Things to Do Near The Old Crown: Oxfordshire Day Trips and Attractions
- Sebastiaan Evans
- Apr 3
- 8 min read
Faringdon sits at the meeting point of three of England's finest landscapes. To the west, the Cotswolds. To the south, the Thames Valley. To the east, the Berkshire Downs and the ancient Ridgeway. Oxford, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is just 30 minutes away by direct bus from the stop on The Old Crown's doorstep.
This makes The Old Crown Coaching Inn one of the best-positioned bases for exploring Oxfordshire. You can spend a morning at a National Trust property, an afternoon in a Cotswold village, and be back at the pub for dinner without ever feeling rushed. Here is everything worth doing within easy reach.
At a Glance: Key Attractions from The Old Crown
Attraction | Distance | Time by car | Entry |
Faringdon Folly Tower | 0.5 miles | Walk (15 min) | Free (when open) |
Great Coxwell Barn | 2 miles | 5 minutes | Free (National Trust) |
Buscot Park | 5 miles | 10 minutes | National Trust members free |
Uffington White Horse | 8 miles | 15 minutes | Free (National Trust) |
Lechlade (Thames Path) | 8 miles | 15 minutes | Free |
Cotswold villages (Burford) | 18 miles | 25 minutes | Free |
Oxford city centre | 18 miles | 30 min by bus | Most museums free |
Blenheim Palace | 22 miles | 30 minutes | Paid entry |
On Your Doorstep: Faringdon Town
Faringdon Folly Tower
A 15-minute walk from The Old Crown, Faringdon Folly is the last significant folly tower built in England, erected in 1935 by the eccentric Lord Berners. On clear days, the views from the top stretch across five counties. The surrounding hilltop woodland is free to walk year-round, though the tower itself opens on set days. It is the perfect pre-dinner walk or Sunday morning stroll.
Faringdon Market Square and Town Centre
The Old Crown sits right on Faringdon's historic market square. The town has a good selection of independent shops, cafes, and a weekly market. It is a proper English market town that has not been taken over by chains, and it rewards a morning of wandering on foot.
5 to 15 Minutes from The Old Crown
Great Coxwell Barn (5 minutes)
One of the finest medieval buildings in England, and one of the least well-known. This 13th-century tithe barn was described by William Morris as 'the finest piece of architecture in England'. It is vast, beautiful, and free to visit. The barn is managed by the National Trust and is open year-round. Allow 30 minutes, or combine with a walk to Badbury Hill.
Entry: Free. Open daily.
Buscot Park (10 minutes)
A National Trust property with one of the most beautiful Italianate water gardens in England, designed by Harold Peto. The house contains an outstanding collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, including works by Burne-Jones. The grounds are ideal for a leisurely walk, and the tearoom serves good cakes and light lunches.
Entry: Free for National Trust members. Check the National Trust website for opening days, as the house and gardens have separate schedules.
Tip: Visit on a quieter weekday if possible. The water garden is at its most atmospheric when you have it to yourself.
Badbury Hill and Coleshill (10 minutes)
Badbury Hill is a wooded hilltop managed by the National Trust, carpeted with bluebells in spring and glowing with beech leaves in autumn. A circular walk from the car park takes about an hour. The nearby village of Coleshill has the Radnor Arms pub if you want to stop for lunch.
Entry: Free. National Trust car park.
Uffington White Horse and Dragon Hill (15 minutes)
The Uffington White Horse is a 3,000-year-old chalk figure carved into the hillside above the Vale of the White Horse. It is one of the most iconic ancient monuments in Britain. The surrounding landscape is dramatic: the flat-topped Dragon Hill, the dry valley known as The Manger, and the ancient trackway of the Ridgeway. Allow at least two hours to explore properly.
Entry: Free. National Trust car park (pay and display).
Combine with: A walk along the Ridgeway, England's oldest road. See our Walking Holidays guide for a full route description.
Thames Path at Lechlade or Tadpole Bridge (15 minutes)
The Thames Path national trail passes within easy reach of Faringdon. Access it at Lechlade to the south-west or Tadpole Bridge to the south. The section between the two is one of the prettiest stretches of the entire path: quiet meadows, narrow river channels, and barely another soul in sight. Lunch at The Trout Inn at Tadpole Bridge.
20 to 30 Minutes from The Old Crown
Oxford (30 minutes by bus, 25 minutes by car)
A direct bus runs from the stop right outside The Old Crown into Oxford city centre in approximately 30 minutes. This means you can leave your car at the inn, take the bus into the city, explore for the day, and be back in time for dinner without worrying about parking.
Oxford needs no introduction, but it is worth emphasising that most of the best things to do are free. The colleges, the Bodleian Library quadrangles, Christ Church Meadow, the covered market, and the following museums are all free to enter:
Ashmolean Museum: One of the oldest public museums in the world. Art, archaeology, and antiquities across four floors.
Pitt Rivers Museum: An extraordinary collection of ethnographic and archaeological objects displayed in Victorian cases. Genuinely unlike anything else in the country.
Museum of Natural History: The building alone is worth the visit. The dodo, the dinosaurs, and a beautiful neo-Gothic interior.
Modern Art Oxford: Free contemporary art exhibitions in a bright, well-curated space.
Christ Church College: The most visited college, with the Great Hall that inspired Harry Potter. Small entry fee applies.
The Covered Market: A Victorian market with independent food stalls, butchers, bakers, and Oxford's best coffee.
Getting there by bus: The bus stop is directly outside The Old Crown on Faringdon's market square. Services run regularly throughout the day. The journey into Oxford city centre takes approximately 30 minutes. No need to drive or park.
Getting there by car: 25 minutes via the A420. Parking in central Oxford is expensive and limited. The bus is strongly recommended.
Cotswold Villages (20 to 30 minutes)
Faringdon sits on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds, making it an excellent base for exploring the honey-stone villages without staying in the tourist hotspots themselves. The advantage of staying at The Old Crown is that you get Cotswolds access with Faringdon prices and Faringdon peace.
Burford (25 minutes): The 'Gateway to the Cotswolds'. A steep high street lined with antique shops, tea rooms, and stone cottages. The medieval church at the bottom of the hill is beautiful.
Bibury (30 minutes): Home to Arlington Row, one of the most photographed streets in England. The trout farm and St Mary's Church are worth a visit. Go early or late to avoid crowds.
Lechlade (15 minutes): A handsome Thames-side town with an elegant church spire and good independent shops. The starting point for Thames Path walks.
Kelmscott (20 minutes): The country home of William Morris, open on selected days. A quiet village on the Thames, largely unchanged since Morris lived there.
Bampton (15 minutes): Known to many as the filming location for Downton Abbey. A genuine working village with a good pub (The Double Red Duke) and a beautiful church.
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock (30 minutes)
One of the grandest houses in England and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Blenheim Palace was built for the Duke of Marlborough and is the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The house, formal gardens, and Capability Brown parkland can fill an entire day. The town of Woodstock is attractive in its own right, with good shops and pubs.
Entry: Paid. Book online for discounted tickets. Annual passes are good value if you plan to return.
Tip: The parkland walks alone are worth the visit, even if you skip the house interior. The lakeside walk is outstanding in autumn.
Rainy Day Ideas
Oxfordshire weather is unpredictable. Here are the best options when the skies open:
Oxford museums (30 min by bus): The Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers, and Natural History Museum are all free and can fill hours. No car needed.
The Old Crown itself: A rainy afternoon at a good pub is not a consolation prize. It is the main event. Log fire, a book, a pint of something local, and nowhere you need to be.
Swindon Designer Outlet (20 minutes): For those who want retail therapy. Over 100 stores at discounted prices.
Cotswold Wildlife Park (25 minutes): Many enclosures are sheltered, and children love it rain or shine.
Crocodiles of the World (20 minutes): An indoor reptile and crocodile zoo near Brize Norton. Surprisingly good, especially for families.
Why The Old Crown is the Perfect Base
Faringdon's location puts you within 30 minutes of almost everything in this guide. But the real reason to base yourself at The Old Crown is what you come home to:
Free parking: Leave your car and drive to a different attraction each day. Or take the bus to Oxford and skip driving entirely.
Bus to Oxford on the doorstep: A direct service from the stop outside the front door. 30 minutes into the city centre, no parking hassle.
Breakfast to fuel the day: A proper cooked breakfast before you set out.
Dinner without driving: An AA Rosette kitchen serving seasonal British food. No need to get back in the car at the end of the day.
Two bars: A pint in the pub or a cocktail in the Wine Bar. The best end to any day of exploring.
Value: Faringdon is significantly cheaper than staying in Oxford, the Cotswolds, or Woodstock, while being equally well-positioned for all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Faringdon itself?
Faringdon has the Folly Tower (a unique 1930s folly with five-county views), a historic market square, independent shops and cafes, and the surrounding countryside on foot from the town centre. The Old Crown Coaching Inn is the social hub of the town, with two bars, an AA Rosette restaurant, and a courtyard.
Can I get to Oxford from Faringdon without a car?
Yes. A direct bus runs from the stop right outside The Old Crown Coaching Inn to Oxford city centre in approximately 30 minutes. Services run regularly throughout the day. It is the easiest and cheapest way to visit Oxford, with no parking to worry about.
How far is Faringdon from the Cotswolds?
Faringdon is on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds AONB. Burford, considered the gateway to the Cotswolds, is 25 minutes by car. Bibury is 30 minutes. Lechlade is 15 minutes. You get Cotswolds access without Cotswolds prices.
What is the best day trip from Faringdon?
It depends on your interests. For history and culture, take the bus to Oxford (30 minutes). For countryside and walking, drive to the Uffington White Horse and the Ridgeway (15 minutes). For gardens and art, visit Buscot Park (10 minutes). For grandeur, drive to Blenheim Palace (30 minutes). For Cotswolds villages, head to Burford or Bibury (25 to 30 minutes).
Is Faringdon a good base for families?
Excellent. The Uffington White Horse, Cotswold Wildlife Park, and Crocodiles of the World are all within 25 minutes and are brilliant for children. Oxford's museums are free and fascinating for all ages. Buscot Park has wide grounds for running around. And The Old Crown itself welcomes families.
Are the attractions near Faringdon free?
Many of them are. Great Coxwell Barn, the Uffington White Horse, the Thames Path, Badbury Hill, and most of Oxford's museums are completely free. Buscot Park is free for National Trust members. Blenheim Palace and some wildlife attractions charge entry.
