Banbury

Three narrow boats chug past Banbury Cross as morning mist lifts from the Oxford Canal. This is a proper market town that's managed to keep its soul intact despite the London commuter crowd.

The famous cross - rebuilt in Victorian times but still drawing crowds for that nursery rhyme connection - anchors a town centre that's refreshingly real. No chain store takeover here. Independent shops line the high street, and Thursday's market has been running for centuries. The atmosphere on market day is electric.

Broughton Castle sits just southwest of town, a medieval manor that's properly lived-in rather than museum-sterile. The moated castle hosts events throughout summer and the gardens are lovely for an afternoon wander. Meanwhile, Worton Wood offers decent walking if you need to stretch your legs after too much cake in town.

Canal walks are the real draw though. The Oxford Canal winds north and south from Banbury, lined with houseboats and proper countryside views. You can easily walk to Cropredy in an hour - famous for its folk festival but worth visiting any time for the riverside pub.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Direct trains from London Marylebone take just over an hour, and the M40 runs right past if you're driving. Birmingham's only 45 minutes north, Oxford 30 minutes south.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. Banbury's central enough for day trips to the Cotswolds - Chipping Norton is 20 minutes away - while the canal network opens up proper walking country. Plus you'll avoid town centre parking charges, which can be steep during market days.