Oxford

Ancient earthworks and Iron Age settlements dot the countryside around this corner of Oxfordshire, where the Thames meanders through water meadows and beech-clad hills. The area feels properly rural despite Oxford's city centre being just twenty minutes away by car.

Dyke Hills Iron-Age Oppidum stands as one of Britain's most impressive prehistoric fortifications, its ramparts still clearly visible after two millennia. The nearby Dorchester Abbey Museum tells the story of this Saxon settlement that once served as a cathedral city. Less grand but equally fascinating, the various archaeological sites including Hut Circle offer glimpses into how our ancestors lived.

Long Wittenham Wood provides excellent walking, especially in autumn when the beech trees turn golden. The peaks of Castle Hill and Round Hill reward the climb with sweeping views across the Thames Valley. For something completely different, Wet n Wild Oxford offers family fun whatever the weather.

Dorchester itself is a lovely village - small but significant, with proper pubs and the kind of thatched cottages that feature on chocolate box lids. The Earth Trust Centre, based at nearby Little Wittenham, runs wildlife walks and environmental education programmes.

Getting here is straightforward. The A4074 connects directly to Oxford's ring road, while Didcot Parkway station is fifteen minutes' drive for those arriving by train. Several holiday parks in the area provide an excellent base for exploring both this rural stretch and the dreaming spires of Oxford itself. You get the best of both worlds - countryside tranquillity after a day battling the city crowds.