Banbury

Banbury is a historic market town and civil parish in north Oxfordshire, England. It lies on the River Cherwell, about 64 miles northwest of London and 21 miles north of Oxford. It is the administrative center of the Cherwell district and has a population in the tens of thousands.

The town's history stretches back to the Saxon era. It grew as a market town after receiving a market charter in the Middle Ages, which spurred its development as a trading center for grain, leather, and other goods. The Banbury Cake, a small spiced fruit pastry, became a local specialty linked to the town's markets. The Banbury Cross, a stone cross erected in the early modern period, became a well-known symbol in English folklore through the nursery rhyme Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross.

Today Banbury retains a mix of historic streets and modern retail and business developments. Notable landmarks include the Market Place with the Cross, Banbury Museum, and the Castle Quay shopping centre. The town has several parks and a ring of housing areas around the historic core.

Transport links connect Banbury to Oxford, London, and Birmingham. Banbury railway station provides rail services on the Chiltern Main Line, with routes toward London and Birmingham. The town is also near the M40 motorway.

Banbury is part of the Cherwell District Council and the Banbury parliamentary constituency. Education is provided by several primary and secondary schools, with further education facilities in the surrounding area.