Witney is an historic market town on the banks of the river Windrush, 12 miles to the west of Oxford, on the edge of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. With a population of just under 30,000, it is the largest of the Oxfordshire Cotswold market towns, and one of the few that still feels like a working town rather than a visitor set piece.
A short history of Witney
Witney was first recorded in AD 969, and may take its name from the Witan, the Saxon King’s Council, which met here. There is evidence of Iron Age and Roman settlement in the area too.
Like much of the Cotswolds, Witney’s fortune was built on wool, but here the trade had a specific product: the Witney blanket. For centuries the town’s mills employed thousands making blankets and woollen goods that were exported around the world, and the last mill was still producing them as recently as 2002.
Blanket Hall
The Blanket Hall on the High Street was built after Queen Anne granted the weavers their charter, and every blanket made in the town was brought here to be checked for quality before export. Since then the building has been a brewery, a lemonade factory and a wedding venue.
Today it is back in the blanket business: you can buy woollen throws and blankets made to the old Witney standards, and the licensed pie shop inside serves pies, cakes and coffee alongside the Hall’s own beer. Entry is free and it opens Wednesday to Saturday.
Things to do in Witney
Cogges Manor Farm
Cogges is a 13th century manor house with a working farm, a walled garden, an orchard, an adventure playground and a café, set in seventeen acres a short walk from the town centre. Downton Abbey fans will recognise it immediately: Cogges was Yew Tree Farm in series 4 to 6, home of the Drewe family and later Mr Mason. It is the standout family attraction in the town. Open seasonally, so check times before you visit.
Church Green and St Mary’s
St Mary the Virgin is Norman in origin, restored by the Victorians, and its spire is the landmark you navigate by in the town centre. The green in front of it, lined with handsome stone houses, is the prettiest corner of Witney and the obvious spot to start a wander.
The Buttercross and Market Square
The 17th century Buttercross sits in the Market Square alongside the 18th century Town Hall and the Victorian Corn Exchange. Markets are still held here, and the square is the hinge between the High Street shops and Church Green.
Witney and District Museum
A small local museum in a Cotswold stone building in the town centre, covering the industries that built Witney: blanket making, brewing, glove making and engineering, along with finds from the Bishop’s Palace and nearby Minster Lovell. Wheelchair access is to the ground floor only.
The Bishop’s Palace
Near St Mary’s on Church Green are the remains of the medieval palace built by the Bishops of Winchester in the 12th and 13th centuries, later the Manor House, and from 1757 a property of the Dukes of Marlborough, whose main residence is Blenheim Palace. Excavations in the 1980s uncovered an early 12th century tower, and the visible remains are protected under a modern roof with an interpretation centre alongside.
Witney Lake and Country Park
South of the town centre, a stretch of lakes and meadows along the Windrush reclaimed from old gravel workings. Free, open all the time, and a good leg stretch if you are breaking a journey.
Shopping
Witney’s town centre is one of the healthiest in the area, with national chains and independent shops side by side along the High Street and in the Marriotts Walk and Woolgate centres.
Things to do near Witney
Minster Lovell Hall, three miles west, is the romantic ruin of a 15th century manor house on the banks of the Windrush, free to visit and far less known than it deserves to be.
North Leigh Roman Villa, a few miles east, preserves the remains of a large Roman courtyard villa including a mosaic floor.
Blenheim Palace is around 20 minutes away at Woodstock, and Oxford itself is close enough for a day trip. If you want the city explained rather than just wandered, a guided walking tour of Oxford takes you through the colleges and the stories most visitors walk straight past.
Witney also makes a practical base for the wider region. See our complete guide to visiting the Cotswolds.
Getting Here
Witney is in west Oxfordshire, just off the A40, 12 miles from Oxford, 36 miles from Gloucester, 24 miles from Swindon and 8 miles from Burford.
Perhaps surprisingly, for a town of this size, there is no train station in Witney. The nearest is Hanborough, about 5 miles away on the Cotswold Line between Oxford and Worcester, with taxis available for the last leg. From Oxford, frequent direct buses run to Witney and take around half an hour, which makes the bus the simplest car-free approach. However, if you really want to arrive in style, you could always fly into nearby Oxford International airport.
Parking
There are a number of car parks around the town and parking is free of charge in all of the council owned and maintained car parks.
Places to eat and drink
Witney has no shortage of pubs and restaurants. A favourite of ours is the Hollybush on Corn Street, which you can read about in our review. The pie shop at the Blanket Hall is worth a stop in its own right.
For the wider area, see our must visit restaurants in the Cotswolds.
Places to stay
Thanks to its size and location, there are plenty of places to stay in Witney, from luxury hotels to budget hotels, as well as holiday cottages, camp sites and B&B’s. Something for everyone if you’re planning a stay.
Witney FAQs
Is Witney in the Cotswolds?
Yes. Witney sits on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds in west Oxfordshire. It is a working market town rather than a honeypot village, which is part of its appeal.
What is Witney famous for?
Blankets. Witney blankets were exported around the world for centuries and the last mill only stopped making them in 2002. The town was also the home of the Wychwood Brewery, where Hobgoblin ale was brewed until the brewery closed in 2023.
Does Witney have a train station?
No. The nearest station is Hanborough, about 5 miles away on the Cotswold Line. Frequent direct buses connect Witney with Oxford in around half an hour.
What is the population of Witney?
29,632 at the 2021 census, making it the largest town in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
Is Witney worth visiting?
Yes, particularly if you want a real town alongside the postcard villages. Church Green, the Blanket Hall and Cogges Manor Farm are the highlights, parking is free, and Minster Lovell Hall and Blenheim Palace are close by.
See more Cotswold market towns.