Weekend Breaks at The Old Crown Coaching Inn
- Sebastiaan Evans
- Apr 4
- 7 min read
A weekend at The Old Crown Coaching Inn is the kind of break that stays with you. Arrive on a Friday evening to the glow of a proper English pub, spend Saturday exploring some of the finest countryside in England, and leave on Sunday feeling like you have been away for a week.
Faringdon is perfectly placed for a weekend away. It sits between the Cotswolds, the Thames Valley, and the Berkshire Downs, with Oxford just 25 minutes by car. You can fill two days with walking, sightseeing, eating, and drinking without ever feeling rushed, or you can do nothing at all except enjoy the pub, the food, and the quiet.
Here is how to make the most of a weekend at The Old Crown, with itinerary ideas for couples, families, and groups of friends.
Your Weekend at The Old Crown: Friday to Sunday
Friday Evening: Arrive and Unwind
Check in from 2pm and settle into your room. The Old Crown's rooms have the character of a building that has been welcoming travellers for nearly 500 years: exposed beams, original stonework, and the particular warmth that only a proper old inn can offer.
Head downstairs to the bar. Order a pint of something local and take a seat by the fire in winter, or in the courtyard in summer. There is no need to go anywhere tonight. The kitchen serves dinner until 10, and after a week of work, the best thing you can do is eat well, drink well, and go to bed with the window cracked to the Oxfordshire night air.
Saturday: Explore
Breakfast at The Old Crown sets you up properly for the day.
Saturday is your big day out. What you do depends on what you love. Here are three options:
Option A: A walking day. Drive 15 minutes to the Thames Path at Lechlade and walk the 8-mile stretch to Tadpole Bridge through open water meadows. Lunch at The Trout Inn on the river, then back to The Old Crown for an evening bath and dinner. See our Walking Holidays guide for full route details.
Option B: A sightseeing day. Start at Buscot Park (10 minutes), one of the most beautiful National Trust properties in the south of England. Wander the Italianate water garden and see the Pre-Raphaelite collection. After lunch, drive to Uffington White Horse (15 minutes) and climb the chalk downs for views that stretch across five counties. Return via Great Coxwell Barn, a 13th-century masterpiece.
Option C: A town and villages day. Drive 25 minutes, or catch the direct bus right outside our door, to Oxford for the morning. Walk through the colleges, visit the Ashmolean Museum, and have coffee in the covered market. After lunch, head into the Cotswolds: Burford, Bibury, or Lechlade are all within 30 minutes of Faringdon and each has its own character.
Back at The Old Crown by early evening. A drink at the bar, then dinner. Saturday night at a good country pub is one of the great pleasures of English life.
Sunday: Slow Morning, Then Home
No rush on Sunday. Take breakfast at your own pace and enjoy the quiet of a market town morning. Faringdon's streets are largely empty on a Sunday, and the walk up to the Folly Tower takes about 20 minutes from The Old Crown. The views from the top are worth the climb.
If you want one last outing before you leave, Great Coxwell Barn is five minutes away and completely free. It is one of the finest medieval buildings in England, and most people have never heard of it.
Check out by 11 and drive home with the particular contentment that comes from a weekend properly spent.
Weekend Break for Couples
The mood: Romantic, relaxed, unhurried. Good food, good wine, countryside air.
Friday
Arrive: Check in, change into something comfortable
Evening: Drinks at the bar, then a candlelit dinner at The Old Crown. Share a bottle of wine and take your time over the menu
Saturday
Morning: Slow breakfast together. No alarm clocks
Late morning: Buscot Park. Walk through the water garden hand in hand. Have tea in the National Trust tearoom
Afternoon: Drive to a Cotswolds village. Burford has antique shops and a beautiful high street. Bibury has the famous Arlington Row. Or simply find a quiet spot by the Thames and sit
Evening: Back to The Old Crown for dinner. If the weather is warm, start with a drink in the courtyard
Sunday
Morning: Breakfast in bed if available, or a quiet corner of the restaurant
Before departure: Walk up to the Folly Tower together. On a clear morning, the views are spectacular
Ask about: Special occasion packages, room upgrades, or a pre-ordered bottle of champagne on arrival.
Weekend Break for Families
The mood: Active, adventurous, with enough structure to keep everyone happy and enough flexibility to avoid meltdowns.
Friday
Arrive: Get settled, let the children explore the building. Old coaching inns are fascinating for kids: crooked doorways, unexpected staircases, thick stone walls
Evening: Early dinner at The Old Crown. Family friendly food and high chairs all available
Saturday
Morning: Drive to the Uffington White Horse (15 minutes). Children love the chalk hillside, Dragon Hill, and the dramatic valley called The Manger. Pack a snack and let them run
Lunch: The Fox and Hounds in Uffington village, or pack a picnic to eat on the downs
Afternoon: Great Coxwell Barn (5 minutes from Faringdon). The sheer scale of the medieval barn impresses adults and children alike. Free entry, open year-round
Evening: Dinner at The Old Crown. Children will likely be tired enough for an early night, leaving you free to enjoy a quiet drink at the bar
Sunday
Morning: Buscot Park. The grounds are ideal for families: wide open spaces, a lake, and the walled garden. Check opening times in advance
Alternative: If the weather is poor, Oxford is 25 minutes away. The Natural History Museum (free) and the Pitt Rivers Museum are both excellent for children
Good to know: We've got family rooms, cots, baby monitors and the whole hotel is kid friendly
Weekend Break with Friends
The mood: Sociable, indulgent, with just enough activity to earn the evening. Think long lunches, good conversation, and proper pub evenings.
Friday
Arrive: Everyone checks in, drops bags, reconvenes at the bar
Evening: A proper Friday night at The Old Crown. Start with the local ales, move to the wine list, order generously from the menu. This is what you came for
Saturday
Morning: Full breakfast together, the bigger the better. No one is in a rush
Late morning: A group walk. The Faringdon Folly and Badbury Hill loop (about 5 miles) works well for a mixed-ability group. Not too demanding, plenty to see, and you are back in time for lunch
Lunch: The Trout Inn at Tadpole Bridge. A riverside pub with a garden. Drive there (10 minutes) or walk there via the Thames Path if the group is feeling ambitious
Afternoon: Free time. Some will want to nap. Some will want to explore Faringdon. Some will want to sit in the courtyard with a book
Evening: Saturday night dinner at The Old Crown. Consider booking a table together rather than splitting up. Share platters, try each other's choices, order pudding
Sunday
Morning: A slower start. Last breakfast together.
Before departure: A short walk to the Folly Tower, or a quick detour to Great Coxwell Barn on the way home. Exchange reviews of the weekend, make plans for the next one.
Ask about: Group booking rates, exclusive use of private dining areas, or a pre-agreed set menu for larger parties.
The Best of Each Season at The Old Crown
Spring (March to May)
Wildflowers along the Thames Path. Bluebells in Badbury Hill woods. Longer evenings returning to the pub garden. Buscot Park gardens at their most colourful. The countryside feels like it is waking up, and there is something particular about a spring evening at a country pub that is hard to replicate anywhere else.
Summer (June to August)
Peak walking season with the longest days. Outdoor dining in the courtyard at The Old Crown. Riverside lunches at The Trout Inn. The Cotswolds villages are at their prettiest, with overflowing window boxes and golden stone glowing in the afternoon sun. Book ahead, as summer weekends are popular.
Autumn (September to November)
The beech woods at Badbury Hill turn gold and copper. Harvest menus appear in the kitchen, with game, root vegetables, and orchard fruit. The pub comes into its own in autumn: log fires lit, the bar busy with locals, and the particular cosiness that only arrives when the evenings draw in. Many regulars say autumn is the best season at The Old Crown.
Winter (December to February)
Proper winter: log fires, hearty food, early evenings with a glass of red wine. The Uffington White Horse dusted with frost is unforgettable. Christmas at a coaching inn is something special, if you have ever wanted to experience a traditional English Christmas in a building that has been celebrating them for centuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is The Old Crown from London?
Faringdon is approximately 90 minutes from central London by car via the M4 and A420. The nearest railway station is Swindon (20 minutes by car), which is served by fast trains from London Paddington (approximately 1 hour). Oxford is 25 minutes by car.
Is there parking at The Old Crown?
Yes, free on-site parking is available for all guests. You can leave your car for the weekend and use it for day trips on Saturday.
Can I book dinner in advance?
Yes, and we recommend it for Friday and Saturday evenings, especially during summer and holiday periods.
Is The Old Crown suitable for a romantic weekend?
Absolutely. The combination of a historic coaching inn, individually designed rooms, excellent food, and a countryside setting makes The Old Crown ideal for couples celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or simply wanting time away together.
What is there to do on a rainy day?
Oxford is 25 minutes away and offers world-class museums (all free), historic colleges, the Covered Market, and excellent bookshops. Closer to home, the Folly Tower is a quick walk even in light rain, and the pub itself is at its best on a rainy afternoon: fire lit, a good book, and nowhere you need to be.
Can I extend my stay beyond two nights?
Of course. Many guests find that two nights leaves them wanting more. A three-night or mid-week stay gives you time to explore at a slower pace and try more walking routes. Contact us directly for multi-night rates.
