Wallingford hotels

Hotels in Wallingford

A market town sitting neatly on the banks of the River Thames, Wallingford is full of charm and history. Once home to and inspiration for the great Agatha Christie, the town has numerous claims to fame. The perfect place to stay whether for a day or week, there are a number of Wallingford hotels to help make your stay a memorable one.

History

In the 9th century, Alfred the Great made Wallingford part of a network of fortified burghs, enclosing it with substantial earthworks in order to protect Wessex from Viking invasion. These defences can still be seen today and are possibly the best preserved of their kind in the country. The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1155 by Henry II, the second town in England to receive one.

Learn about local history at the Wallingford Museum, a family-friendly and colourful place housed in a beautiful medieval oak-beamed building in the centre of town. Highlights include a Victorian street scene with walk-in shop and pub, a miniature recreation of Wallingford Castle and an Agatha Christie exhibition.

Trains

Steam enthusiasts should visit Cholsey and Wallingford Railway, which runs regular events such as the chance to drive a steam train. Younger guests can meet Ivor the Engine and his driver, Jones the Steam, and enjoy a five-mile round trip on this preserved former Great Western Railway branch line.

Markets

Wallingford has a lovely centralised market place with a 17th-century town hall, and hosts the Charter Market every Friday. There is also a producers' market every Saturday where independent traders provide a wonderful variety of locally grown produce.

Murder Mystery

Wallingford has a strong connection to murder mystery fiction. Queen of mystery, Agatha Christie, lived and worked in the town. She took a lot of influence from local landmarks and residents in nearby Winterbrook for stories such as the ones involving Miss Marple. More recently, Wallingford was the location of Causton in the TV series Midsomer Murders, and many of the extras in the show are actually from Wallingford. 

Food and drink

There is something for everyone in Wallingford when it comes to food. There are warming pubs, tempting takeaways, classy cafés and more.

Visit The Partridge Inn or Home Sweet Home for a fantastic Sunday roast or other great home-cooked dishes. The Three Horseshoes is well known in the area for great pub grub too. For a coffee break while exploring the town, stop into Catherine's Café or for a taste of the exotic, head to Thai Corner.