Our guide to luxury Oxfordshire holidays

Oxfordshire’s largest city is Oxford, just an hour outside of London by train. By car, the journey can vary depending on traffic but, at just 60 miles away, generally takes around 15 to 30 minutes longer. Oxfordshire is popular with day trippers from the capital, taking a break from the rat race in historic Oxford, the peaceful Cotswolds, or for sundowners on rowing boats in yachty Henley-on-Thames.

Many say the only way to see Oxford is to do it on foot. There are grand university buildings and tiny tearooms to explore, tangled waterways, and wide, open parkland for lunchtime picnics; the city is awash with history, from its industrial working past to the ruined, mediaeval wall built in 1226 that still surrounds the city today. Your comfiest pair of walking shoes are a must here, for a short amble soon turns into a day spent meandering from one marvellous boutique to the next, or from one museum to the other.

Partly, yes. While some parts of the Cotswolds can be found in Gloucestershire, some of the most popular towns and villages sit within Oxfordshire. Caramel cottages line the high street in Burford, locals sup pints of Old Hooky in Chipping Norton’s thatched pubs, and Witney, home to former Prime Minister David Cameron, charms all those who wander its twisting lanes. Whether you cosy up in a cob cottage for two or a country house for more, The Cotswolds are never too far and always worth the short trip for tea, cake and country walks.

Harking back to the 16th century, Banbury Cakes are a local favourite. With currants steeped in a nutmeg and cinnamon mixture, you’ll find these crumbly pastry cakes in bakeries across the county, often enjoyed as part of an afternoon tea. Pick up a half dozen, brew a fresh pot of Earl Grey, and pick up your favourite book whilst the wind howls outside in the winter. Other local favourites include Hollygog Pudding, a sticky, golden syrup roly poly baked in milk, and Oxford Blue Cheese, made in honey-hued Burford.

Abandoned somewhere between the 1920s and the 1950s, there are two wonderful canals that run through The Cotswolds; The Stroudwater Canal and the Thames & Severn Canal. This 37-mile link was used to connect The River Severn to the River Thames at Lechlade in Gloucestershire. Though six miles have been restored, it’s rare to see any boat traffic still using this old transport network. Nowadays, it serves as a serene backdrop for lazy walks along the water’s edge, passing listed lock cottages and river reeds that sway in the breeze.