19 Church Street, Wantage - 01235 771 447 tourism@wantage.gov.uk

Wantage is at the foot of the Berkshire Downs escarpment in the Vale of the White Horse, amidst prime horse racing country. There are gallops at Black Bushes and nearby villages with racing stables include Letcombe Bassett, East Hendred, Lockinge and Uffington. In Domesday it was Wanetinz, from OE wanian (waning or diminishing) and refers to the stream flowing through it.

Wantage includes the suburbs of Belmont to the west and Charlton to the east. Grove to the north is still just about detached and is a separate parish. Wantage parish stretches from the northern edge of its housing up onto the Downs in the south, covering Chain Hill, Edge Hill, Wantage Down, Furzewick Down and Lattin Down.

The Edgehill Springs rise between Manor Road and Spike Lodge Farms and the Letcombe Brook flows through the town. Because it is right in the middle of the Vale and just off the Downs, Wantage tends to be the main touring centre for the area and is home to the Vale and Downland Museum.

There is a large market square containing the famous statue of King Alfred, surrounded by many shops with 18th century facades. Quieter streets radiate out from there, including towards the large Church of England parish church (see below).

Wantage is the 'Alfredston' of Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure.