Thame

Halfway between London and Oxford is a traditional English market town; not to be missed if you want a real taste of England. Thame is easily accessible by both car, from the M40 junction 7 and 8, or by public transport, 50 minutes from London Marylebone to Haddenham and Thame Parkway and on the regular 200/280 bus service route from Aylesbury to Oxford.

Legend has it that Shakespeare visited the High Street during his time as a strolling player.

A museum traces the town's history, including reference to the patriot John Hampden, who received his education in Thame before joining Oxford University's Magdalen College at the age of 15. He eventually died in Thame, of wounds received during the Civil War. Thame has also played host to many famous historical faces, download the blue plaque information leaflet to discover who lived here. Because it is the quintessential English market town Thame is a popular location for the filming of television programmes, such as Midsomer Murders.

Download FREE one of Thame's three historic trails and discover this hidden gem for yourself. Town Centre Trail 1; Trail 2 starting at Thame Museum and Trail 3 starting at the Memorial Gardens.

There are plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining with an exceptional range of independent and individual shops specialising in hand-picked items and sold by retailers who know their products. Download a guide to shopping in Thame. Thame has it's own loyalty card scheme for regular shoppers.

Local food from nearby farmers often appears on pub, tea room and restaurant menus, perhaps the most famous is Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in nearby Great Milton, holder of two Michelin stars. When it comes to eating there is plenty of choice to suit all tastes. Download a guide to eating and drinking in Thame.

Country fayres and market days are a unique part of England's heritage and Thame has more than its fair share. Enjoy the town centre traditional September fair or the two-day charter fair in October, which dates back to medieval times. There is a thriving weekly market, monthly farmers market and regular livestock market. Local food is big in Thame, no more so than at the annual Food Festival in September, www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk

One of the town's national attractions is the Thame and Oxfordshire County Show, which dates back 130 years and claims to be "England´s greatest one-day country show." www.thameshow.co.uk

Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve provides 27 acres for rambling, picnics and bird watching and The Oxfordshire golf course has hosted a number of professional tournaments and some of the world's best golfers. Thame Leisure Centre is open to visitors and includes a £4.5 million swimming pool. The Players Theatre is one a number of cultural attractions in the town.

Walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders enjoy the Phoenix Trail, from Thame to Princes Risborough, which is a popular five mile, traffic-free path that forms part of the expanding Sustrans cycle network. Download the Thame cycle leaflet and the walking leaflet to discover Thame for yourself.

For further information about Thame visit www.thamenews.net and www.thame.net or www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk Thame Town Council, Town Hall, Thame, Oxon OX9 3DP Tel: +44 (0)1844 212833