Cropredy is a hidden gem and definitely worth visiting. This picturesque village is found near Banbury, nestled between Oxford and Stratford upon Avon and not far from Silverstone. As you enter the village you will be greeted by a sign at the bridge informing you of a major battle that occured here in 1644.
Once you cross the bridge into Cropredy you come up to a very active canal, this is the Oxford Canal, with beautiful barges moored alongside it and pretty locks and canal walks alongside. The village itself has a map of key points of interest around the village and can be walked in a mile circular route. The village is best explored on foot, not only so you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the place but also because there is just so many quintessentially English buildings - many still with thatched roofs - to look at and admire.
The maze of pathways and narrow streets transports you back to bygone days and forgotten times and there is plenty of history here too, from the small plaque depicting "Hell Hole" to the 15th or 16th century boundary stone, and I am sure I have missed others.
The church is a beautiful building, with some parts dating back to the 13th century, it also houses an incredible 8 bell ring tower! Inside you will find even more history, from the "Doom" painting and historic artifacts, read more about them here. The grounds of the church are incredibly well maintained and the graveyard has many gravestones from the 1600s still legible which is amazing to see, I particularly liked how they created the path edging - I'll not ruin it here by saying anymore.
The circular walk can take you past two cafes, one at the canals edge, called The Saucy Hound, which on a summers day would be lovely and has some lovely old building known as the Old Coal Wharf and the other is on the opposite end of the village, The Mulberry Cafe. On this occasion I only visited the Mulberry Cafe, and had a much needed and very yummy cooked breakfast and coffee. There are of course a couple of traditional style pubs too, but it was too early in the day for me to try them out - next time when I visit for sure!
Another good reason to visit Cropredy is the annual three day music festival that takes place in August. Run by the folk band Fairport Convention, and has been going since 1976. More information on the band and the festival can be found here
So if you are looking for a day out, somewhere to explore, a place steeped in history and much of it still on show, then I would definitely recommend a visit here.
Thanks for reading
Em
*Footnote: If you have enjoyed reading about our adventures or have any comments, we would love to hear from you. If you would like to buy us a coffee to show us your appreciation that would be AMAZING!!!! and you can do so here
Comments