The Parish of Stratton Audley is a small community of just over 400 people living in some 190 dwellings.
The village, being located near the old Roman road from Alchester to Towcester, takes its name from Stratone (street), with Audley being added in the 13th century after the Audley family who held the Manor. Originally a Saxon settlement, the village is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Stratton Audley is a pretty village comprising mainly period houses and cottages most of which are in the conservation area. The village has an attractive 15th century church where many community events are held, and there is a popular pub and restaurant ‘The Red Lion’. Nearby Bicester (about 2.5 miles) provides a full range of shopping, educational and sporting facilities, as well as the world renowned retail outlet Bicester Village. There are excellent road connections at Bicester with junction 9 of the M40 and the A34. There are two railway stations with Bicester North being five minutes away (London Marylebone 43 mins, Birmingham International 65 mins) and Bicester Village Station (formerly Bicester Town) opening on 26th October with trains to London for the first time and in the other direction, to the new station of Oxford Parkway.
Its situation in North Oxfordshire on the edge of the Cotswolds and close to good road and rail connections help give it an enviable reputation as a desirable place to live. In March 2014 Country Life Magazine rated Stratton Audley as one of the top Oxfordshire villages for commuting, highlighting it for its attractiveness and fast links to London and Oxford.
Within a 15 mile radius you have: the University City of Oxford; the ancient town of Woodstock with Churchill’s birthplace Blenheim Palace; Waddesdon Manor ancestral home of the Rothschild’s; Stowe school and botanical gardens; and the international Grand Prix motor racing circuit of Silverstone.
Whilst the fast expanding town of Bicester is only ten minutes away with numerous shops and facilities such as a 7 screen Multiplex Vue cinema, the village of Stratton Audley itself is protected from new development. Its tranquil setting takes you back into a bygone world and it has always been very rural in character being bordered by several farms and additionally home to the hounds of the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase.
There are many public footpaths for interesting local walks and in 2019 the old Pound area close to the church was redeveloped into a pocket park. A tranquil safe space for old and young alike. The pond to the north-east of the old Manor wall is a pleasant stroll with the opportunity to become acquainted with resident mallards, coots, moor-hens and the many other visiting birds, or simply to enjoy the lovely setting. The fact that the village has no street lights means it is possible to really appreciate the beauty of the night sky.
It is also a popular area for cyclists due to its gently undulating country roads winding between other pretty villages.
One mile down the road is Bicester Heritage, the UK’s first park for the restoration, storage and enjoyment of vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and aircraft – http://bicesterheritage.co.uk/ Situated on the old RAF Bicester Airfield, the buildings have various preservation orders on them and the airfield itself is a World Heritage Site that also helps to protect the surrounding green belt. They hold regular events which the public can attend and the next brunch is on 24th April, click this link for more details http://bicesterheritage.co.uk/events/8th-sunday-scramble/
Bicester Heritage is now a component part of Bicester Motion, a ground breaking development which plans to create the UK’s principal destination for anyone who wants to experience motor cars from all eras, including the future.
The village has an active social life with regular events organised by the community in conjunction with the church, the pub and the CLP working group. A major Food, Beer & Music Festival was held in Church Street in both 2016 and 2018. With the onset of the Coronavirus no event is being held in 2020.