People's Park, Banbury

People's Park is the town centre park in Banbury, on Warwick Road. It opened in 1919 to celebrate the peace after the First World War, and the town council looks after it. It is free, and it is the easy answer to a fine hour in town with children.

The story of People's Park

The park is older than its name, because its best trees came from a private garden. The town council says some of the statement trees were part of the grounds of Neithrop House, and that the walled garden belonged to the same estate and is being restored to its original form. Much of the land was bought for the town with money left by George Vincent Ball, and the charity that holds it, with the town council as trustee, still has the purpose of a park for the recreation of all classes of the public. The park marked its centenary in July 2019.

What to look for

In the aviary, park rangers look after budgies and cockatiels and call in on them twice a day. The rest of the park rewards a slower walk: a rose garden, a cherry tree walk, a wild flower meadow and the walled garden. The war memorial is where the town lays wreaths each Remembrance Day. On Remembrance Sunday the wreath-laying in the park follows the service at St Mary's Church.

Each year the town's primary schools compete in Planting Day in the Park, designing and planting flower beds in the rose garden, so the beds carry children's work.

For children and for sport

The park holds a children's play area, which reopened after a refurbishment by the council in July 2025 with a new trim trail, along with a multi-use games area and fitness equipment. There are two tennis courts, with free Park Tennis on Saturdays from 11am to midday and free weekday sessions from 3pm to 4pm, booked through the Lawn Tennis Association. The bowling green is home to Banbury Borough Bowls club. A community pavilion can be hired.

Visiting People's Park

The café near the Warwick Road entrance is open all year, usually from 8am to 6pm, for hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and cakes. The public toilets are in the walled garden, with an accessible toilet and baby changing, and the council has them cleaned daily. Its page says nothing on dogs, so look for signs at the gates.

Getting there

The main entrance is on Warwick Road, OX16 0AD, with others on Bath Road and The Leys. Bath Road Car Park, OX16 0TD, is free for park users. The park is a few minutes' walk from Banbury Cross, and our Banbury station guide covers the walk from the trains.

Nearby

St Mary's is a short walk away, and the Cross and the Fine Lady are close. For a bigger, wilder park, Spiceball Country Park is on the far side of the town centre, by the canal.