Union

The stock leans towards distinctive gifts, individual clothing pieces, and home accessories – the sort of items that feel genuinely different from what you'd find on the high street elsewhere. It's the kind of place where you're quite likely to walk out with something you didn't expect to find.

Banbury itself is a historic market town with real character. Most people know it from the old nursery rhyme about Banbury Cross, which still stands as a genuine landmark in town. You'll find period buildings sitting alongside modern shops, and the town functions as an important retail and social hub for the whole surrounding area. While you're here, it's worth trying a traditional Banbury Cake – it's been a local favourite for centuries.

The location makes Banbury a genuinely useful base for exploring further. Chipping Norton and Moreton-in-Marsh are just short drives away and both have plenty to keep you occupied. Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, is easily reachable if you want to stretch your visit into a full day. Union sits naturally into a broader exploration of the North Cotswolds, offering satisfying shopping alongside everything else the region has going for it.