I nearly didn’t make it to Wroxton Abbey near Banbury. There’s not a huge amount of information about visiting the grounds on the internet so I thought I’d turn up and hope for the best. It looked very private from the grand gates with a sign saying Farleigh Dickinson University and Wroxton College on the outside. Luckily we saw a family walking out and it was safe to venture in. Driving the correct place, thinking I’d got it wrong and going home is just the kind of thing I would do!
There’s a great mix of grounds to explore in not too large a space so great for little legs too. We walked down to the impressive house and skirted around the side. The grass lawns are brilliant. No stuffy pristine flat stretch but instead some great slopes for racing up and down.
Following on there’s a small peaceful pond with ducks, woodland with ginormous sticks and then a stunning lake. It’s easy walking paths too so pushchair friendly.
The woods are small but great to explore around and full of great sticks. I thought we might not make it through to the much loved lake but my eldest dragged my little on on a big stick called horsey for part of the way!
Apart from the sticks (who doesn’t love a big stick) the highlight was the far end of the lake where there are 3 stepping stones and beyond that a little waterfall and another pond which had a swan family. We spent ages here, jumping over the stones, balancing along a little walkway past the Wroxton Abbey waterfall and even saw some kids going in under the waterfall and getting their hair wet.
Wroxton Abbey Parking
We visited mid week at the start of summer holidays and it was warm and sunny. It was pretty quiet within the grounds but we were there quite late in the afternoon having arrived at 3pm.
There’s no parking on site and I can imagine the surrounding roads can get a bit chokka especially at the weekend. Parking is free on the road outside of the grounds but please remember to be respectful to locals and leave space so that an emergency vehicle could pass by.
Wroxton Abbey Facilities & Pricing
No need to book and no entry fee but the grounds will be closed if it’s felt that social distancing can’t be maintained. No dogs permitted, no picnics, no toilets and no cycling except for young children.
