Faringdon

Choose Something Different, Visit Faringdon

Faringdon is one of Oxfordshire’s little gems, although to read any of the guidebooks on the area you may not believe that. Tucked away near the Thames Valley, it is actually in the Vale of White Horse and is definitely a must visit if you happen to be in the area. Labelled as a market town, the scenery is extremely picturesque and is thoroughly beautiful whichever direction you look in, but there is much to do in Faringdon to keep you occupied and open your eyes to the innate beauty of Oxfordshire.

Back in the era of Anglo Saxon rule, hundreds of years ago, there was a palace in Faringdon that had been built for the kings of the period to stay in. It was also mentioned in the Domesday Book and received a Royal Charter from King John. However he was the last king to live there and moved on slightly after the 1216 Charter was given. Although this proves it has history, the character of the town has a touch of the old and the new.

In terms of places to visit, the Faringdon House was built in 1730, and this was also the house in which Sir Robert Pye was kept as a prisoner during the English Civil War, although the original building has obviously since been replaced. Another remnant of the Civil War is the nearby All Saint’s Church.

Alternatively, if you just want a nice relaxing afternoon walking or admiring the view then you can walk up Faringdon Folly, thought to be the last Folly built in England, open first sunday of each summer month. It is a wooded hill that gives you the perfect view all round! You may even be able to find some of the colourful pigeons that the town is renowned for there! Lord Berners (who died in the 1950s) used to dye all of his pigeons, so there is a slight chance to be able to see a sight you will see in Faringdon but nowhere else!  

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Historic places to visit
Leisure activities
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