8 Best places to stay in Oxford

There’s an irony somewhere that one of the most perfect country house hotels in Britain was conceived by a Frenchman.

Now owned and run by Belmond, Le Manoir was originally the creation of world-renowned chef Raymond Blanc, who also still hosts a superb cooking school here.

It’s a stunning Oxfordshire country manor house with 32 sumptuously comfortable rooms and suites, each individually designed by the man himself.

The pristine gardens that surround the manor supply the kitchen with fruit and vegetables, including rare and unusual varieties, sourced by Blanc on his travels abroad and bought back to create a true one-of-a-kind garden.

Don’t come expecting spa facilities and swimming pools – this is a place to eat, drink and generally indulge – and in spite of its hefty price tag and upscale reputation, it has a wonderfully informal feel.

One for art lovers, the Old Parsonage is filled with works from the owner’s private art collection, and the atmosphere of the hotel is refined without being stuffy.

The ivy-clad house, built of warm Cotswold stone, dates back to 1660 but the thirty rooms have a crisp, contemporary feel with clean white walls and marble bathrooms.

The elegant Parsonage Grill – which spills onto a lovely walled terrace in summer – and delightful garden mean you may have difficulty leaving the hotel grounds. If you can persuade yourself, the hotel has a number of vintage bikes that are the perfect way to explore Oxford’s historic streets.

The hotel’s location, a few minutes from the centre, makes it easy to walk to all the main sights, while being slightly out of the main tourist throng. The Old Parsonage has famous neighbours; Keble, Somerville and St John’s colleges are all a stone’s throw away.

Perched right on the banks of the River Isis, this former boatyard is now a bright and breezy gastropub with rooms.

One of the city’s more affordable options, chic bedrooms pay homage to Oxford’s academic heritage, with framed Penguin classics, book-lined wallpaper prints and smart, contemporary furniture.

The heart of the action is the huge old yard itself, brightened with blue tables, an outdoor bar, and enough patio heaters to make it comfortable to drink or eat outside well into the autumn months. Dive into the extensive gin selection and settle back with a plate of local charcuterie to watch the world glide by.

Oxford’s colleges, galleries and shops are all an easy ten-minute walk away.

It doesn’t get much more central than this charming B&B, hidden away behind a mint-green frontage on historic Ship Street, a stone’s throw from all the city’s main sights.  

The house dates back to the 16th century, and the winding passageways, stone floors and jumble of rooms all add to the historic feel. 

There are few add-ons – there’s no breakfast (but countless cafes and restaurants within walking distance) or communal area – but this means super-affordable rooms in one of the best locations in the city. 

All the main sights – the colleges, covered market and shops and restaurants – are within a few minutes’ walk. If you want to be right at the heart of historic Oxford, this is the place to choose. 

Slap bang in the centre of Oxford, on the buzzy High Street, the Old Bank is an absolute gem – a former Barclays Bank converted into a 42-room luxury boutique hotel.

The spacious, light rooms, lively Quod restaurant and contemporary art on the walls are all winning points, but the real X-factor is the location; most of Oxford’s highlights – the Bodleian, Ashmolean and the world-famous colleges are all just outside the door.

Once you’ve seen the sights, retire to the Old Bank’s wonderful library lounge, which opens out onto the pretty Italianate terrace.

An imposing Victorian mansion ten minutes’ walk from the centre of Oxford, this is a great choice for those looking for a traditional feel – afternoon tea in the drawing room is a must – without any compromises on style or comfort.

The 10 feature rooms are the ones to go for; spread over two floors, with original architectural flourishes and period furniture, each is named after a different Oxford college and have a pleasingly old-fashioned (with all mod cons) feel.

The bar is the perfect place to end a busy day; the terrace is idyllic in summer, while fires blaze in the grate in winter.

The city centre, colleges and all the main sights are within a ten-minute walk. This is a peaceful area, ideal for those who want to be slightly away from the buzzy centre.

From the unmissable matt black frontage to the navy-walled bedrooms, dotted with vintage photographs of the city, this is an archetypal boutique hotel – hip and stylish, with a pleasing sense of good old-fashioned indulgence.

As the name suggests, dinners definitely lean towards the carnivorous end of things; hearty steaks, dry-aged in-house for up to 42 days, make up most of the menu, but there are fish and veggie options.

This isn’t the place to choose if you want leafy gardens or firelit lounges, but foodies, and those looking for a no-nonsense, super-comfortable stay, will love it.

Ideal for a car-free break, the Porterhouse is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the station, with all of Oxford’s main sights easily reachable on foot.

One for history lovers, this bucolically peaceful riverfront manor house began life in medieval times as the headquarters of the Knights Templar, and opened as a hotel in 2019.

The hotel pairs contemporary furniture and design with exposed brick walls and original beams; it feels slightly mismatched in some places, but works particularly well in the impressive Crusaders Bar and Lounge – ideal for a post-sightseeing cocktail before dinner in the slick Napier restaurant.

The location of the hotel – on the banks of the River Cherwell – is ideal for anyone who wants to explore Oxford, without being right in the centre. The dreaming spires of the city are just a few minutes’ drive away

The hotel has a private jetty, from where you can hire punts or take boat trips, and the river path is a great choice for gentle walks – it’s a lovely hour-long stroll along the river to the city.