If some seem vaguely familiar that’s probably because you have seen them before. The district’s picturesque locations are a magnet for the producers of cinema and television programmes.

Attractions range from bluebell woods to ancient trees, from chocolate box cottages to ancient buildings, from leafy lanes to woodland treasures.

When it’s time for a rest there’s always a village pub or teashop not too far away.

If you want to stay a little longer you can choose from the host of bed and breakfast suppliers to be found throughout the district.

One of the most popular villages is Dorchester with its famous Abbey. A haven of peace it is situated just off the main Wallingford to Oxford road, close to the confluence of the rivers Thames and Thame.

It is the site of a Saxon Cathedral built by St.Birinus in the 7th Century and today Dorchester Abbey is one of the finest concert venues in the district.

Celtic, Roman and Saxon graves and artefacts are frequently discovered around Little Wittenham and Wittenham Clumps are among the oldest clump of trees in the country. The village is also home to a noted nature reserve.

In the 15th Century Alice Chaucer, grand-daughter of Geoffrey Chaucer, devoted her life to transforming Ewelme into the perfect village and built almshouses a school and re-built the local church. Built in 1437 the school is now thought to be the oldest continuously used school in England. The ancient watercress beds are also an attraction.

Goring has become home to modern pop stars as George Michael and Kate Bush while the village of Bix offers 100 hectares of woodland and grassland at Warburg Nature Reserve.

Stoke Row is noted for its Victorian Maharajah’s Well, a four foot round aperture, dug to the depths of two Nelson’s column. Built in 1864 it was a gift from the Maharajah of Benares in India to benefit this Chiltern village bought about by his friendship with Mr E.A. Reade of Ipsden

Benson is perhaps most widely known as the site of an RAF airfield but Benson Lock is popular as a walk and at Nuneham Courtenay its worth pausing to visit Harcourt Arboretum. Try to catch the famous bluebell wood wildflower meadow and Acer glade

Visitors should always remember to observe the Countryside Code:

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