Wonderful Wallingford
Wallingford is a town steeped in history. Once a heavily fortified Saxon town, then a royal residence of William the Conqueror and later ransacked by Oliver Cromwell, Wallingford has an incredible history for you to explore. A a thriving market town today, the centre is a major conservation area with examples of churches and architecture dating back to the 14th Century. In addition, the landscape surrounding the town is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Built by King Alfred in the 9th Century, the layout has remained largely unchanged ever since and ruins of Wallingford Castle, built in the 10th Century by William the Conqueror can be explored in a lovely walled park, Castle Gardens. With numerous notable residents including Thomas, Geoffrey Chaucer's son and Catherine of Valois, widow of Henry V, there is a fascinating history to revisit.
For further investigation into the history of the town, why not visit the Wallingford Museum, where you can view a miniature re-creation of the huge royal castle as well as The Wallingford Story, a walk through time from the Romans and the Saxons to the Civil War. The Museum is a colourful and delightfully intimate local history museum, housed on two floors of a medieval oak-beamed building in the heart of the town. From it's windows, you can see the remains of the great earthworks of Alfred's planned town.
Why not take a break for a cup of tea or a sandwich lunch at the Coachmaker's Arms, a 17th Century Grade II listed building serving traditional pub food, or the George Hotel's Tavern Bar. The hotel boasts a royal connection; Room 3 is reportedly the home of a ghostly mistress of Charles 1, who cried herself to death on hearing news of his execution.
After lunch why not take a visit to one of the town's regular markets - the Charter market and the County market are held every Friday and the Farmers market is held every third Tuesday.
If you want to enjoy some of the spectacular scenery surrounding Wallingford, why not take a visit to the Wittenham Clumps (known locally as "Mother Dunch's Buttocks"!), which is rich in archaeological interest with the remains of both an Iron Age and Bronze Age hill fort being found nearby. There are wonderful views from the Clumps across the Oxfordshire countryside, Chilterns and the River Thames.
After a busy day soaking up the historical treasures of the Thames, there is plenty of first class, good-value accommodation on offer - for example, why not stay in a 12th century manor countryside guest house? Built in 1120, Fyfield Manor's dining room is said to be the oldest building in Oxfordshire!