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attractions for adults
local culture
BUSCOT PARK
Just 2 miles down the road from The Spnney: Buscot Park is the family home of Lord Faringdon, who looks after the property on behalf of the National Trust, as well as the family collection of pictures, furniture, ceramics and objets d'art, known as the Faringdon Collection, which is displayed in the house.
This National Trust property has an extensive pleasure gardens, including the Four Seasons garden, the Peto Water garden and woodland avenues.
You can also grab a bite to eat at the coffee shop, go fishing in their lake and walk the adjoining woodland.
THE FARINGDON FOLLY
This unique 100ft Tower is Faringdon’s icon and the last major folly to be built in England.
Hailed as 'Britain's finest 20th century Folly Tower' and 'One of the most important follies in Britain'
The Tower sits on Folly Hill, within a charming 4 acre, circular woodland of splendid Scots Pine and broadleaf trees, some more than 200 years old.
Check out the fantastic views over 5 counties and find out about the history of Folly Hill, Henry James Pye (of Sing a Song of Sixpence fame), Oliver Cromwell and the very eccentric Lord Berners (the creator of the Tower).
The Folly tower is open on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month between 11am and 5pm, although the surroundign woods are open at any time and well worth a visit. The entrance can be hard to find though, here's a what3words link to help you: ///term.postcard.arranger
WHITE HORSE HILL & WAYLAND'S SMITHY
Our landscape is littered with ancient monuments. Here are two of the most historically significant. Both are located wihin walking distance of each other on the Downs range of hills and connected to the Ridgeway - an ancient path that can still be walked today.
White Horse Hill Internationally renowned Bronze Age chalk figure. The site includes the White Horse, Dragon Hill (fabled to be the spot on which St George slayed his dragon) and an Iron Age hillfort known as Uffington Castle which was home to the horse's builders.
The site is owned and managed by the National Trust and is a scheduled monument. The Guardian stated in 2003 that "for more than 3,000 years, the Uffington White Horse has been jealously guarded as a masterpiece of minimalist art. The Uffington Horse is by far the oldest of the white horse figures in Britain and is of an entirely different design from the others inspired by it.
On top of this the views from the top of the hill are jaw dropping. On a clear day you can see for over 40 miles taking in 5 counties in a single view.
The nearby Wayland's Smithy is an atmospheric historic site about a mile's walk along the Ridgeway from the Uffington White Horse. A Neolithic chambered long barrow, it was once believed to have been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metal working.
Human remains found on the site indicate that 14 people were interred in an earlier burial structure between 3590 and 3550 BC. Between 3460 and 3400 BC a second far larger barrow was constructed on top. It is the ruins of this that can be explored by visitors to the site today.
BURFORD GARDEN CENTRE
Don’t be fooled into thinking that Burford Garden Company is just your average garden center – it’s something much more than that.
Established nearly four decades ago by Nigel Johnson , Burford garden center has grown to become one of the country’s finest garden retail and food experiences.
A trip to the Cotswold’s would not be complete without a stop off at Burford Garden Co. From divine and lush plants to one of a kind pieces of art, followed by an award-winning café with spectacular interiors within a contemporary glasshouse. Drawing inspiration from the very latest garden and interior trends, Burford Garden Company excels at bringing their guests an ever-changing visual feast packed full of luxurious goods and unique products.
