Things to do and see in Banbury

[LadyAstor]

I have a day to kill in Banbury while staying over for work.

Any suggestions for what to see and where's nice for lunch and dinner (staying at Premier Inn so will have to eat out).

I can't get bored anywhere, I'm never bored, and I was bored in Banbury. It shouldn't be possible - it's got a local museum and a canal, and I adore local museums and can appreciate a good canal. But I was bored. It's like the anti-charisma of towns. Take a book.

(Sorry, denizens of Banbury.)

@ArcheryAnnie you should have gone last weekend when there was the Canal Festival. I didn't go because I live to far away now but the pictures I have seen it looked awesome - so much going on. You certainly wouldn't have been bored.
@LadyAstor I think you might miss the Fair. It's coming a week 'late' this year apparently 😕

Aww we really liked Banbury! We went to the small but interactive museum and loved seeing the original Banbury Cross which the Puritans had taken down, and the history of the town. We liked the canal side area and the People’s Park is beautiful, where we sat by the aviary and ate delicious Banbury cakes. Oh my, they were so good. The statue of the Fine Lady as already mentioned is good, near the replacement Banbury Cross (albeit by a busy roundabout). We didn’t go to The Light, not sure it was open then but it sounds good.

Banbury is though a working, living town not a tourist hotspot so it’s not going to be showy and pretty. Warwick Castle was another day out for us and was fantastic as is Stratford upon Avon, which are tourist hotspots.

The mention of The fine lady has just made me realise why Fine Lady Bakeries is called that. After all these years I have just put 2&2 together.

@CheeseCakeSunflowers ha ha....and Spiceball Park is named after one man's spicy balls 🤣
(No seriously it was. He was a butcher, sold spicy meat balls..he owned the land or something)

I haven't been in years but used to occasionally visit the office my old employer had there. I remember there was a pervasive weird smell as you approached which I've heard is either a marmite or coffee factory.

Can't help but agree with PP... I think I'd just opt to stay in my room with an iPad and a good book. Banbury is pretty dreary and dire ( yes I've been to this fancy new bit too... it was still bland and crap! Sorry!!)

@Galaktoboureko yeah it's coffee. It is pretty rank 😕

😁 thanks again for all the tips... including the exit sign.

We went to the Hook Norton brewery today. It's only a few miles from Banbury but we'll worth a visit.