Walks near Banbury by train
Northamptonshire · East Midlands
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Banbury and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Banbury.
Hanborough Circular via Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire)
30 minutes from Banbury, with one change.
Beginner-friendly: A gigantic well-signposted park. It’s completely fine to deviate from the route — explore as you like! Plenty of options for lunch — no need to reserve a table. It's an easy walk from the station to the beautiful, vast (and free) grounds of the finest example of English baroque architecture. For a somewhat extortionate fee you can also visit the house, but you'd probably want a whole day for that.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Blenheim Palace (1h in)
Woodstock (1h30 in)
3 lunch spots: Woodstock (1h30 in) — the Crown, the Back Lane Tavern, or the Star Inn
1 end-of-walk reward: the George and Dragon
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Saunderton Circular via Bledlow (Buckinghamshire)
45 minutes from Banbury, with one change.
Highly recommended: Rolling Chiltern Hills, open ridge, secluded valleys, gentle gradients with one or two steep hills and fine valley views.
1 lunch spot: the Lions Of Bledlow (2h in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Golden Cross
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Wendover to Princes Risborough (Buckinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Banbury.
Highly recommended: Really beautiful rolling woodlands with a cosy family-run pub lunch and a saunter through Chequers. Mostly secluded.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
View of Chequers (2h in)
2 lunch spots: Buckmoorend Farm Shop (1h45 in; outdoor seating and light meals only, e.g. burgers, sausage rolls, ice cream, hot drinks), but really high quality!), or the Swan (2h45 in; cosy old family-run pub with great food)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Bird in Hand
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Henley-on-Thames to Pangbourne (Oxfordshire)
1 hour from Banbury, with one change.
Highly recommended: Thames riverside, ancient streets, broad valleys, beech woods, fields, small villages, alpaca farm and toll bridge.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
1 lunch spot: the Red Lion (1h45 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Greyhound
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Pangbourne to Goring & Streatley (Berkshire)
1 hour from Banbury, with one change.
Highly recommended: Woods, hilly, river and quaint village.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
3 lunch spots: Streatley (2h in) — Pierreponts, or the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club; plus the Bull (2h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel
Warnings: Relatively busy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Princes Risborough Circular via Ninn Wood (Buckinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Banbury.
Recommended
Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
1 lunch spot: the Black Horse (1h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Wheat Field, or the Bird in Hand
Source: Trains2Green.
Pangbourne Circular via View of the Thames from Hartslock (Berkshire)
1 hour from Banbury, with one change.
River Thames valley, wooded hillsides, chalk nature reserve, open fields, quiet lanes and pretty villages.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Greyhound, the Ferry Boat, or the Swan
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Oxford Circular via Port Meadow (Oxfordshire)
15 minutes direct from Banbury.
Flat riverside towpaths, water meadows, canal towpath, Oxford city streets, college lanes and historic squares.
Pitt Rivers Museum (2h45 in)
Oxford (3h15 in)
4 lunch spots: Wolvercote (1h15 in) — the Trout Inn, Godstow, or the Jacob's Inn; plus the Perch (30 mins in), or the Anchor (2h in)
8 end-of-walk rewards: the Lamb & Flag, Oxford, the Red Lion, the Turf Tavern, the Bear, the Crown, the Royal Blenheim, the Castle Pub, or the Jolly Farmers
Warnings: Two fifths urban. Can be flooded.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Beaconsfield Circular via Chalfont St Giles (Buckinghamshire)
45 minutes from Banbury, with one change.
Gently rolling wooded hills, open fields, Buckinghamshire countryside, parkland and golf course.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Milton's Cottage (2h15 in)
Chalfont Saint Giles (2h15 in)
2 lunch spots: Chalfont Saint Giles (2h30 in) — the White Hart, or the Feathers
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Nuneaton Circular via Hartshill (Warwickshire)
1 hour from Banbury, with one change.
Parks, river, country park and canal.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
1 lunch spot: the Stag and Pheasant (2h in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Lord Hop, the Felix Holt, the George Eliot Hotel, the Black Swan In Hand, or the Silk Mill
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Goring & Streatley Circular via Basildon Park (Oxfordshire)
1 hour from Banbury, with one change.
Basildon Park: An estate saved from almost certain demolition and lovingly revived (National Trust; 2h30 in; 2h30 to visit).
1 lunch spot: Basildon Park tearoom (2h30 in)
Source: Trains2Green.
High Wycombe Circular via Hughenden (Buckinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Banbury.