Oxford County brings together a range of discoveries: Annandale House showcases architectural history, museums tell the story of the region’s heritage, and the Cheese Trail leads to destinations focused on cheese and agriculture. There are also cycling options. If you want to plan your trip around your personal interests, you’ll find several themes here that can be explored independently.
Art and History in the Towns
In Tillsonburg, Annandale House was recognized as a National Historic Site in 1997. It is considered one of the best-preserved examples of the Aesthetic Movement in Canada. This makes the house a special point of interest for anyone interested in the connection between art and architectural history.
In Woodstock, the Woodstock Art Gallery is dedicated to visual art. It is the only public art gallery in Oxford County and holds a permanent collection of more than 1,900 works of art. The size of the collection gives a tangible sense of the gallery’s place within the county’s cultural offerings.
Another way to explore history awaits in Ingersoll: at the Cheese & Agricultural Museum, you can discover the region’s dairy and cheese heritage. The museum preserves local heritage and connects the past and present through interactive experiences. At the Norwich Museum, the main building itself tells a story: it is an original Quaker meeting house. The art collection, agricultural heritage and historic architecture each offer a different perspective.
Cheese and Regional Experiences
The Oxford County Cheese Trail is a self-guided culinary route open year-round, with more than 30 cheese and dairy destinations throughout the county. Stops include cheese factories, farm stores, restaurants, shops and unique visitor experiences. You can explore the route according to your own plans; route planners recommend Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and rural stops as starting points.
If you’re especially interested in how cheese is made, you can book tours of the cheesemaking process and aging room at Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese. The cheese factory specializes in Swiss-style cheese wheels. During the Churn Back Time experience, you make fresh butter yourself using traditional equipment—in front of a traditional Quaker house. These experiences focus on different things: one on cheesemaking and aging, the other on taking part in a traditional activity.
Experience Oxford County by Bike
Ride Oxford includes scenic road rides, gravel routes and mountain biking. The county also has two extensive mountain bike networks, and the Trans Canada Trail runs through it. The cycling options mentioned therefore vary in format, from road rides to mountain biking. Which one suits your trip depends on the type of cycling you’re interested in.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Oxford County is also accessible by train, bus and airport shuttle without a personal vehicle; there are also more than five airports for getting here. Highways 401 and 403 also meet in the county. Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and rural stops are possible starting points for exploring the Cheese Trail. Check current connections and the route you’d like to explore as you plan your trip.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Ingersoll, Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Burgessville, Norwich, Thamesford, Embro, New Hamburg.
For the main travel overview: Ontario.
