The best of Middle England

A tour in the Midlands affords Andria Massey the chance to rediscover some old favourites

HAVING BEEN FANS of both Morse and Lewis since watching the series on TV, my housemate, Pearl, and I have always admired the historic buildings of Oxford. So for our first trip of the season, we planned a tour that included this lovely city.

We also wanted to spend some time in Stratford-upon-Avon, so we looked for a campsite that would make a good base for exploring the two places. Chipping Norton Camping and Caravanning Club Site, which is almost equidistant from both, proved to be the ideal choice.

A leisurely drive

The campsite is a comparatively easy reach from our home in North Wales, so after a leisurely drive, we were soon set up.

We prefer to use public transport where possible, leaving our vehicle on site for the length of our stay to save fuel, so next morning, we decided to walk to the charming village of Chadlington ( just under a mile away), to catch the bus into Chipping Norton. There, we could also check the bus times to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.

A short time later, we arrived in this lovely town, in the heart of the Cotswolds. We wandered through a busy street market to view the magnificent Grade II* listed Town Hall. Designed by George Stanley Repton in the Palladian style, it was built in 1842 and is now a lively events venue.

Chipping Norton has a long history, beginning with a small settlement below the hill, where the earthworks of a motte and bailey castle, dating from some time after 1066, can still be seen.