Banbury

The nursery rhyme's cross might be gone, but Banbury still draws visitors with its proper market town atmosphere and surprising literary connections. This north Oxfordshire hub sits where the M40 meets ancient trading routes, making it brilliantly accessible yet refreshingly unspoilt.

Banbury Cross Shopping Village occupies the spot where the famous monument once stood, though the current Victorian replacement does the job for photo opportunities. The weekly Thursday market has traded here for over 800 years - proper old-school stuff with local farmers selling everything from vegetables to vintage tools.

Worth the short drive out to Swalcliffe Tithe Barn, a magnificent 14th-century stone building that houses fascinating agricultural displays. The surrounding countryside rolls away in gentle hills - Sunrising Hill offers cracking views across the Cherwell Valley, while Madmarston Hill and Yarn Hill provide excellent walking territory for those wanting to stretch their legs.

Banbury makes a clever base for exploring north Oxfordshire's quieter corners. You're 20 minutes from Chipping Norton, half an hour from Stratford-upon-Avon, yet far enough from Oxford's tourist crowds to feel like you've found somewhere properly local.

Staying at one of the nearby touring parks puts you within striking distance of the Cotswolds' edge without the premium prices. The town has decent pubs, a proper high street that hasn't been entirely chain-stored to death, and enough going on to keep families happy for a long weekend. Plus, parking's actually manageable - something you can't say about many historic market towns these days.