Road & rail noise map for Banbury
Town in Oxfordshire, South East
We analysed 1,764 postcodes in and around Banbury, Oxfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 22% of them (387) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 78% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at OX16 2DQ (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Banbury
How many postcodes are affected?
Road noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 16% (284) | 5% (94) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 5% (83) | 3% (60) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | <1% (17) | <1% (6) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (3) | <1% (2) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 78% | 91% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | <1% (4) | <1% (2) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 100% | 100% |
Share of the 1,764 postcodes within ~5 km of the Banbury centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Banbury
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: OX16 2DQ · OX16 5HP · OX16 3AD · OX16 2DP · OX16 0FJ · OX15 5DY
What this data does — and doesn't — cover
- Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
- Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
- No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
- 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.
More detail on the methodology page.
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Nearby areas
Frequently asked questions
- How noisy is Banbury?
- We analysed 1,764 postcodes in and around Banbury, Oxfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 22% of them (387) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 78% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at OX16 2DQ (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Banbury?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Banbury are OX16 2DQ, OX16 5HP, OX16 3AD, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.