Which of us with vaguely academic interests hasn’t imagined ourselves strolling, begowned, the hallowed halls, and cobbled lanes, of Oxford? Dreaming amongst the ‘dreaming spires’, and Gothic architecture rendered in stone the colour of biscuits. But don't just dream...it's far better in person! The majority our recommendations for the best places to stay in Oxford are centrally located (some even boast private parking), so very convenient for seeing the sights, but there’s a good variation between luxury stays; romantic, boutique boltholes; great value options; and family friendly properties. We have also recently discovered a couple of excellent pubs-with-rooms, an option that’s very much keeping with the atmosphere of Oxford.
If you’re looking for artsy haunts, you might head to the Jericho area, with its art house cinema, fringe style theatres and plenty of hipster bars and restaurants. Or, if you're after something more upmarket try Summertown to the north. Many of the sites you’re probably here to see are Oxford’s colleges. Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and the architecture of its colleges and buildings straddles all periods from the late Anglo Saxon period, when the university was founded. The university’s buildings are scattered around the city — which is why Oxford is best explored on foot, or by bike. Some colleges are open to the public during term time, but more are open in the vacations.
Oxford also has a number of impressive museums, the Ashmolean being the best known, followed closely by The Bodleian Library and Radcliff Camera. Other notables are the Museum of Oxford, which tells the tale of the city; the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, home to the Oxford Dodo; and the Pitt Rivers Museum, an ethnology museum still arranged in the Victorian style. If the weather allows, we also can’t recommend punting enough!
With its easy access from London, the city is an extremely popular year-round destination. So if you're planning a visit and want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Oxford, get organised and book well ahead.