Things to Do

Towns, tables, days out and the practical bits, in and around Middle Barton.

The Barn sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, with chocolate-box villages, fine pubs and grand days out all within easy reach. The area guide gives the flavour of the place; this page is the practical directory, with rough distances from the door. A car is the easiest way to make the most of it.

Cotswold towns and villages

• Great Tew - 3.4 miles
• Woodstock - 7.5 miles
• Chipping Norton - 8.3 miles
• Burford - 16.4 miles
• Moreton-in-Marsh - 17.9 miles
• Stow-on-the-Wold - 19.0 miles
• Upper and Lower Slaughter - 21.8 miles
• Bourton-on-the-Water - 22.5 miles
• Chipping Campden - 24.7 miles
• Broadway - 27.5 miles

Places to eat and drink

Within walking distance of the barn is the award-winning Cinnamon Stick in Middle Barton; a little further afield are the pubs and cafes our guests return to again and again.

• The Cinnamon Stick, Middle Barton - award-winning Lebanese restaurant; booking advised
• Quince and Clover, Great Tew - artisan cafe, well worth a cake stop
• The Killingworth Castle, Wootton - award-winning gastro pub; booking advised
• The Falkland Arms, Great Tew - the most English of pubs
• The White Horse, Duns Tew - a guest favourite
• The Grain Store, Steeple Aston - around ten minutes away
• The Rustic Bean, Woodstock - artisan cafe
• The Back Lane Tavern, Woodstock - award-winning gastro pub; booking advised
• The Cotswold Guy, Gagingwell - artisan cafe and deli
• The Jaypur, Banbury - cheap and cheerful Indian
• The Cotswold Distillery, Shipston-on-Stour - distillery and artisan cafe

Days out and places to visit

• Blenheim Palace, Woodstock - architecture, gardens and history, indoors and out
• Oxford - the university colleges, the Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers, Natural History and History of Science museums, and the famously hidden Turf Tavern
• Broughton Castle, Banbury - medieval halls and picturesque grounds
• Rousham House and Garden - beautiful gardens and a historic house nearby
• Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh - lovely in every season
• Chastleton House and Sulgrave Manor - both an easy drive
• Hook Norton Brewery - a working Victorian tower brewery
• Heythrop Zoological Gardens, Chipping Norton - booking essential
• Soho Farmhouse - around ten minutes from the door
• Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford - hire a dayboat and cruise
• Bicester Village - designer shopping, around twenty minutes away
• Burford Garden Company - the "Harrods of garden centres", ideal on an inclement day
• Brackley Antiques Cellar - for a good rummage
• The Centre MK and Xscape, Milton Keynes - indoor shopping, dining, a ski slope, cinema and theatre

Food shopping

For a larger shop, the nearest supermarkets are:

• Banbury - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Lidl, Aldi, M&S and Waitrose
• Kidlington - a large Sainsbury's
• Chipping Norton - Sainsbury's, Aldi and M&S (smaller stores)

For the everyday essentials, closer to hand:

• Middle Barton - the independent village shop, and a Londis at the Holt Service Station
• Steeple Aston - independent village shop
• Deddington - Co-op
• Upper Heyford - Sainsbury's Local

Cinemas and theatres

• Chipping Norton - a small independent cinema and theatre
• Banbury - The Light multi-screen cinema
• Bicester - a Vue multi-screen cinema
• Oxford - a range of cinemas, theatres and music venues
• Milton Keynes - multi-screen cinema and an excellent theatre

Planning your days already? Make an enquiry and come and explore.