The beautiful setting in the Evenlode valley, its many amenities, and its fine architecture combined to make Kingham Country Life’s Village of the Year. Conveniently located between two wonderful market towns (Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the-Wold), Kingham is peaceful and secluded, yet still enjoys mainline train service to London, a mere 90 minutes away.

The Norman church of St. Andrew’s is the center of an active parish and the Georgian rectory is one of the finest small houses of its date in the country. Kingham has an excellent village shop, with groceries, newspapers and magazines, drinks, video rentals and a post office. You might happen upon a football match on the village pitch or children playing on the lovely green. The Plough and The Tollgate provide traditional fare and the atmosphere of village pubs; the nearby Millhouse also serves lunch and dinner.

The village is an excellent centre for walking, with many paths winding off into the surrounding countryside. A bridle path crosses the village, and visitors on horseback sometimes ride past Keen’s Cottage.

What Kingham does not have is tourist buses, gift shops filled with twee knick-knacks, or hordes of holiday-makers. It is truly a slice of genuine, peaceful country living.