9PM.

The Company of Weavers, 31 Market Square, Witney OX28 6AD, +44 1993 777930. M-W 8AM-midnight; Th-Sa 8AM-1AM; Su 8AM-midnight. The town's JD Wetherspoon pub.

The Fleece, 11 Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ, +44 1993 892270. M-F 8AM-11PM; Sa 8AM-midnight; Su 8AM-11PM.

The Horseshoes, 78 Corn St, Witney OX28 6BS, +44 1993 703086. M-Th 11AM-midnight; F-Sa 11AM-1AM; Su noon-midnight.

  • Post Office, Unit 20 Woolgate Shopping Centre, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AP. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM; Su 10AM-2PM.

Post Office, Unit 20 Woolgate Shopping Centre, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AP. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM; Su 10AM-2PM.

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby