Discover Wantage, Oxfordshire

Buildings in the Market Square of Wantage, Oxfordshire, England. The HSBC Bank occupies the Old Town hall: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_buildings,_Wantage_Market_Place_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1321063.jpg
Author: Rose and Trev Clough


Wantage is a market town in the Vale of White Horse district in southern Oxfordshire, England. It is about 13 km (8 mi) to the southwest of Abingdon. The town has a population approaching 11,000 people (2012 estimate).

Wantage was historically part of Berkshire until the boundary change of 1974, which transferred it to Oxfordshire. Human habitation in this are goes back to Roman times, though there is no clear explanation of how it got its name.

Wantage was where the Saxon king Alfred the Great was born in the 9th century. Following Norman Conquest, Wantage came under direct ownership of the Norman kings under King Richard I passed it to the Earl of Albemarle in 1190. It was granted a market charter by King Henry III in 1246, and the twice weekly markets held on Wednesdays and Saturdays are still in operation.

Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wantage: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Peter_and_St_Paul,_Wantage_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1547576.jpg
Author: Michael FORD

Visiting Wantage

From London take the M4 motorway heading west till Junction 14, then continue north on the A338 road until you reach Wantage.

Places of Interest in Wantage

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