Formed by the amalgamation of the villages of Brightwell and Sotwell in 1948 this historic village is a delight to walk around and is a good starting point for longer walks to Wittenham Clumps, Shillingford, Dorchester and the Moretons.

Along the main street and in the narrow lanes leading away from the centre of the village there are many interesting old houses, including two moated houses which are Tudor in origin with later additions. There are three churches, St Agatha´s in Brightwell, and St James´ and the Free Church in Sotwell.

The village has a friendly pub, The Red Lion, which serves great food, there is also a combined Post Office and village shop and two garages. Dr Edward Bach, who discovered the flower remedies which are so widely used today, is buried at St James´ in Sotwell. He founded the Bach Centre in Sotwell in 1934. This Centre is now visited by people from all over the world.