For those in the UK - question about Oxford & travel

[Bc2005]

Traveling by train next month (no rental car) in the UK and would like to make a stop in Oxford. Hotels in city center are crazy expensive (350-400 GBP/ night), but hotels are much cheaper along what appears to be a ring road farther out from city center.

Is it reasonable to stay farther out and then Uber or bus in and out of city center? We would be there 1 or 2 nights, and looking to see the typical tourist sights. We will arrive and depart by train.

Thanks for any tips.

[M_Six]

Holy cow, that's pricey for a hotel. We used to do a UK trip every other year, but Covid put a stop to that. Last time we went was 2019. We're looking at another trip in 2024, but if hotels in the cities are that bad, maybe not. I've already seen the huge jump in airfares.

[Markr]

Take a look at Malmaison Oxford Castle, usually under £200 per night, and if you want extravagant with excellent food, take a look at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, but that will blow your budget big time, but food is top notch.

[Bc2005]

Thanks very much for the tips, but it appears rates are crazy right now.

For example, on booking.com Malmaison Oxford Castle show a rate of $463/night for 9-10 September, or $359 for 8-9 September.

Also ran across some humorous info for a couple Oxford city center hotels. Their (quiet, no street noise) standard rate room has a reasonable price, and they also offer a deluxe room for a higher price. However, after closely looking at the room descriptions we found that the standard rate rooms apparently have no windows! I understand now why they don’t have any street noise.

[M_Six]

Have you check B&Bs through something like booking.com? We've had good luck with B&Bs in the past in the UK. Although if hotel rates are that high, maybe B&B rates have kept pace.

[Ronan703]

You will be able to find an airbnb in the city center for MUCH cheaper. That's what I do when I stay in London.

[o_g]

Originally Posted by Bc2005

Thanks very much for the tips, but it appears rates are crazy right now.

For example, on booking.com Malmaison Oxford Castle show a rate of $463/night for 9-10 September, or $359 for 8-9 September.

Also ran across some humorous info for a couple Oxford city center hotels. Their (quiet, no street noise) standard rate room has a reasonable price, and they also offer a deluxe room for a higher price. However, after closely looking at the room descriptions we found that the standard rate rooms apparently have no windows! I understand now why they don’t have any street noise.

Last time we visited Oxford, we stayed at the Jurys Inn, which is now called Leonardo Royal Hotel. Pretty decent place to spend a night or two. Obviously nothing fancy, and a 5-min drive to the city.

[ipso_facto]

Hey - I live 25 minutes drive from Oxford. Parking in central Oxford is expensive and time consuming. Whenever I drive to Oxford, I park at Iffley, which is part of Oxford, but not in the centre.

I would recommend you stay at the Travelodge Oxford Abingdon Road - this is as inexpensive as you can get, in Oxford. It will be clean and safe.

You then walk to Donnington bridge and walk along the Thames path, into Oxford. It’s a beautiful walk and part of the charm of the place. You will see the various college rowing club houses and the rowers on the river, often with a cyclist giving them instruction from the bank. Central Oxford is lovely, but in all honesty, one of my favourite parts is that walk - it’s an absolutely stunning spot.

The City of Oxford rowing club, which is on Donnington bridge, is open to the public, has a lovely terrace overlooking the Thames and you can have a wood fired pizza and a beer / coffee.

Walk up to Iffley lock too - it’s “picture postcard” stuff.

From that hotel, if you are reasonably fit, you are 35 minutes steady walk to central Oxford.

I hope you have a good trip. Really good idea to take in Oxford as part of your stay!

[HFW003]

You can go for a punt down the River Cam!

I haven't been there for a few years but I really liked Oxford, lovely place.