Bodicote is a very old village. The church and some headstones, many of the older houses and some ancient walls are listed buildings – the centre of the village was designated a conservation area in 1988.
We currently have two pubs – The Plough and The Horse and Jockey, both situated in the High Street. We also have a LONDIS shop and post office, a hairdresser and a picture framer who works in the old Methodist Chapel.
There has been a church in the village for centuries. St John the Baptist is a prominent landmark in the village and holds regular services. Bodicote Church House next door is a village facility which is used by the church for events and fundraising as well as by the Brownies, craft groups, exercise groups and the Parish Council for its meetings! It is also available for hire for private parties, charity fundraisers and other events.
Bodicote has a junior school – Bishop Loveday Church of England School – which takes children from reception to Year 6 and there are several secondary schools within close proximity. We also have two nursery schools for pre-school children – the Kingsfield Nursery and Saltway Day Nursery.
Opposite Bishop Loveday school is the King’s Field, a sports and recreation field for use by the village and maintained by the Bodicote Welfare Fund. It has a cricket pitch and a football pitch as well as a play area for younger children and a comprehensive set of outdoor exercise machines alongside the Bodicote Village Hall.
On November the 5th the famous Bodicote Fireworks is held on King's Field, said to be the best public fireworks display in the area!
Adjacent to the King’s Field is Banbury Cricket Club which has a thriving membership and the club house is often used as a venue for local events.
Bodicote is also the home of Banbury Rugby Club which has a strong youth programme as well as its senior players. Next door is the Bannatyne health club with a gym, exercise classes, a swimming pool and therapy room.
Cotefields Nursery is just off the main Banbury Road and has a good selection of plants and trees and a busy coffee shop.
Bodicote is still a rural village and is surrounded on two sides by fields and footpaths, some of which provide walking links to Adderbury and Bloxham. The Bodicote Circular Walk is a popular walk and the Parish Council have produced a colourful map and directions which is sited at the beginning of Saltway – go to Village News where you can read more about the map.
For a more comprehensive history of the village please visit and join Bodicote History and Memories which is the Facebook page of the Bodicote Archive Group which holds regular fascinating exhibitions displaying photographs and information about Bodicote through the years – you can find their contact link on the Organisations page.
Bodicote Parish Council work hard to maintain the village as a clean and pleasant place in which to live – a thriving modern community with a traditional feel.