Best places to stay:
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.
Set on a quiet residential street, surrounded by Victorian terraced homes, this isn’t the place to stay if you want views of Oxford’s historic architecture from every window. Instead, it’s a quiet backwater that’s peopled by locals rather than tourists, in spite of being an easy ten-minute walk from all the main sights.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
A world-class collection of art and architecture in the heart of Oxford that ranges across 3,000 years of history, with Egyptian rooms to rival those of the British Museum.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
Oxford’s extraordinarily beautiful colleges have housed everyone from prime ministers to presidents, and pair centuries of British history with spectacular architecture.
Best for ages: 13+ | £3
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 miles]
An extraordinary array of 7 million exhibits from the natural world, including the world-famous ‘skeleton parade’, housed in one of the country’s finest Victorian Gothic buildings.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[2.3 miles]
Glide along the Cherwell in a traditional punt, and take in the spectacular architecture of Oxford’s iconic colleges from the tranquillity of the river.
Best for ages: 6+ | £16 | 1+ hours
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
An imposing, partly-ruined Norman castle, kids will love exploring the 18th-century prison cells, the candlelit crypt, and the climb up St George’s Tower (101 steps) gives wonderful views across the city.
Best for ages: 13+ | £15
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[0.8 miles]
One of the country’s leading galleries for cutting edge, avant-garde art, there is a rolling programme of temporary exhibitions, alongside film and music events.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[1 miles]
First opened as a food market in 1774, the Covered Market is now home to fifty different stallholders, selling everything from vintage clothes, jewellery and flowers to specialist foodie treats.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]
An extraordinary collection of scientific instruments and artefacts, dating from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with highlights including Einstein’s blackboard and a Roman disc sundial.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)
One of Britain’s most beautiful and historic cities, graced by heartstopping architecture and home to the world’s second-oldest university.
