Childrey

This is the kind of place where you can actually get a sense of rural life without feeling like you're performing tourism.

The village centers around St Mary the Virgin church, which has some interesting medieval features worth investigating if you're interested in that period. The surrounding countryside is genuinely lovely for walking, with good access to the broader vale landscape and views toward the White Horse itself on the chalk downs to the north. It's the type of spot where you can do a circular walk and barely see another person.

Wantage, just down the road, gives you more facilities and is worth a visit for its market town character and some decent pubs and cafes. The village itself is quiet and residential, so don't expect much in the way of attractions or services here, but that's rather the point. You're here to get off the main tourist trail and see how the Vale actually works as a living community. If you're basing yourself nearby or walking the area, it's worth a wander to get that genuine Oxfordshire feel.