One of my favorite day trips from Oxford is the beautiful village and manor house ruin of Minster Lovell, 20 miles Northwest of Oxford. It is situated on the banks of the Windrush River and is a lovely setting in every season. The manor house was originally the home of Richard III's henchman Lord Lovell, one of the richest men in England at the time. The hall was first built in 1440, expanded in the following century, then abandoned then dismantled in the mid-18th century -- leaving the beautiful ruins that stand today.
St. Kenelm's Church, Minster Lovell
The round building in the background is a 500-year-old dovecote.