"Hook Norton and more of the Cotswolds" Hook Norton by evaanna

Hook Norton Travel Guide: 6 reviews and 11 photos

Gargoyle on St Peter's Church, Hook Norton

Hook Norton, known locally as Hooky, is a village in North Oxfordshire on the edge of the Cotswolds best known for its old Victorian brewery, which not only supplies beer to most of the countless pubs in the area but also owns some of the pubs, like Ye Olde Reindeer Inn in Banbury and the Castle Inn at Edgehill (see my Banbury page). Perhaps the gargoyle on the local church was modelled after one of its best customers, making faces and finding it hard to keep his balance after too many pints. This cannot be true though: the church is much older than the brewery.
Most houses in the village are built from the dark golden-coloured Hornton stone. Hook Norton has three pubs, a pottery and a manor that once used to be the home of the d'Oilly family. The Manor gardens are said to be very beautiful but are open to the public only once a year. The village once had some ironstone quarries, which, however, had to be abandoned on the liquidation of the railway that used to transport their product.

Thatched cottage at Great Tew

Not far from Hook Norton is the charming village of Great Tew, with its lovely thatched cottages, often referred to as a 'picture book' village.
As it is not to be found on the vt current list of places, it will be included here.

Last visit to Hook Norton: Jul 2006
Intro Updated Nov 25, 2006
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Reviews (5)

Antiques at Chipping Norton - Hook Norton

Antiques at Chipping Norton Shopping (1)

Chipping Norton has been a market town for centuries. Its fairs and markets gave the town its name, as 'chipping' means... more travel advice

The Falkland Arms, Great Tew - Hook Norton

The Falkland Arms Favorites (1)

The most enchanting building in Great Tew is the Falkland Arms, a pub named after Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland (more... more travel advice

Great Tew - so lovely! Things to Do (3)

Great Tew is a tiny village created partly by the landscape gardener John Loudon, the manager of the estate from 1809 to... more travel advice

St Peter's Church, Hook Norton - Hook Norton

St Peter's Church Things to Do (3)

St Peter's stands proudly in the centre of Hook Norton. This largely 15th century church has some parts dating back to... more travel advice

Comments (13)

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LoriPori Oct 26, 2009 at 9:50 AM

I think we could appreciate the Falkland Arms more, if it wasn't so covered in ivy. I guess I don't appreciate plants growing all over a beautiful building. IMO
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JLBG Feb 1, 2009 at 12:38 PM

Impressive gargoyle ! The visit of the Hook Norton Brewery must be something not to miss ! The real machinery with the belts like in the 19th , haha !
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Trekki Dec 25, 2008 at 9:36 AM

Agree with Don: this brewery must be fascinating to visit and also see the carriages delivering the beer :-) And the pub in Great Tew is... simply adorable! Good ideas for my next time :-)
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Nemorino May 14, 2008 at 2:10 PM

I don't usually find breweries very fascinating, but Britain's only surviving Victorian tower brewery still driven by steam would be really worth seeing, with all the belts, cogs and shafts transmitting power. (Thanks for your visit to my Cremona page.)
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barryg23 Jun 5, 2007 at 12:33 PM

So this is where that great beer comes from!
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matcrazy1 Feb 8, 2007 at 3:25 AM

Wow! Pure beauty! I love these thatched cottages and the Falkland Arms at Great Tew! A must see for me now :-) Thanks a million for sharing!
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Mariajoy Dec 10, 2006 at 1:06 AM

Beautiful photos and great tips Ewa! I live in the UK but have never really explored this area, looks like I shall have to now! :))
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alancollins Dec 9, 2006 at 2:05 PM

Lovely photographs of quintessential Cotswold Villages.
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globetrott Dec 8, 2006 at 5:54 AM

It is always again great to see these lovely thatched cottages !
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deecat Dec 3, 2006 at 10:00 AM

Wow, Ewa, this is marvelous! Great Tew thatched cottage is, indeed, just wonderful. Excellent tips. Sure is alluring and makes me long to see both Hook Norton and Great Tew.