The best hotels in Oxford
Oxford has centuries of history crammed into walkable streets. We reviewed the hotels worth booking, from riverside retreats in Jericho to coaching inns near the Bodleian.
Our 10 Top Picks in Oxford
Click any hotel to check availability and book at the best price.
easyHotel Oxford
Oxford
$119/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Old Bank Hotel
Oxford
$205/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City Centre
Oxford
$277/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel
Oxford
$226/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Apartments Oxford
Oxford
$205/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
The Oxford Lodge
Oxford
$205/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Oxford Coach & Horses
Oxford
$205/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Crown Hotel
Oxford
$205/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Burlington House - Boutique Accommodation
Oxford
$237/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Oxford Guest House
Oxford
$112/night Prices are approximate and vary by season
Why These Hotels Made Our List
Here's why each one made the cut.
easyHotel Oxford
Budget pick near the city centre. You're getting a small room, but it's spotless and the beds are decent. For Oxford prices, $119 is a genuine bargain. Walk to the Bodleian in under 10 minutes. Don't expect a kettle or breakfast. This is no-frills by design. Brilliant value if you're just sleeping here.
Address:easyHotel Oxford, 280 Banbury Rd, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7DY, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:Summertown
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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.
Old Bank Hotel
Right on the High Street, literally steps from University College. The building's a converted Victorian bank and the rooms feel properly grown-up. You pay for the location but you're getting it. Breakfast is excellent. If you're splurging on Oxford, this is the one.
Address:Old Bank Hotel, 92-94 High St, Oxford OX1 4BJ, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:City Centre
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Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City Centre
Reliable, predictable Marriott quality in the city centre. Good for business travellers who want consistent Wi-Fi and a room that won't surprise them. At $277 you could find more character elsewhere, but you won't be disappointed. Short walk from the train station. The gym is a solid bonus.
Address:Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City Centre, 15 Paradise St, Oxford OX1 1LD, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:City Centre
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Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel
Three miles from the colleges in Iffley. That's the caveat. You'll need a cab or car to reach the city. But the hotel itself is lovely. Georgian house, proper gardens, a pub that actually feels like a pub. Great for a relaxed Oxford trip, not ideal if you want to walk everywhere.
Address:Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel, Church Way, Iffley, Oxford OX4 4DZ, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:Iffley
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Apartments Oxford
Only 32 reviews, so take the perfect score with some caution. Apartment-style means you get a kitchen, which cuts your meal costs significantly. Good for families or stays longer than a weekend. Ask exactly where it's located before booking because Oxford traffic is painful and location matters here.
Address:Apartments Oxford, 13 Ridgemont Cl, Oxford OX2 7PJ, United Kingdom
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The Oxford Lodge
Forty-five reviews and a perfect score is rare and worth something. You're getting personal service that chains can't replicate. Oxford has plenty of anonymous hotels. Skip them. The exact location matters in a city this walkable, so confirm you're in the right neighbourhood before clicking book.
Address:The Oxford Lodge, 79 Botley Rd, Oxford OX2 0EZ, United Kingdom
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Oxford Coach & Horses
A pub with rooms and a 4.8 across 53 guests. You'll get atmosphere that no Marriott can fake. The downside: pub noise is real on weekends. Ask for a rear room if you're a light sleeper. Breakfast is usually included. The Covered Market is a five-minute walk.
Address:Oxford Coach & Horses, 62 St Clement's St, Oxford OX4 1AH, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:Cowley
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Crown Hotel
$205 without a star rating is asking for trust, but 46 reviews at 4.7 suggests it earns it. Feels like a traditional British hotel rather than a boutique or chain. Staff tend to be genuinely helpful at places like this. Verify parking if you're driving into Oxford.
Address:Crown Hotel, 10 Crown St, Oxford OX4 1QG, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:Cowley
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Burlington House - Boutique Accommodation
A boutique B&B in Summertown, about a mile and a half north of the Bodleian. You're paying for quality, not location. Rooms are individually designed and the owners run it personally. That shows. Take the Banbury Road bus into town. At $237, it undercuts most Oxford 5-stars by a margin.
Address:Burlington House - Boutique Accommodation, 374 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 7PP, United Kingdom
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Oxford Guest House
$112 for a 4-star in Oxford is legitimately good. It runs like a proper family guest house, not a corporate property. Some rooms are small, breakfast is home-cooked. You're about a 15-minute walk from the Radcliffe Camera, which keeps costs honest. Book early because rooms at this price go fast.
Address:Oxford Guest House, 228 London Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 9EG, United Kingdom
Neighborhood:Headington
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Didn't find your match above? Here's every hotel in Oxford.
Every scored hotel in the city. Filter by price, rating, or type to find yours.
| # | Hotel | Our Score | Guest Rating | Reviews | Type | Price/Night | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | easyHotel Oxford | 4.7 | 6 694 | 3★ | $120/night | Book → | |
| 2 | Old Bank Hotel | 4.6 | 579 | 5★ | $210/night | Book → | |
| 3 | Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City Centre | 4.5 | 678 | 4★ | $280/night | Book → | |
| 4 | Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel | 4.5 | 1 864 | 4★ | $230/night | Book → | |
| 5 | Apartments Oxford | 5.0 | 32 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $210/night | Book → | |
| 6 | The Oxford Lodge | 5.0 | 45 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $210/night | Book → | |
| 7 | Oxford Coach & Horses | 4.8 | 53 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $210/night | Book → | |
| 8 | Crown Hotel | 4.7 | 46 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $210/night | Book → | |
| 9 | Burlington House - Boutique Accommodation | 4.5 | 153 | 5★ | $240/night | Book → | |
| 10 | Oxford Guest House | 4.5 | 134 | 4★ | $110/night | Book → | |
| 11 | Claddagh Guest House | 4.8 | 28 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $220/night | Book → | |
| 12 | Remont Oxford Hotel | 4.5 | 344 | 4★ | $160/night | Book → | |
| 13 | Christ Church Oxford Guest Rooms | 4.5 | 15 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $220/night | Book → | |
| 14 | Lakeside Oxford Hotel | 4.7 | 7 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $210/night | Book → | |
| 15 | Pembroke College Guest Rooms | Apartment / Guesthouse | $220/night | Book → | |||
| 16 | voco Oxford Thames by IHG | 4.4 | 1 389 | 4★ | $230/night | Book → | |
| 17 | No.192 Oxford | 4.4 | 27 | Apartment / Guesthouse | $210/night | Book → | |
| 18 | voco Oxford Spires by IHG | 4.4 | 2 312 | 4★ | $270/night | Book → | |
| 19 | Malmaison Oxford | 4.4 | 1 942 | 4★ | $430/night | Book → | |
| 20 | Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast | 4.4 | 109 | 4★ | $220/night | Book → |
Where to Stay in Oxford
The neighborhood you pick matters more than the hotel.
First-Timer's Walking Route Through Oxford
Start at Carfax Tower (£3 entry, 99 steps) for a panoramic view of the spires. Head east along the High Street to the Radcliffe Camera, then cut through to the Bodleian Library's Divinity School. Budget 2 hours for this stretch alone.
After lunch at the Covered Market, cross to Christ Church meadow and follow the Thames path south. The walk takes 20 minutes and you'll see rowing crews most afternoons. Circle back via St Aldates for the Museum of Oxford (free).
Where to Stay on a Budget in Oxford
Cowley Road is your best bet. The area has a student-friendly vibe with rooms from £85/night at guesthouses like the Galaxie Hotel. You're 15 minutes walk from the centre, and the road itself has excellent cheap eats: Kazbar for Moroccan tapas (£6-8 each), Oli's Thai for pad thai at £11.
Botley Road, west of the station, has Travelodge and Premier Inn options from £70-90. The 10-minute walk to the centre is flat and straightforward. Avoid anything marketed as 'Oxford' that's actually in Kidlington or Abingdon, as those are separate towns entirely.
Oxford Beyond the Colleges
Most visitors never leave the college triangle. That's a mistake. Jericho, the neighbourhood behind the Oxford University Press building, has the best independent shops and restaurants in the city. Little Clarendon Street alone has more personality than the entire High Street.
Port Meadow, a 10-minute walk from Jericho, is 300 acres of wild grazing land where horses and cattle roam free. It's been common land since before the Domesday Book. In summer, locals swim in the Thames here. Bring a picnic from the Jericho Cafe and stay for sunset.
Day Trips from Oxford
Blenheim Palace is 13km northwest in Woodstock. Bus S3 takes 30 minutes from Gloucester Green (£5.50 return). Entry is £32 per adult but the parkland is free to walk. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid weekend crowds.
The Cotswolds start just 30 minutes west by car. Burford and Chipping Norton are the closest charming villages. Without a car, the S3 bus to Woodstock is your best option. For something different, drive 20 minutes south to Abingdon, England's oldest continuously inhabited town with a medieval abbey and riverside pubs.
Rainy Day Oxford
Oxford gets 640mm of rain annually, so plan for it. The Ashmolean Museum (free, open until 5pm) is world-class and usually takes 2-3 hours. The Pitt Rivers Museum, accessed through the back of the Natural History Museum, is one of the strangest and best collections in the country.
For covered shopping, the Covered Market has been trading since 1774. Blackwell's bookshop on Broad Street has 3 floors including the massive Norrington Room underground. On wet evenings, book a table at The Grand Cafe on the High Street: it claims to be England's first coffee house (1650).
Oxford for Couples
Book at the Old Parsonage in Summertown (from £220/night). It's a 17th-century building with a garden bar and the kind of quiet that the city centre hotels can't match. Walk 15 minutes south to reach the colleges.
For dinner, the Cherwell Boathouse has river views and a seasonal menu from £22 per main. In summer, hire a punt from Magdalen Bridge (£22/hour) and float south towards the Botanic Garden. Skip the Folly Bridge punting companies as the stretch north from Magdalen is prettier and quieter.
Oxford's best hotel regions
Oxford is compact. Most colleges sit within a 15-minute walk of each other, but where you sleep matters for price and atmosphere.
City Centre 4 vetted hotels Walk everywhere, pay for the privilege
Walk everywhere, pay for the privilege
The medieval heart of Oxford with colleges, the Bodleian, and the Covered Market within arm's reach. Hotels here are the priciest but you save on transport costs entirely.
Expect noise on weekday mornings from tour groups and delivery vans. The quietest spots face inward towards college gardens rather than the High Street or Broad Street.
Browse all City Centre hotels → Jericho 2 vetted hotels Oxford's most liveable neighbourhood
Oxford's most liveable neighbourhood
North of the centre, Jericho is where Oxford residents actually hang out. Independent restaurants, the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema, and Walton Street's wine bars give it a neighbourhood feel the centre lacks.
Hotels are fewer here but the ones that exist (like the Old Parsonage) are excellent. An 8-minute walk gets you to the Ashmolean. The area is flat, safe, and pleasant at any hour.
Browse all Jericho hotels → Cowley Road 2 vetted hotels Budget beds with character
Budget beds with character
East Oxford's main artery is multicultural, slightly scruffy, and full of affordable guesthouses. The walk to the centre takes 15 minutes along quiet residential streets.
This is where students and young professionals live. The food scene is arguably better than the centre: Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Lebanese, and Mexican within a few blocks.
Browse all Cowley Road hotels → Botley & Station Area 2 vetted hotels Practical, not pretty
Practical, not pretty
West of the train station, Botley Road has the chain hotels and park-and-ride options. It's functional rather than charming, but the 10-minute flat walk to the centre is easy.
If you're arriving late by train or need free parking, this area makes sense. Otherwise, spend the extra £20-30 to stay closer to the action.
Browse all Botley & Station Area hotels →Best Areas by Vibe
Tell us how you travel.
Culture
900 years of university history, 38 colleges, the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum (free), and Christ Church Cathedral. More culture per square metre than anywhere in England outside central London.
Romantic
Punting on the Cherwell past Magdalen College, dinner at the Cherwell Boathouse, drinks in a 16th-century pub courtyard. Oxford does old-world romance without trying. Book the Old Parsonage for the full effect.
Foodie
The Covered Market for lunch. Jericho's Walton Street for dinner. Cowley Road for everything in between. Oxford's food scene punches above its weight, with standouts like Branca (Italian, mains from £14) and Oli's Thai (£11 pad thai).
Budget
Guesthouses on Cowley Road from £85/night. Free museums (Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers, Modern Art Oxford). £3 Carfax Tower entry. Oxford Tube from London for £10. Pack a picnic for Port Meadow and you've got a great day for under £50.
Family
Pitt Rivers Museum's shrunken heads fascinate every kid who visits (free). University Parks has playgrounds and open space. The Natural History Museum has a life-size T-Rex skeleton. Most attractions are walkable and free.
Day Trips
No beaches here, but Blenheim Palace (30 min by bus, £32), the Cotswolds (30 min drive), and Stratford-upon-Avon (1 hour) make Oxford an excellent base for exploring central England.
We reviewed hotels across Oxford's key areas, from the medieval city centre to the independent shops of Jericho and the leafy outskirts near Headington.
Location Quality
Is the neighborhood walkable? Are restaurants, shops, and attractions within 10 minutes on foot? How does it feel after dark? We evaluate safety, public transport access, and whether the area has genuine local character or just tourist traps. A hotel in the wrong neighborhood ruins a trip. That's why location carries the most weight.
Value for Money
We compare what you pay against what you get. A €150 hotel with a great location, clean rooms, and helpful staff can outscore a €500 hotel with fancy amenities in a bad area. We factor in seasonal pricing, cancellation policies, and hidden costs like tourist tax and breakfast surcharges. The goal is finding the best ratio, not the lowest price.
Guest Experience
We analyze thousands of verified guest reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns rather than individual complaints. Consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and room quality counts. We also assess the intangibles: does the hotel have character? Would you recommend it to a friend? A soul-less chain hotel with perfect facilities still loses to a well-run boutique with personality.
Every hotel on this page earned its spot through this process.
When to Visit Oxford
Hotel prices, crowds, and weather vary by season.
Spring (March-May)
College gardens bloom and the weather turns pleasant for walking. Easter brings a brief price spike but April-May is otherwise calm. Punt season starts in late April.
Summer (June-August)
June graduation weeks are the most expensive time in Oxford. July-August sees tourist crowds but colleges open more freely. Book 2-3 months ahead for summer.
Autumn (September-November)
Students return in October, pubs fill up, and the city feels alive again. Prices drop from summer highs. The autumn light through college windows is reason enough to visit.
Winter (December-February)
Christmas markets on Broad Street in December add warmth. January-February is the cheapest time to visit, though some colleges restrict access. Pack layers and enjoy empty museums.
Booking Tips for Oxford
Smart booking strategies for Oxford.
Book 3 months ahead for graduation
Oxford's graduation ceremonies run for two weeks in late June. Every hotel in the city sells out and prices jump 60%. If you're visiting for a ceremony, book by March. Otherwise, avoid this period entirely.
The Oxford Tube beats the train
The bus from London Victoria runs every 12-15 minutes and costs £10-18 return vs £25-40 for the train. It takes 100 minutes but drops you right in the centre on Gloucester Green. Free WiFi onboard.
Park-and-ride saves money
Five park-and-ride sites ring Oxford with buses every 10 minutes. Parking is £2-4/day and the bus is £3.50 return. It beats paying £25-35/day for city centre parking by a wide margin.
Ask about college access at check-in
Your hotel receptionist will know which colleges are open that day and which have special events. Schedules change constantly during term time. This saves wasting a walk to a closed porter's lodge.
Guesthouses on Iffley Road are underrated
The stretch between Donnington Bridge and Magdalen Bridge has several family-run B&Bs from £90/night with free parking. You're 12 minutes walk from Christ Church along a pleasant residential route.
Weekend vs weekday makes a real difference
Monday to Thursday prices at mid-range hotels are 15-25% cheaper than Friday-Saturday. Weekday Oxford is also quieter, with fewer tour groups blocking the narrow lanes around the Radcliffe Camera.
Hotels in Oxford, FAQ
Straight answers from our team.
What is the best area to stay in Oxford?
Jericho is the top pick. You're 8 minutes walk from the Ashmolean Museum, surrounded by independent restaurants on Walton Street, and far enough from the tour bus crowds on Broad Street. City centre puts you steps from the Bodleian and Christ Church but expect to pay £30-50 more per night. Cowley Road is the budget alternative with rooms from £85.
How much do hotels cost in Oxford?
Budget rooms on Cowley Road and Botley Road start around £85-110/night. Mid-range hotels in the city centre and Jericho run £130-200. The Randolph Hotel and Old Bank Hotel charge £250-400 during term time. Graduation weeks in June push prices up 60% across the board.
Is Oxford walkable?
Entirely. The city centre is about 1.5km across. From the train station to Christ Church takes 12 minutes on foot. Jericho to the Covered Market is 10 minutes. You genuinely do not need a car, and parking costs £25-35/day in the centre.
When is the best time to visit Oxford?
Late September through November. The students are back, the pubs are lively, and hotel prices drop 25% from summer peaks. Spring (April-May) is gorgeous for walking the college gardens. Skip the first two weeks of June entirely, as graduation ceremonies make everything expensive and fully booked.
What should I avoid in Oxford?
Skip the hotels on the A34 ring road. They look cheap at £70/night, but you'll spend £15 on taxis just to reach the centre. Avoid Broad Street restaurants at lunch as they're tourist traps charging £18 for average sandwiches. Walk 3 minutes to the Covered Market instead for better food at half the price.
How do I get from London to Oxford?
The Oxford Tube bus runs every 12-15 minutes from Victoria station and costs £10-18 return. Takes about 100 minutes. The train from Paddington is faster at 55 minutes but costs £25-40 return. The station is a 10-minute walk from the centre. Driving is pointless as parking is expensive and limited.
Are Oxford hotels good for families?
The bigger hotels like the Old Parsonage (Summertown) have family rooms and are near University Parks, which is free and great for kids. Botley Road has larger chain hotels with family-friendly rates from £95. The Pitt Rivers Museum is free and keeps children entertained for hours with its shrunken heads and dinosaur skeletons.
What is there to do in Oxford at night?
The Eagle and Child on St Giles is where Tolkien and CS Lewis drank, and it still pours a decent pint for £5.50. The Turf Tavern (hidden off Holywell Street) is another classic. For cocktails, head to the Varsity Club rooftop on the High Street. Jericho has a cluster of wine bars on Walton Street open until midnight.
Should I visit Cambridge instead of Oxford?
Both are worth seeing but they're different experiences. Oxford is grittier, with better pubs and more architectural variety. Cambridge is flatter, greener, and easier to explore by bike. Hotel prices are similar. If you only have one day, Oxford edges it for the Bodleian Library and Covered Market alone.
Can I visit the Oxford colleges?
Most colleges open to visitors for a few hours daily, usually 2-5pm. Christ Church charges £18 per adult (it's worth it for the Great Hall and cathedral). Magdalen College is £8. New College is free. Check individual college websites as schedules change during exams in May and June.
Where should I eat in Oxford?
The Covered Market has the best lunch options: Brown's for a full English, Ben's Cookies for dessert. For dinner, Branca on Walton Street does excellent Italian from £14 a main. The Magdalen Arms on Iffley Road is a 15-minute walk from the centre but worth it for the Sunday roast at £18. Avoid the chains on George Street.
Is Headington worth staying in?
Only if you're visiting the John Radcliffe Hospital. It's 3km east of the centre and while it has a few decent pubs on the London Road, you'll rely on the 400 bus (every 8 minutes, £2 single) to reach the colleges. Hotels there are £20-30 cheaper but the inconvenience rarely justifies the savings for tourists.
Useful links for Oxford
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