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Sitting at the highest point of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Chipping Norton - or ‘Chippy’ as it’s known locally - is a working market town that has managed to retain its own identity. Its name stems from the Old English word *ceaping*, meaning market, and that history is still visible in the broad, sloping marketplace where stalls have traded since the 13th century. Unlike some of its quieter neighbours, the town feels functional and lived-in, shaped by its past as a centre for the wool trade and later home to the impressive Bliss Tweed Mill, whose landmark chimney still overlooks the surrounding valley. Geographically, it serves as a natural gateway, positioned about 18 miles north of Oxford and within easy reach of Banbury and the railway links at Kingham. It is well-served by practical amenities, including a long-standing independent theatre and a range of local shops, which keep the centre active throughout the week. While the limestone architecture is quintessentially Cotswold, the town’s character is defined more by its steady pace and its position as a self-contained hub for the high-ground villages nearby.