Welcome to the Charlbury edition of The Oxford Magazine.

Charlbury is an ancient Cotswold market town in the beautiful Evenlode Valley about 15 miles north-west of Oxford. It’s a typical Cotswolds town, with houses built of local materials and having colourful cottage gardens.

To the south-west of Charlbury lies the remainder of the ancient Wychwood Forest, part of which now makes up the 600- acre estate that is Cornbury Park. Monarchs once held exclusive hunting rights to the forest, but nowadays walkers can see deer and other wildlife from the public footpaths that border the Park.

No main roads pass through the town, making it a quiet place that is ideally suited for a leisurely stroll. Just be sure to visit the Charlbury Museum on Market Street. It does get lively in the second week in July when the town hosts an annual beer festival, and when Cornbury Park hosts its unique “Wilderness Festival” featuring music and family entertainment.