Blighty Day 10: Bicester

It rained heavily for most of the night but with the UK being  like a big sponge there was barely a sign of it this morning. There was no great haste getting away this morning with us sauntering  off to Bicester late morning to get some supplies and to have a look around this old market town. 

A little shopping was done and we wandered around the town. Attempts have been made to make it a people friendly place with pedestrian-only areas and lots of flower baskets dotted around the mall. 

The 17th century merchant house found in Market Square. 


Mellow stone buildings from the local stone. 

More flower-baskets beautifying the town. 

We took a long walk around the park and the village. The exercise was good but little other inspiration was generated by our visit to Bicester.  

We left early afternoon and stopped for lunch at Waddesdon. We didn't bother going into the wonderful Rothchilds' Waddesdon Manor  - we were very tempted. 

We continued on to Potter's Bar, north of the M25, where we were planning to stay at The Chequers pub for the night. There was a little apprehension at taking the M25 to get to Potter's Bar, but for the first time on the M25 there was no traffic jam!

Blighty Day 9: Aylesbury, Long Crendon and Fringford

Another good stopover at the Dashwood Arms - such a quiet place that we slept on again this morning! The day saw us moving up through Buckinghamshire, ending up at The Butcher's Arms in Fringford, Oxfordshire. 

Enjoying the last of the British sunshine at The Butcher's Arms, Fringford. 

Our first stop was at Princes Risborough to do some shopping.  It must be the retirement capital of the UK. We drove onto Ellesborough where we had a coffee but left shortly afterwards. We drove on to Aylesbury where we found that it was market day - an original market town from the Middle Ages. 

We had a good walk around the town but were particularly taken with the 1455 pub, The King's Head.  Interesting people have stayed there over time  - even Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn  stayed there on their honeymoon - so it is said!  It is certainly an interesting old pub with lots of character. 

Later, we drove on to Long Crendon for lunch. What we discovered is one of those hidden gems that are not highlighted in any of the travel literature. This old village is dotted with thatched cottages and an interesting local history museum in the Manorial Courthouse. It was here that for four hundred years a manorial court was held to hear crimes such as "bad smelling fish, brewing without a license and for over charging". 

Having finished exploring Long Crendon were decided we would seek out our over night stop at The Butcher's Arms in Fringford. 

The Butcher's Arms in Fringford. 

Next to the pub is a manicured cricket ground - love these little English villages that have nothing much but a well kept cricket pitch. 

The phone box at The Buthcher's Arms. 

Lovely street scape in Fringford. 

The village well - thatched!

A very attractive Bleeding Heart plant. 

In the early evening at the pub we were exposed to the local competition of Aunt Sally. A game where teams pitch lengths of wood at an Aunt Sally (a skittle). I was told that it is a game mostly played in Oxfordshire.