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Effectively a working medieval city, Oxford is now, along with London, Stratford and Cambridge, one of the essential stops on most tourist visits to Britain. As a result, the city has an enormous number and variety of places to stay, although at peak holiday times, and especially in the summer months, things can get very busy, so be sure to book early. With its years of experience welcoming guests, however, Oxford is guaranteed to offer a comfortable and rewarding stay.

Oxford Colleges

Obviously, the best place to for the shoe-string traveller to enquire is with a friend. But perhaps the next best option is to stay in a student friend's college. Most Oxford colleges have guest rooms that are not only clean, pleasant and cheap, at about ?15 or ?20 a night, but which afford the guest the experience of staying in the sort of collegiate room familiar from books such as Brideshead Revisited. The majority of colleges are also conveniently near the centre of town, making access to shops, pubs and restaurants easy. Call (0)1865 270000 for information.

Hostels

Another cheap accommodation option is the Backpacker's Hostel on Hythe Bridge Street. For ?13 a night, a little expensive perhaps for the humble, communal flophouse that it is, the backpacker can expect clean sheets, functional facilities and breakfast. There is also a bar - a good place to meet fellow travellers - and a kitchen in which to cook, should you so choose. It is also on the lively and developing west side of town and is very near the railway station. This has to be the best place for budget travellers as it is relatively cheap, and the social potential of a few nights there cannot be underestimated.

Bed and Breakfast

B&B accommodation is what Oxford really excels at. There are plenty of comfortable and clean places to choose from. Iffley Road in East Oxford, for example, boasts almost more bed and breakfast hotels than it does residential houses. These can range in price from about ?22 a night for a single room to as much as ?68 for a double. The Bravalla Guest House on Iffley Road (tel. 01865 250511), for example, is a highly recommended mid-price bed and breakfast hotel. Breakfasts tend to be served between 7.30am and 9.30am, and range from a light continental repast to hearty English bacon and eggs.

The standard of bed and breakfast hotels is generally very high in Oxford, with the occasional exception. The most important consideration is price and location. Iffley Road is a very pleasant part of town, and gives you access to the nightlife of Cowley Road and the city centre, which is only a fifteen minute walk away. However, Woodstock Road and Banbury Road in North Oxford are good for city access. In this part of town, though, you can expect to pay a little bit more. Botley Road, in West Oxford, has a lot of accomodation and is excellent for the train station. The city central Bath Place Hotel is a hard-to-find gem, but find it and the reconverted 17th century cottage is sure to charm.

Hotels

Oxford boasts many hotels for those who want something a little more luxurious than just bed and breakfast. The charming Old Parsonage Hotel at 1 Banbury Road (tel. 01856 311262) is, as the name suggests, a beautiful and quite rustic converted parsonage. A popular spot among Oxford people for enjoying cream tea on a sunny afternoon, The Old Parsonage is also an excellent hotel with delighfully furnished and decorated rooms and helpful staff. It has a superb restaurant, but its central location means it is also close to the city's other eateries.

The most famous and distinguished hotel in Oxford, however, is The Randolph Hotel on Beaumont Street (tel. 01865 247481). Built in 1864, this hotel is one of the places to eat and stay in the city. Situated in the centre of town, opposite the historic Ashmolean Museum, the hotel has a commanding presence. Its vast dining and function rooms are often the first choice for wedding receptions, business conventions and balls.

The relatively new, centrally located Old Bank Hotel is luxurious and contemporary - perfect for either the leisure or the business traveller.

Oxford has a fair range of places to stay, but such a popular city does get overcrowded. The importance of planning ahead cannot be stressed enough. Tourist Information is probably the simplest and most reliable source of information about vacancies, and can be reached on 01865 726871 between 9.30am and 5pm.







Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Ashmolean


Britain's oldest public museum
Beaumont Street
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 2PH
United Kingdom
+44 1865 27 8000
http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/
Take a step away from the hustle and bustle of the city and savour the wonderful collections inside Britain's oldest public museum. John Tradescant's collection of archaeological rarities (both man-made and natural) originally opened to the public in South London in the early 17th century, for a charge of 6d (2.5p). The collection was inherited by Elias Ashmole and the Ashmolean opened in 1683. If you only have time to enjoy the antiquities galleries, with their exhibits dating from Paleolithic to Victorian times, your visit will have been worthwhile. You'll probably have to come back again if you also want to take in the collections of eastern and western art and the Heberden Coin Room. If time is very limited, try joining one of the lunchtime talks, which are always interesting and accessible. Admission: Free.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Ashmolean photo by Peter Repetti
Photo: Peter Repetti
Ashmolean photo by flickr_briandublin
Photo: flickr_briandublin
Ashmolean photo by Ana Ovando
Photo: Ana Ovando
Ashmolean photo by Desiree Miloshevic
Photo: Desiree Miloshevic
Ashmolean photo by Nathan Garrett
Photo: Nathan Garrett
Ashmolean photo by Katharine Beutner
Photo: Katharine Beutner
Ashmolean photo by theslugandlettuce
Photo: theslugandlettuce
Ashmolean photo by Marco Masala
Photo: Marco Masala
Ashmolean photo by Jonathan Shock
Photo: Jonathan Shock
Ashmolean photo by Mark Collins
Photo: Mark Collins
Ashmolean photo by  Karenin Biaggi
Photo: Karenin Biaggi
Ashmolean photo by Keith Cooper
Photo: Keith Cooper
Ashmolean photo by Rachel Raskob
Photo: Rachel Raskob
Ashmolean photo by Henry's
Photo: Henry's
Ashmolean photo by Robert A. Dickinson
Photo: Robert A. Dickinson
Ashmolean photo by Carina Envoldsen
Photo: Carina Envoldsen
Ashmolean photo by abigail horn
Photo: abigail horn
Ashmolean photo by Dauvit Alexander
Photo: Dauvit Alexander
Ashmolean photo by dwbl1228
Photo: dwbl1228
Ashmolean photo by thwei513
Photo: thwei513
Ashmolean photo by Stephanie
Photo: Stephanie
Ashmolean photo by Journey to Ancient C
Photo: Journey to Ancient C
Ashmolean photo by N.Sedgwick
Photo: N.Sedgwick
Ashmolean photo by Beth Rose
Photo: Beth Rose
Ashmolean photo by Stephanie Troeth
Photo: Stephanie Troeth
Ashmolean photo by ann.scott106
Photo: ann.scott106
Ashmolean photo by Heather Martin
Photo: Heather Martin
Ashmolean photo by Travis Brown
Photo: Travis Brown
Ashmolean photo by redactor100
Photo: redactor100
Ashmolean photo by custardfairy
Photo: custardfairy
Ashmolean photo by Tristram Brelstaff
Photo: Tristram Brelstaff
Ashmolean photo by Hooman Sepehri
Photo: Hooman Sepehri
 

 
Bath Place Hotel


Small 17th-century hotel
4-5 Bath Place
Oxford OX1 3SU
United Kingdom
+44 1865 79 1812
http://www.bathplace.co.uk/
This small 13-bedroom hotel consists of a converted cluster of 17th century cottages huddled close to the old city wall and the Turf Tavern, hidden away deep in the heart of Oxford. Situated between New College and Hertford College, the hotel is full of character and is located in the perfect spot for sightseeing. There is a small bar and a lounge, but the restaurant does not serve lunch or dinner. This shouldn't be a problem however, as the hotel is very close to the city center shops and restaurants.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Bath Place Hotel photo by tuscanmoon
Photo: tuscanmoon
Bath Place Hotel photo by Lokesh Sapre
Photo: Lokesh Sapre
 

 
Bravalla Guest House


City-central Victorian house
242 Iffley Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX4 1SE
United Kingdom
+44 1865 24 1326
This is a pretty bed and breakfast in a Victorian house, located about 15 minutes' walk from the city centre. There are six rooms, all with en-suite facilities, and an airy conservatory-style dining room. There's a small car park at the front, and children and pets are welcome. The area is well served by buses into the city centre and there is a good selection of pubs in the area.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Macdonald Randolph Hotel


Grand, traditional hotel
Beaumont Street
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 2LN
United Kingdom
+44 (0)870 400 8200
http://www.randolph-hotel.com/
This Grade II listed building is something of a city landmark, and it has been improved and extended many times since it first opened in 1866. It's worth noting that several of the bedrooms are quite cramped and the reception area is small and unimpressive for a hotel of this quality. The Randolph is nevertheless a grand hotel, and its central location adds to its popularity. On the corner of Magdalen and Beaumont streets, it is close to the main shopping centre, but in an area that isn't too busy or noisy.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Macdonald Randolph Hotel photo by Simon MacMichael
Photo: Simon MacMichael
Macdonald Randolph Hotel photo by Jami DeQuardo
Photo: Jami DeQuardo
Macdonald Randolph Hotel photo by Wasim Yaqoob
Photo: Wasim Yaqoob
Macdonald Randolph Hotel photo by Chuck Harder
Photo: Chuck Harder
Macdonald Randolph Hotel photo by Richard Hong
Photo: Richard Hong
Macdonald Randolph Hotel photo by Bibliophylax
Photo: Bibliophylax
 

 
Old Bank Hotel


Stylish and very central hotel
92-94 High Street
Oxford OX1 4BN
United Kingdom
+44 1865 79 9599
http://www.oldbank-hotel.co.uk/
If you're looking for a luxurious hotel with great views over the city, try the Old Bank - one of the most central hotels you're likely to find in Oxford. As the name suggests, it was formerly a bank: the beautiful buildings have been tastefully converted into a luxury hotel with a stylish contemporary interior. Large, dramatic oil paintings in the Quod restaurant and bar form part of an impressive collection of 20th century British art which can be found throughout the hotel.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Old Bank Hotel photo by Holly
Photo: Holly
Old Bank Hotel photo by Andrew Hecht
Photo: Andrew Hecht
Old Bank Hotel photo by David Callier
Photo: David Callier
Old Bank Hotel photo by Rufus A.
Photo: Rufus A.
 

 
Old Parsanage (Tea House & Restaurant)


Stylish British restaurant
1 Banbury Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 6NN
United Kingdom
+44 1865 31 0210
http://www.oldparsonage-hotel....
Better known as somewhere to get a relaxing cream tea, The Old Parsonage is also a superb, if little-known restaurant. The traditional, rustic exterior is matched by the panelling that dominates the dining room. This gives the place a warm and cosy atmosphere and makes a meal there a real pleasure. The menu covers all the bases and is strikingly well presented. Vegetarian options are also recommended although they are not as varied as in other restaurants. The souffle has to be tasted to be believed.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Old Parsonage Hotel


Charming hotel in ancient building
1 Banbury Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 6NN
United Kingdom
+44 1865 31 0210
http://www.oldparsonage-hotel....
One of Oxford's best-loved hotels, the Old Parsonage is set in a beautiful 17th-century building, just on the edge of the main commercial area of the city. Each room is furnished slightly differently, but they all share the same cosy and charmingly English chintzy feel. The Parsonage bar and restaurant is a relaxing place to eat, and it's worth noting that it also provides 24-hour room service. The very popular and quaint tea room and roof terrace add to the charm.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Old Parsonage Hotel photo by Meg
Photo: Meg
Old Parsonage Hotel photo by Rieko Kawabata
Photo: Rieko Kawabata
Old Parsonage Hotel photo by Clare Mitchell
Photo: Clare Mitchell
Old Parsonage Hotel photo by amarintha
Photo: amarintha
 

 
Oxford Backpackers Hostel


Cheap, clean hostel
9a Hythe Bridge Street
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 2EW
United Kingdom
+44 1865 721 761
http://www.hostels.co.uk/
This hostel offers clean, cheap dormitory accommodation in a well laid out building. The dormitories have either eight or ten beds and are both single and mixed sex. There is a common room with satellite TV and a pool table as well as a fully licensed bar which is open until 1am in the week and 3:30am at weekends. The hostel also has internet facilities, a laundry service and a fully equipped common kitchen. There are separate showers for men and women.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Oxford Backpackers Hostel photo by Annemarie Pearson
Photo: Annemarie Pearson
 

 
Tourist Information Centre


All you need to know about the city
15-16 Broad St
Oxford OX1 3AS
United Kingdom
+44 1865 72 6871
http://www.oxford.gov.uk/touri...
Situated right next to the coach station, in the heart of the city, the centre provides a wealth of information on attractions, theatres, concerts and other local events and entertainment. Walking tours of the city and colleges can be booked, there is a bed and breakfast reservation service, and for those who want to venture outside the city, there is information on bus tours and excursions. A comprehensive range of local maps, guides, postcards and souvenirs is also on sale.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Oxford - Where to Stay"
Oxford
Oxford - Historical Background
Oxford - Neighborhood Guide
Oxford - Dining & Drinking
Oxford - Art & Entertainment

Other nearby cities:
Bath (86 miles)
London (92 miles)
Birmingham (93 miles)
Southampton (97 miles)
Bristol (99 miles)
Cambridge (100 miles)
Brighton (128 miles)
Cardiff (136 miles)
Sheffield (180 miles)
Manchester (202 miles)

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