New homes in Banbury

Welcome to Banbury

Located in the county of Oxfordshire, Banbury is a charming market town surrounded by countryside and within commuting distance of cities including London, Birmingham, Oxford and Coventry. From museum visits to woodland walks and family days out, there’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do close to your new home in Banbury.

A quick history

Archaeologists have discovered Iron Age remains in Banbury, but it wasn’t until Anglo-Saxon times that the town started to grow. By the Medieval era Banbury was an important place for wool-making, and a castle was built in the 12th century. The town was later used as a base for Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War, and the castle was destroyed.

One of the biggest cattle markets in Europe was once located near Banbury, but it was closed in 1998. There are a number of historic sites in or near to Banbury that are still standing to this day, including Broughton Castle, Upton House and St Mary’s Church.

Business and industry

Nowadays Banbury is home to a wide range of industries, with employers including the tea and coffee company Jacobs Douwe Egberts. Other big employers in the local area include Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford University, Bicester-based Fresh Direct and British Bakels, medical device manufacturer Owen Mumford, and MINI Plant Oxford in Cowley.

Things to do in the area

Your new home in Banbury is close to a number of popular attractions including Banbury Museum, Broughton Castle and People’s Park, which has its own sensory garden, play area, rose garden, bowling green and aviary. Located just a short drive from the town, Upton House and Farnborough House - both run by the National Trust - are great places to explore on a morning or afternoon, while the Waterfowl Sanctuary and Children’s Farm is a popular attraction for families with young children.

Other places of interest in the local area include Catanger Llama Trekking, Sulgrave Manor, and Blenheim Palace which has its own pleasure gardens, miniature railway, butterfly house, maze and adventure playground. Fairytale Farm, The Oxfordshire Museum, Ufton Fields Nature Reserve and Draycote Water Country Park are all within driving distance of Banbury too.

Travel and commuting

For commuters Banbury is well connected by both road and rail, with the M40 located just east of the town. Travelling by car, the journey from Banbury to London takes around one hour 30 minutes while the equivalent train journey takes less than one hour. Oxford is just 40 minutes away by car or 20 minutes by train, while Birmingham can be reached in 50 minutes by either car or train. The journey to Milton Keynes takes 45 minutes by car via the A422, while Coventry can be reached in 30 minutes by train on the CrossCountry service.

For international travel, Birmingham Airport is 40 minutes away by either car or train, London Heathrow Airport is one hour away by car via the M40, and London Luton Airport is one hour 10 minutes away via the M1.