Banbury, on the river Cherwell, is Oxfordshire's most northerly town and with a population of over 45,000
it is second in size only to the city of Oxford.
The town is famous for Banbury Cakes (a type of tasty fruit and pastry cake similar to an Eccles Cake),
and its associations with the 'Ride a Cock Horse' nursery rhyme.
The words of the nursery rhyme are:
“Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes”.
A bronze statue of the fine lady upon her white horse can be found on the corner of South Bar and West Bar.
Banbury is also famous for its crosses (and it is one of these that the nursery rhyme refers to).
The town used to have The High Cross, The Bread Cross and The White Cross, but they
were unfortunately destroyed in 1600, leaving Banbury with no more crosses.
It wasn't until 1859 that the town regained a cross and it can still be seen today, not far from the bronze
statue. The monument is attractive with a spire shape, gothic decoration and a gilt cross on the top.
The town also boasts a £58 million shopping centre, Castle Quay, which was carefully designed
to fit into the historical and attractive town centre. Shopping here is a pleasure for the town's people and visitors alike.
With over 100 shops, big name stores can be found along with specialist shops, cafes and restaurants.
For more local produce, a market is held on Thursdays and Saturdays and a Farmers' Market on the first Friday of every month.
Situated in the delightful Cherwell Valley, Banbury is surrounded by beautiful hills and countryside.
It is a pleasant Oxfordshire town that is well worth a visit.
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