St Ethelwold's House is a curious place, a house in the centre of Abingdon that has been turned…read moreinto an 'open spiritual centre' where you can go for a retreat, or simply for bed and breakfast. It's also used by lots of local groups as a venue for events - the Abingdon Carbon Cutters meet there, for example, as does the Ethical Business Club. It's a very pleasant place for a meet-up, and if refreshments are provided they are organic where possible. There is a garden, which apparently goes right down to the river, but I haven't been out into it.

St Ethelwold's house is a really lovely place…read more It is in East St Helen's street, and to be honest I didnt realise it was there until about a year ago, even though I have lived in Abingdon for over 25 years! It is so peaceful and tranquil there, and is a popular venue for lots of groups and meetings, including the MIND women's wellbeing group among others. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous, beautifully landscaped and gently sloping right down to the edge of the river Thames. There are benches dotted about to sit and enjoy the surroundings and the view.

The Abingdon Museum is quite a quaint place - upstairs in a strange building opposite the market…read moresquare. There are permanent exhibits about the history of Abingdon (do you know about the bun throwing?) and the MG factory. More interesting are the changing - showcasing everything from different aspects of local history to arts and crafts both historical and modern. The museum isn't large, but they make space for a small cafe where you can get snacks and hot drinks, plus information on local tourist attractions. There are toys and games for kiddies, too, and they obviously play host to school groups on a regular basis. During the summer months you can go up to the roof (the museum is free, but there's a small charge for access to the roof) for an unparalleled view of Abingdon. Oh, and it's where they keep the wireless router for the town - so if you're out and about and want internet access then it's probably the best place to be.

Based in England's grandest free-standing town hall with an open ground floor, Abingdon Museum…read morehouses permanent collections as well as temporary exhibitions. The roof gives a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside, and is also the venue for Abingdon's traditional 'Bun Throwing' ceremonies to mark Royal occasions. One of our Abingdon team's top 5 cultural venues.

Not sure if the Abbey hosts a lot of art exhibitions, but a walk through the walled kitchen garden…read moreis worth a visit in its own right. The current group show entitled "Unravelling Time" is on until early October - works by a group of artists are dotted around the building and grounds and make for a lovely tour of discovery. It is unusual to find conceptual art in domestic settings and this is a truly charming example.