Witney

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

  address: Crown Lane, near Cogges Manor Farm, Church Ln, Witney OX28 3LA
  Regulation Pooh Sticks are provided.

By car

The town lies on the A40 London to Fishguard main road. 12½ miles from Oxford, 30 miles from Cheltenham and 25 miles from Swindon (via the A4095 and A420).

By bus

The main buses to and from Oxford are the Stagecoach S1 and S2 from Carterton via Witney to Oxford.
S1 (Stagecoach): Carterton → Curbridge → Witney → Eynsham → Botley → Oxford
S2 (Stagecoach): Carterton → Curbridge → Witney → Eynsham → Summertown (Oxford)
Witney is on the route used by the Swanbrook 853 bus from Oxford to Gloucester. The Market Square bus stop is outside Blue Boar Inn to go towards Oxford and the other side of the road towards Gloucester.
853 (Swanbrook): Oxford → Cassington (A40) → Witney → Minster Lovell → Burford → Northleach → Andoversford → Cheltenham → Gloucester

By train

The town railway station was closed in 1965 and has now been re-developed into an industrial estate.

• Long Hanborough Railway Station

  address: Station Road, off Main Road, Long Hanborough, OX29 8LA
  Probably the nearest railway station to the town but is a small station with limited services. Station operated and services run by Great Western Railway

• Oxford Railway Station

  address: Park End St, Oxford OX1 1HS
  Larger and more mainline station with more frequent services. Station operated and services run by Great Western Railway.

By bicycle

• The town is on National Cycle Route (NCR) 57 that runs from near Northleach to the W to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. NCR 57 links to NCR 5 at Oxford, NCR 6 at Harpenden and NCR 12 at Welwyn Garden City.
• National Cycle Route (NCR) 442 passes 3½ miles NE of the town. NCR 442 runs between Oxford and Worcester. Incormation of riding the route can be found on cycle.travel.

Witney town centre is compact and can easily be covered on foot. Even the surrounding housing estates are no more than a brisk 15-minute walk from the town centre.

• Holy Trinity Parish Church

  phone: +44 1993 779492
  address: Woodgreen, Witney, OX28 1DN
  Consecrated in 1849.

• Town Hall

  address: Market Square, Witney OX28 6AG

• Oxford Bus & Morris Motors Museum

  phone: +44 1993 883 617
  address: Main Rd, Long Hanborough OX29 8LA

• Bishop's Palace

  phone: +44 1865 300557
  address: Mount House, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ
  Wheelchair access is available.

• Witney Museum

  phone: +44 1993 775915
  address: Gloucester Court Mews, 75 High St, Witney OX28 6JA

• North Leigh Roman Villa

  address: North Leigh, OX29 6PZ

• Witney Blanket Hall

  phone: +44 1993 706408 or +44 7793007856
  address: 100 High St, OX28 6HL
  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

  phone: +44 1993 890800
  address: Eagle Industrial Estate, The Crofts, OX28 4DP
  Guided tours

• Forest of Wychwood

• Cogges Manor Farm

  phone: +44 1993 772602
  address: Church Lane, Witney OX28 3LA
  Historic farmyard, feed the animals, explore the manor house and grounds.

• Witney Farmers Market

  phone: +44 7779 400421 (mobile)
  address: Market Place OX28 6AG

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

• The Woolgate Centre

  phone: +44 1993 778370
  address: Market Square, OX28 6AP
  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

  phone: +44 1993 704262
  address: Woodford Way, Welch Way, OX28 6GW
  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:

• Church Green Books

  phone: +44 1993 700822
  address: 46 Market Square, OX28 6AL
  A small bookshop selling local and second-hand books.

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

• Sainsbury's

  phone: +44 993 776038
  address: Witan Way, Witney OX28 4FF
  ATMs. Cafe (different hours). Pharmacy

Cyclists

• Mickey Cranks

  phone: +44 1993 709149
  address: Unit 2, Two Rivers Industrial Estate, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH

• The Oxfordshire Yeoman

  phone: +44 1993 881003
  address: 172 Wroslyn Rd, Freeland

• The Plough

  phone: +44 1993 899164
  address: 98 High St, Witney OX28 6HL

• The Hollybush

  phone: +44 1993 708073
  address: 35 Corn St, Witney, OX28 6BT

• Sixteen

  phone: +44 1993 700264
  address: 16 High St, Witney OX28 6HB

• Frankie & Bennys

  phone: +44 1993 899890
  address: Unit R1 Marriotts Close, Witney, OX28 6GW

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

  phone: +44 1993 702612
  address: Burford Rd, Witney OX28 6DJ

• The Three Pigeons

  phone: +44 1993 702803
  address: 31 Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1DG

• The Company of Weavers

  phone: +44 1993 777930
  address: 31 Market Square, Witney OX28 6AD
  The town's JD Wetherspoon pub.

• The Fleece

  phone: +44 1993 892270
  address: 11 Church Green, Witney OX28 4AZ

• The Horseshoes

  phone: +44 1993 703086
  address: 78 Corn St, Witney OX28 6BS

Witney has a few hotels including a Premier Inn. The Marlborough overlooks the Market Square in the town centre. The Witney Hotel and the Fleece Hotel, a great gastro pub can be found nearby on the beautiful Church Green.

• Oxford Witney Hotel

  phone: +44 1993 779777
  address: Ducklington Lane
  This 87-room hotel of the Four Pillars chain is on the outskirts of town, just off the A40/A415 roundabout. It offers modern 4 star rooms and a good on-site spa and pool.

• The Old Coutyard Hotel

  phone: +44 1993 703228
  address: 39/43 Bridge St, Witney OX28 1DA

• The Beeches

  phone: +44 1993 771389
  address: 6 Puck Lane, Witney OX28 6LD
  No children under 10 or pets.

• The Laurels

  phone: +44 1993 702193
  address: 53 Burford Rd, Witney OX28 6DR

• Crofters

  phone: +44 1993 778165
  address: 29 Oxford Hill, Witney OX28 3JU

• Post Office

  address: Unit 20 Woolgate Shopping Centre, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AP

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

• Oxford is close by
• Cheltenham
• Swindon