Brackley Library

You won't find Brackley Library in the guidebooks, which is precisely why it's worth knowing about. It's a proper working library housed in a converted Victorian building, the sort of place locals actually use rather than merely photograph. The collection is solid - local history sections that reveal genuine detail about Oxfordshire's past, a decent selection of current fiction, and computers if you need to catch up on emails between park visits.

This appeals most to readers who want something low-key and real, rather than another heritage attraction with gift shop queues. Families with younger children might appreciate the children's section on a rainy afternoon, though frankly there are better distractions if you've got energetic kids in tow. Walkers passing through Bicester on the way to or from The Pig Place or Glebe Leisure Touring Caravan Park could easily pop in - it's free, obviously, and you can spend twenty minutes or two hours depending on mood.

The opening hours are straightforward: weekday mornings and afternoons, weekend coverage that actually makes sense. If you're staying at either caravan park for a week, this won't be your main event, but on a damp Saturday when you've exhausted the local shops, it beats sitting under a awning. Worth the trip into Bicester if you're already there for groceries, but not worth detouring for specifically.