Chipping Norton, Lovingly Called Chippy, a Civil Parish and Market Town in the Cotswold Hills in the Oxfordshire, England
Chipping Norton is a civil parish and market town in the hillside of the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, England. Its nearest neighbours are Banbury and Oxford. It started as a small settlement where the Chipping Norton Castle used to be. The town is the perfect location for visits to the Rollright Stones, an ancient circle of stones that serve as proof of an ancient settlement. It also acts as a gateway to the other lovely towns and villages of the North Cotswold including Burford, Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold.
Food, Shopping and accommodation in Chipping Norton
As early as the 13th Century there has been a market in this town. To this day, the town, affectionately called “Chippy” by the locals, has remained to be a lively retail and leisure centre in the area. Along the high street is a friendly mixture of shops that provide the pleasant atmosphere and backdrop of the small-town hustle and bustle.
The town also offers visitors a wide selection of pubs, inns and restaurants. Restaurants and pubs are serving traditional British dishes together with local ales and beers. There are also some places offering exotic Asian, Indian, Chinese and other foreign cuisines as well as Mediterranean, French, Italian gourmet food.
Things to See and Do in Chipping Norton
Chippy is called the “Town of Ten Festivals” because of its unrivalled reputation for enjoyable festive events all year round starting from the bustling weekly market to the Chipping Norton Literary Festival, Chippy Jazz and Music and the town’s Music Festival among others. Many of the events are still held in the heart of town, mostly in the medieval marketplace facing the impressive town hall and the Gothic Guildhall or at the Theatre, which used to be a Salvation Army citadel.