In and Around Olney

Olney Pancake Race & Dickensian Fair

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Olney is quite an old market town close to Milton Keynes where I live. It may seem like a sleepy place for most of the year, but there are two main events which take place in Olney which make it stand out not just locally, but nationally too. - They are both annual, and we think they are both great fun to attend.The first is the Olney Pancake Day Race which takes place every year on pancake day as you may already have guessed. Olney is the home of the original pancake race and is where it all began more than 500 years ago back in 1445 when a townswoman was late for the shriving service at Olney parish church.It's said that this woman heard the church bells ringing to announce...Read More

Olney is quite an old market town close to Milton Keynes where I live. It may seem like a sleepy place for most of the year, but there are two main events which take place in Olney which make it stand out not just locally, but nationally too. - They are both annual, and we think they are both great fun to attend.

The first is the Olney Pancake Day Race which takes place every year on pancake day as you may already have guessed. Olney is the home of the original pancake race and is where it all began more than 500 years ago back in 1445 when a townswoman was late for the shriving service at Olney parish church.

It's said that this woman heard the church bells ringing to announce the shriving service was starting and ran out of her house still clutching her frying pan and wearing her apron. She ran down the highstreet and made it just in time.

Today the female residents of Olney run the same course down the highstreet finishing at the church, and must toss their pancake at the start and finish of the race, and everyone lines the streets to cheer them on. It's quite busy and everyone really comes together for this event. There is even a town in America who they have a challenge with for who's fastest each year lol.

The second event for which Olney is becoming well known is it's 'Dickens of a Christmas' Dickensian fair which takes place every year in December a couple of weeks before Christmas. Traders come from all around and dress in Victorian clothing, and make their stalls look Dickensian too, and the market square and parts of the highstreet are filled with stalls where you can buy all sorts of christmas goodies. There are also things like Father Christmas, reindeer and carriage rides to be had as well as brass bands, street entertainers and craft fayres, so loads for the whole family to enjoy. The event is getting more popular every year and has become almost as big an event as the pancake race.

If you're planning a trip to Olney and can only be here for a one off visit, I'd say, to see the town at it's very best try to come when one of these two excellent events are taking place. For the pancake race however, you do need to get there early to be able to find somewhere to park, and then walk to the highstreet to watch as the whole street is closed to traffic for the durration of the event. The Dickensian fair doesn't close the highstreet, but it can still be pretty hard to find a parking space, so it's worth while looking to park in some of the residential streets a little away from the highstreet and walking back if you can. The town isn't wonderful for wheelchair access, but they do their best to be as accommodating as possible which makes it so friendly and pleasent that it doesn't feel as hard as it does in some places I find. Read Less

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Cowper & Newton Museum

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Living in Milton Keynes for almost 30 years, I’ve got to know the area fairly well, and Olney being only a few minutes drive away is somewhere we’ve been quite frequently. Strangely however, it wasn’t until a couple of years back that I investigated the Cowper and Newton Museum here.It’s tucked away at the edge of the Olney Market Square, and to be honest although I knew it was there somewhere, until I actually looked for it, I didn’t really spot it as it doesn’t stand out from the rest of the street particularly.The museum is housed in what was William Cowper’s home in the 18th Century. (William Cowper in case you’re not sure was a poet). Both the house and gardens can be v...Read More

Living in Milton Keynes for almost 30 years, I’ve got to know the area fairly well, and Olney being only a few minutes drive away is somewhere we’ve been quite frequently. Strangely however, it wasn’t until a couple of years back that I investigated the Cowper and Newton Museum here.

It’s tucked away at the edge of the Olney Market Square, and to be honest although I knew it was there somewhere, until I actually looked for it, I didn’t really spot it as it doesn’t stand out from the rest of the street particularly.

The museum is housed in what was William Cowper’s home in the 18th Century. (William Cowper in case you’re not sure was a poet). Both the house and gardens can be visited, but be aware, if you’re disabled then there are large parts of the house which will be completely inaccessible to you. I managed ok with just a walking stick, but I did have to rest quite a lot in between as there are a fair few stairs and steps to negotiate as you’re moving around the house.

The house is actually called ‘Orchardside’ and is filled with all sorts of items that relate to Cowper and Newton as well as some which are about Olney’s early history. The various different rooms house different collections of things from manuscripts and books as well as other more personal items like the table where some of Cowper’s most famous poems were written, lace made in the area, and loads more. Some rooms like the kitchen sort of show you what the place was like back in the days when Cowper lived here, and others are laid out more museum style to show off the collections. Most of the collections are static and are always here, but they do have some which change round which I find quite nice as having been here more than once it gives me something new to look at each time.

The gardens attached to the house are very lovely, and were restored in the 1990’s to try and recreate some of the atmosphere they had when Cowper used them. They’re not really formal gardens, more what you might call cottage gardens, and you’ve got different areas dedicated to different things – one of the bits I loved was an area that’s been restored as a medicinal garden, and you can recognise some of the plants, though I did feel it would have been nice to have some more information about what each plant would have been used for.

The summer house where Cowper wrote lots of his poems is in the gardens too, and it’s kind of cool to see it and imagine him sitting there looking out at the peaceful gardens and writing.

Sadly unlike many museums, this isn’t free to enter. It’s run as a charitable trust, so the funds from visitors go toward the upkeep of the place. It’s not expensive however, and we’ve taken guests staying with us to see it a few times now. Adults £4, kids under 5 are free, and from 5-16 yr olds cost just £1. I would say this is more suitable for adults or older kids though as there is less here than in some museums to entertain the very young. It’s not open all year round, only between March and December, and they vary their opening hours sometimes so it’s worth checking the website or phoning before you go. They also do guided tours, garden only entry and family tickets as well as yearly subscriptions too.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 13, 2011

Cowper & Newton Museum
Orchard Side, Market Place
Olney, Buckinghamshire
+44(0)1234 711516

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Emberton Country Park

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Attraction | "Emberton Park"

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I love Emberton Park, we go here usually two or three times every summer as it's such a really big park. It's great for the family too. We normally squeeze as many of us as possible into as few cars as possible so that we can all go up and make a day of it. From my youngest nephew & niece (under 2) to my eldest relatives (post retirement), it's a place where we can all enjoy ourselves.To be honest, there's not a lot to 'do' here in terms of provided activities, it's a park! That's the beauty of it really for me, you go along, take ball, bats, hula hoop or frisbee or whatever. You throw a picnic together, take some blankets, plenty of drinks and sunscreen, and you have a proper old fas...Read More

I love Emberton Park, we go here usually two or three times every summer as it's such a really big park. It's great for the family too. We normally squeeze as many of us as possible into as few cars as possible so that we can all go up and make a day of it. From my youngest nephew & niece (under 2) to my eldest relatives (post retirement), it's a place where we can all enjoy ourselves.

To be honest, there's not a lot to 'do' here in terms of provided activities, it's a park! That's the beauty of it really for me, you go along, take ball, bats, hula hoop or frisbee or whatever. You throw a picnic together, take some blankets, plenty of drinks and sunscreen, and you have a proper old fashioned family day out.

The park opened in 1965 and was originally a gravel works like many places locally. It’s now been transformed however, and is a very attractive park that covers around 200 acres and has lakes, picnic areas, a band stand, conservation areas, kids play area and more.

The children’s play area isn’t massive, and to be honest we don't normally go near it unless the kids insist, but it is there, and when we do go to it the kids enjoy the swings and things. One place we do normally make a trip or three to is the loos. They're not bad, as public loos go to be honest, though I do always make sure I take paper with me as I've seen many an empty holder there, so be warned!

You can also fish on the lakes here, but you'll need a permit, and only in season of course - this appeals to one or two members of the family particularly my step dad, so for at least part of the day we normally leave them to that while we go and enjoy a walk round the lake or something.

Oh and one really important thing for me – the park is very much wheelchair accessible!

Ok, not quite everywhere is 100% accessible, but as a whole the park is really very good and the paths are wide enough for a chair no problem which means I can go everywhere the rest of my family go and I don’t have to worry about how far it is, or whether I’ll be able to manage. Also if you're a blue badge holder you can apply for a permit and that means that when you visit you can get in for free.

If you’re not a blue badge holder, it does generally cost to get in if you come by car, but you can get a permit for unlimited use, or you can pay as a one off fee, and to be honest it's not huge amounts and I think it's a great way for them to help look after the 200 acres of land that make up the park and keep it nice for everyone. The charge is per car, not per person, and £3.50 per car, whether you have 2 people or 10 people in it, isn't too bad really. Pedestrian access is free.

We love this park for family days out, and it’s even better if one of the local brass bands is playing here when we visit.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 13, 2011

Emberton Country Park
Olney Road on the Great Ouse River
Olney, Buckinghamshire
01234 713 908

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Castle Ashby Gardens

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Attraction | "An English Country Garden (Castle Ashby Gardens)"

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Castle Ashby is just off the A428 between Northampton & Bedford, quite close to Olney. Although the Castle isn’t open to the public, it has some fantastic gardens which are.The House is set in the middle of the estate and originally there were 4 avenues leading to it from north, south, east and west each planted with trees. (This was back in 1695). Capability Brown removed the north and west avenues in 1761, and changed the east avenue by planting clumps of trees so that now, the only avenue remaining is the one to the south which is three and a half miles long and stretches across the Bedford/Northampton road into the deer park. The mile long part leading from the main road has Oa...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 13, 2011

Castle Ashby Gardens
Off the A428 between Northampton & Bedford
Northamptonshire NN7 1LQ

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Olney Wine Bar and Restaurant

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Restaurant | "Olney Wine Bar - Great Food & Music Venue"

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Olney in Buckinghamshire isn’t a huge town, but it is home to a quiet interesting wine bar. Well, actually, the Olney Wine Bar isn’t really a wine bar, in fact, it’s a restaurant and music venue.I’ve been here a few times over the years, and always enjoyed myself. Over the week, they have a range of different things going on, but there is always either live music or a disco on Friday nights and Saturday nights, and they always have an open mic night on a Sunday evening. On Fridays and Saturdays, they have different things going on and it’s hard to say what you’ll experience because it is constantly changing. I can say that when we’ve been, we’ve enjoyed duo’s and trio’s sin...Read More

Olney in Buckinghamshire isn’t a huge town, but it is home to a quiet interesting wine bar. Well, actually, the Olney Wine Bar isn’t really a wine bar, in fact, it’s a restaurant and music venue.

I’ve been here a few times over the years, and always enjoyed myself. Over the week, they have a range of different things going on, but there is always either live music or a disco on Friday nights and Saturday nights, and they always have an open mic night on a Sunday evening.

On Fridays and Saturdays, they have different things going on and it’s hard to say what you’ll experience because it is constantly changing. I can say that when we’ve been, we’ve enjoyed duo’s and trio’s singing and playing a wide variety of music from country to blues to rock and beyond. I’ve never been when they’ve got a disco on (well as my husband runs disco’s, I can listen to those any time I like pretty much, so it’s not really a treat any more!), so I can’t really say from personal experience what these are like, but the people I know who’ve been then say they always enjoy them.

What happens, is that when they’ve got a music event on, as the evening progresses, and everyone’s finished eating, and the restaurant has closed, the tables actually get cleared away so that you’re left with quite a reasonable sized dance space. It’s quite good as they really do make excellent use of the space here. Even after the restaurant is closed they still offer snacks up to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so you’re never going to go hungry, but because of this, the last restaurant orders are taken at 9pm and if you try to order after this, you’ll be disappointed. Because this is a venue as well as a restaurant, they do charge you to get in if you arrive after 10pm on Friday or Saturday night, so it’s worth remembering this if you’re planning on coming just for the music.

Personally when we’ve been, we’ve normally had a bite to eat in the restaurant as well, and I have to say they do serve some pretty good food. Looking at their website just now, I found out that their chef is Michelin trained, so I guess it’s not really surprising that he can cook up a storm in the kitchen really. They have set menus for some occasions like party nights, where you pay a fixed fee and get three courses for around £25-30 per person, and on Tuesdays they usually do a ‘two for Tuesday’ special offer where you can order two courses for £10 which is pretty good, and which we’ve enjoyed a few times now.

One thing I have noticed eating there is that the menu is always different, they seem to have a few standard bits and bobs that are almost always there, but everything else varies. They try to source food locally and a lot of it ‘in season’ too, which means that the food and the dishes varies and they do offer some great options. Last time I went there was with a friend and we went on a Tuesday opting for the two courses for £10 deal. I had a starter and main of Chicken liver pate with caramelised onions which was served up with chunky fresh bread, followed by Cumberland sausage and mustard mash. I have eaten some of their puddings in the past, but often find that they’re a little rich for me, so I do enjoy the fact that if I want it, they often have the option of a cheese board as well. I also feel a special mention should be made for their soups… they almost always have a soup of the day on, and they’re such good soups varying from simple tomato to carrot & coriander or spicy vegetable, and they’re always served with warm bread. The only thing I would say about this changing menu is that if you have someone in your party who has food intolerances or special dietary needs, it might be best to phone in advance.

There is a dress code here which is ‘smart casual’. I wouldn’t say it’s a strong code, more that they don’t want you turning up in scruffy work jeans and things. We’ve never fallen foul of it though. The whole atmosphere here is pretty laid back and relaxed, and the waiters and bar staff are friendly. The drinks are a little on the pricy side but I do tend to expect them to be a bit higher than down my local because it’s a wine bar, restaurant and venue, so bearing that in mind I wouldn’t say they’re too bad.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 15, 2011

Olney Wine Bar and Restaurant
9 High Street
Milton Keynes, Olney

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Cafe Brio

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Restaurant | "Pizza & Jazz"

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Café Brio is a restaurant in Olney. The biggest problem here is that to find it, you have to head down an alleyway off Market Square. The alleyway is marked by a blackboard advertising Café Brio. Unfortunately this means that it isn’t a place you can just spot from the road, you do have to know what to look for or you’ll miss it.The restaurant has a seating capacity of around 40-50 people I’d say, and as well as the main dining area, there’s a small bar area too. The whole place is bright and modern looking and feels really friendly and relaxed. It’s a great place to go with kids as well, as they have no problem catering to children, and have highchairs and changing facilities here to...Read More

Café Brio is a restaurant in Olney. The biggest problem here is that to find it, you have to head down an alleyway off Market Square. The alleyway is marked by a blackboard advertising Café Brio. Unfortunately this means that it isn’t a place you can just spot from the road, you do have to know what to look for or you’ll miss it.

The restaurant has a seating capacity of around 40-50 people I’d say, and as well as the main dining area, there’s a small bar area too. The whole place is bright and modern looking and feels really friendly and relaxed. It’s a great place to go with kids as well, as they have no problem catering to children, and have highchairs and changing facilities here too, and the place has quite a family feel to it.

The specialty here is pizza and pasta, and they have quite a wide range of pizza topping choices as well as lots of pasta dishes including things like lasagne. They also do some very nice salads too as well as a few side dishes like dough balls for example. All the portions are quite generous, and we’ve always found the food lovely and filling. Most dishes are fairly cheap to be honest for this sort of place, you can get a good plateful for around £6-8. The only thing that caught us out one time when we’d just popped in for a snack was that you can’t pay on the card unless you’re spending £10 or more which is a bit irritating.

I love that they prepare the food there in front of you, there’s no hiding everything away, you can see how it’s done and that everything is clean and freshly made, and I have to say when we’ve had kids visiting with us and popped in here, they’ve rather enjoyed seeing their pizzas being made and topped, and it kept them much quieter while waiting than I’d have expected them to be.

Monday nights in here they have live Jazz musicians playing here, and it can get quite busy for this. It starts at about 7:30-8pm and is free entry if you’re eating, though I think you do have to pay a small entry fee if you’re not dining. Jazz isn’t really my thing, so I can’t say that I had a fantastic evening on the one occasion we went here, but I also can’t say that I hated it to be fair. The musicians were certainly good, and the food really is very tasty, and the buzz of the place still gives you a rather lovely atmosphere that’s a bit different from many restaurants these days. I would say if you’re planning on going on a Monday it may be best to ring and book as when we went it got pretty busy and there were quite a few people waiting for tables when we left.

Overall, the friendly service and the excellent food make this a really nice restaurant to visit. When you add in good prices and everything else, you can probably see why I like Café Brio so much, and why I think it’s far superior to somewhere generic like pizza hut for example.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 15, 2011

Cafe Brio
36A Market Place
Olney, Buckinghamshire

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