Church art, architectural history and wetlands give Weston on the Green several distinct themes for visitors. The Church of St Mary and Weston Manor Hotel put artworks and architectural details in the spotlight; Weston Fen offers a nature-focused experience, while the Oxford Gliding Club adds flying experiences to the village. When planning, it is worth prioritising these interests rather than automatically combining them into one itinerary. Oxford is also relevant when choosing where to stay: Weston on the Green offers good connections to the city.
Church and historic architecture
The Church of St Mary contains a large altarpiece by Pompeo Battoni. It also has a three-storey tower, the lower storeys of which are probably pre-Norman. This dating applies only to the lower storeys of the tower; it does not date the entire building. The church is also located in the Weston on the Green Conservation Area. These three aspects offer different perspectives: the altarpiece draws attention to art, the tower to architectural history, and the location to the village’s historic context.
Several building phases come together at Weston Manor Hotel. The house dates from the late Middle Ages and was built for the bailiffs of Osney Abbey; in the mid-16th century, it was remodelled for Lord Williams of Thame. The 16th-century lower hall has a projecting octagonal stair turret. There is also an early 17th-century door in the courtyard walls, which came from the chapel of Exeter College in Oxford. Together, these details form a chronological sequence from the late medieval origins through the remodelling to a later architectural feature. The building’s history can thus be explored through its different phases and the provenance of a specific detail.
Weston Fen and flying experiences
Weston Fen offers a distinct focus on the landscape. The 13 ha SSSI includes tall vegetation dominated by reeds and sedges, as well as shorter fen vegetation dominated by rushes. It therefore ranges from tall growth to lower areas characterised by rushes. The fen is defined not only by its size but also by its varied vegetation. This nature theme sits alongside the art and architectural history of the church and manor, without becoming part of the same focus.
Flying experiences offer another, very different activity: the Oxford Gliding Club provides them at RAF Weston-on-the-Green. If you want to include this experience as a firm part of your plans, check current booking availability with the club beforehand. This lets you fit it into the rest of your travel plans without assuming that flying experiences are always available.
Weston on the Green as a base
Good connections to Oxford are a practical consideration when choosing a base, alongside the village’s individual attractions.
Discover more destinations: Clanfield, Church Handborough, Alvescot, Aston, Kingston Bagpuze, Shipton-On-Cherwell, Letcombe Regis, Kingham
For the wider travel overview: Oxfordshire.
