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market town and civil parish in Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > South East England > Oxfordshire > Wantage

Wantage is a small town in Oxfordshire, 16 miles southwest of Oxford. It's on the edge of the Berkshire Downs and nowadays administered as part of the Vale of White Horse district.

Understand

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Statue of King Alfred in the Market Square

The Vale of White Horse district contains a number of small village and places of interest including the small market town of Faringdon. The town is particularly proud of one ex-resident, King Alfred the Great (849-899) who was born in the town (although it was the village of Wanating at that time). Alfred probably had little memory of the town as he was sent to Rome at the age of 4.

Get in

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By road

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The main road connection to the town is the A417 running eastwards from the town to the A34 Winchester to Salford main road (7 miles) and westwards to theA420 Oxford to Swindon main road (10 miles).

By train

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The nearest station to the town is in Didcot.

By bus

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Local area bus map [dead link] published by Oxfordshire Council.

By bicycle

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National cycle Route 544 runs between the town and Didcot where it connects to National Cycle Route 5 Reading to Holyhead.

Get around

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The town is small enough to get around on foot.

King Alfred's School
Alfred Street
  • 1 Whitehorse Hill, Uffington. The site of an Iron Age hill fort and Uffington White Horse. The site sits on the ridgeway long distance footpath, which follows the line of a chalk ridge which separates the Berkshire Downs to the south and the Vale of the White Horse to the north. The horse was cut into the chalk downs and can be seen from miles around. It has been "cleaned" by local communities about every 20 years continuously since it was first made about 2000 to 3000 years ago. The hill fort consists of a large circular bank and ditch 1-1.6km in circumference, with grass all over and inside. There are great views from the site, which is fantastic for picnics on a sunny day. Also nearby is the Dragon's Hill which appears to be man made and could somehow be associated to the site. Access is easiest by car - it has two car parks (one of which is nearer the horse and recommended only for visitors requiring easier access) The lower car park includes some signage explaining the Whitehorse, and ridgeway. There are picnic tables near by. One could also easily take in the White Horse and Hill Fort, on a walk along the ridgeway. Uffington White Horse (Q1056493) on Wikidata Uffington White Horse on Wikipedia 
  • 2 Vale and Downland Museum, 19 Church St, Wantage OX12 8BL, ☏ +44 1235 771447, . M-Sa 9:30AM-4PM (galleries 10AM-last admission 3:30PM). Free 2-hr parking is available in the Civic Hall Car Park, just off Church St. Vale And Downland Museum Centre (Q26300696) on Wikidata (updated May 2017)
  • 1 Waitrose (Supermarket), 17 Wallingford St Wantage OX12 8BD, ☏ +44 1235 772313. M-Th 8AM-10PM; F 8AM-9PM; Sa 8AM-8PM; Su 10AM-4PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 2 Sainsbury's (Superstore/Supermarket), Limborough Rd, Wantage OX12 9AJ, ☏ +44 1235 770601. M-Sa 8AM-9PM; Su 10:30AM-4:30PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 1 The Greyhound Inn (Pub, food & accommodation), Main St, Letcombe Regis OX12 9JL, ☏ +44 1235 771969, . Pub: M 10AM-10PM; Tu-Sa 10AM-11PM; Su 11AM-10PM. Food: M-Th noon-2:30PM, 6PM-9PM; F Sa noon-2:30PM, 6PM-9:30PM; Su noon-3:30PM, 6PM-8:30PM. (updated May 2017)
  • 2 The Teapot Tearoom and Gardens, Britchcombe Farm, Uffington, Faringdon SN7 7QJ, ☏ +44 1367 821022. Great cream tea (scones, clotted cream and jam). Also campsite across the road. (updated May 2017)
  • 3 Sylheti Spice (Indian Restaurant), 29 Market Place, Wantage OX12 8AJ, ☏ +44 1235 764164. Su-Th 6PM-11:30PM; F-Sa 6PM-midnight. (updated May 2017)
  • 4 Yummy Thai (Thai Restaurant), 8 Newbury St, Wantage OX12 8BS. (updated May 2017)
  • 5 The King Alfred's Head (Pub & Food), 31 Market Place, Wantage, OX12 8AH, ☏ +44 1235 771595, . Daily noon-late. (updated May 2017)
  • 6 The Fox and Hounds, High Street, Uffington. M-Sa 11AM-11PM; Su noon-10:30PM. Pub in Uffington with an old bar, good food, and a beer garden with views of White Horse Hill. (updated Aug 2017)

Drink

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Sleep

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The Bear Hotel Wantage

Connect

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  • 1 Post Office, 18 Wallingford St, Wantage OX12 8AX. M-F 9AM-5:30PM; Sa 9AM-12:30PM. (updated May 2017)

Go next

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Routes through Wantage
Cirencester ← Faringdon ←  W  SE  → Streatley (merges with A329) → Reading


This city travel guide to Wantage is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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