The small farmers’ markets of the North Oxfordshire countryside have plenty to offer at Christmas and at other times, including all kinds of unconventional meats such as ostrich, hare and venison. In the bigger cities like Oxford and Banbury, you will find plenty of multi-ethnic restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Vietnamese and other cuisines for a cosmopolitan population. Oxford’s Thaikun, Qumins and Kidlington’s Gurkha Village are highly recommended.

But when it comes to good traditional food and contemporary innovations, North Oxfordshire has some fine village pubs and fine dining options.

Chipping Norton

Chipping Norton has a fine selection of award-winning gastropubs. The charming family-run Kingham Plough offers excellent seasonal British menus that can change mid-service, to accommodate deliveries from fruit farms, local foragers, game estates and small holdings. The Chequers offers the classic British village pub experience, with excellent rustic fare like veal and ham hock pie and devilled kidneys on toast to go with fine craft wines and beers. The Swan at Ascott under Wychwood offers traditional British pub merriment, good food and beer.

 

“Near Woodstock, you’ll find the highly recommended Killingworth Castle, which has won many awards for its locally sourced fare in a traditional pub setting.”

Oxford has its own excellent restaurant and gastropub recommendations, including the all-day brasserie Quod, the 19 th century ale house The Old Bookbinders, the Italian La Cucina, The Chester, Oxford, Garden Cafe at Restore, Acanthus, the Vaults and Garden Cafe, The Oxford Kitchen and a host of other venues.

10 miles outside Oxford, in the lovely British countryside is the only Michelin-star restaurant in the area: Chef Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Swathes of lavender, fresh organic produce drawn from the manor gardens, an imaginative and complex menu, the beautiful setting all make for an unforgettable experience for lovers of fine dining.

At the end of your North Oxfordshire holiday, if you haven’t already had your fill of excellent pub fare with or without a contemporary twist, modern British classics and Oxford’s finest multiethnic cuisines, and excellent Oxfordshire beers and ale, you can always get up close and personal with local food through Oxfordshire’s finest cookery classes.