Roman Villa

Located near the village of Little Tew, it was once a substantial estate that served as a working centre for agriculture and daily life during the Roman occupation. Excavations carried out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries revealed the foundations of an impressive building complex, complete with evidence of the owner's wealth and comfort. Archaeologists uncovered colourful mosaic floors and the remains of hypocausts—those sophisticated underfloor heating systems that warmed the villa through winter months.

What you'll find today are the fragmentary foundations you can walk around, enough to trace the outlines of various rooms and appreciate the scale of the original complex. There are no dramatic standing walls here, but rather a place that rewards slow exploration and reflection. The scattered stones and ground plans tell their own story about Roman life and the layers of history that followed.

It works well as part of a broader visit to the north Cotswolds. You're only a short drive from Chipping Norton and Deddington, both useful market towns if you need supplies or a meal. It's the sort of stop that gives archaeological discovery a real, tangible quality—a chance to stand where Roman families once lived and worked.