johnson from Cotswold Hills, England, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do · Woodstock
North Leigh Roman Villa
The remains of one of the larger courtyard villas of Roman Britain, by the River Evenlode west of Woodstock, free in daylight all year, with its early fourth-century mosaic shown on volunteer open days from May to September.
Dog-friendly
Come on an open day if you can: the rest of the year the mosaic is under sheeting and you see wall footings in a field by the river. Free, peaceful and a muddy walk in.
- Good: Free, open in daylight all year
- Good: Mosaic shown on volunteer open days, 11am to 5pm
- Good: Dogs on leads welcome on site
- Worth knowing: About 0.5km down an uneven farm track, muddy in the wet
- Worth knowing: No facilities; the nearest toilets are in Woodstock
- Worth knowing: Five steps down to the mosaic; no dogs in the Mosaic House
About
North Leigh Roman Villa lies in fields on the bank of the River Evenlode, about 3 miles (5km) west of Woodstock. It was one of the larger villas of Roman Britain, built round a courtyard, and at its height in the early fourth century it had three bath suites, at least 19 mosaic floors and 11 rooms with underfloor heating. Two ranges of the courtyard can be traced today.
Its finest survivor is an early fourth-century mosaic floor, kept under protective sheeting in its own building and shown only when English Heritage's volunteers open the Mosaic House, from 11am to 5pm. In 2026 that was on set weekends from late May to September; the 2027 dates will be on English Heritage's page. Five steps lead down to it.
The open-air site is free and open in daylight all year, with nothing to book. Park in the lay-by opposite the farm track and walk about 0.5km down it; the track is uneven and muddy in wet weather and may not suit wheelchairs or scooters. There are no toilets or refreshments: the nearest are in Woodstock, about 10km away by road. Dogs on leads are welcome, though not in the Mosaic House. Allow about an hour. On an ordinary weekday you may have the field to yourself.
Our guide to the Roman Cotswolds sets it beside Chedworth, and our walk from Combe through Blenheim Park starts a short drive away.
Opening hours and season
Site open in daylight all year. Mosaic House open 11am to 5pm on volunteer open days (in 2026, set weekends from late May to 20 September).
Facilities
- Lay-byRoom for several cars opposite the farm track; 0.5km walk
- Dogs on leadsNot in the Mosaic House on open days
The details
- Time to allow
- About an hour, with the walk in
- History
- Courtyard villa, at its largest in the early fourth century AD
- Parking
- A roadside lay-by with room for several cars, directly opposite the farm track, then about 0.5km on foot. Do not leave valuables in the car.
Photos
The courtyard ranges Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
The mosaic under its cover building Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
The mosaic floor 
The villa in summer
Location
Places to stay nearby
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The Duke of Marlborough
Inn · Woodstock
A family and dog-friendly pub with thirteen rooms and a large car park at Woodleys, on the A44 just north of Woodstock.
Dog-friendly · Family-friendly
Verified Nov 2026
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The Bear Hotel
Hotel · Woodstock
A Macdonald hotel in a Grade II* listed old inn on Park Street, Woodstock: 54 rooms with four-posters and suites, a restaurant, afternoon tea and dogs welcome, a short walk from Blenheim.
Dog-friendly · Wedding venues
Verified Nov 2026
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The Star Inn
Pubs · Woodstock
A Grade II inn on the north side of the Market Place in Woodstock, serving pub classics and burgers all day without bookings, with cask ales and four rooms.
Family-friendly
Verified Oct 2026
Nearby walks, places and things to do
- Blenheim Palace 4.7 km away
- The Oxfordshire Museum 4.8 km away
- The Duke of Marlborough 4.9 km away
- The Bear Hotel 4.9 km away
Sights nearby
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St Laurence's Church, Combe
Sight · Church · The Oxfordshire Cotswolds
St Laurence's Church in Combe, near Woodstock, was built by the monks of Eynsham Abbey in 1395. It keeps a rare stone pulpit, fifteenth-century glass and medieval wall paintings uncovered in the 1890s, with a Doom over the chancel arch. Open daily; Grade I.
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Column of Victory, Blenheim
Sight · Monument · Woodstock
The Column of Victory is the fluted Doric column of 1727 to 1730 that carries a lead statue of the first Duke of Marlborough dressed as a Roman general on the high ground of Blenheim's park. Seen from Woodstock and the park's public paths.
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Queen Pool, Blenheim
Sight · Lake · Woodstock
Queen Pool is the northern arm of the lake Capability Brown made at Blenheim from 1764, above Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge, with Rosamund's Well just west of the bridge and the Column of Victory above. Reached free on public footpaths from Combe; the lakeside road is permissive.
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St Mary Magdalene, Woodstock
Sight · Church · Woodstock
St Mary Magdalene is Woodstock's church on Park Street, founded with the twelfth-century town and long a chapel of Bladon, with a Norman zigzag doorway, a classical tower of 1784 to 1786 with chimes of 1792 made to play tunes, and a sundial with odd numerals. Grade II*.