Where to Stay

Effectively a working medieval city, Oxford is now, along with London, Stratford and Cambridge, one of the essential stops on most tourist visits to Britain. As a result, the city has an enormous number and variety of places to stay, although at peak holiday times, and especially in the summer months, things can get very busy, so be sure to book early. With its years of experience welcoming guests, however, Oxford is guaranteed to offer a comfortable and rewarding stay.

Oxford Colleges

Obviously, the best place to for the shoe-string traveler to inquire is with a friend. But perhaps the next best option is to stay in a student friend's college. Most Oxford colleges have guest rooms that are not only clean, pleasant and cheap, at about £15 or £20 a night, but which afford the guest the experience of staying in the sort of collegiate room familiar from books such as Brideshead Revisited. The majority of colleges are also conveniently near the center of town, making access to shops, pubs and restaurants easy.

Hostels

Another cheap accommodation option is the Backpacker's Hostel on Hythe Bridge Street. A little expensive perhaps for the humble, communal flophouse that it is, the backpacker can expect clean sheets, functional facilities and breakfast. There is also a bar - a good place to meet fellow travelers - and a kitchen in which to cook, should you so choose. It is also on the lively and developing west side of town and is very near the railway station. This has to be the best place for budget travelers as it is relatively cheap, and the social potential of a few nights there cannot be underestimated.

Bed and Breakfast

B&B accommodation is what Oxford really excels at. There are plenty of comfortable and clean places to choose from. Iffley Road in East Oxford, for example, boasts almost more bed and breakfast hotels than it does residential houses. These can range in price. The Bravalla Guest House on Iffley Road, for example, is a highly recommended mid-price bed and breakfast hotel. Breakfasts tend to be served early, and range from a light continental repast to hearty English bacon and eggs.

The standard of bed and breakfast hotels is generally very high in Oxford, with the occasional exception. The most important consideration is price and location. Iffley Road is a very pleasant part of town, and gives you access to the nightlife of Cowley Road and the city center, which is only a fifteen minute walk away. However, Woodstock Road and Banbury Road in North Oxford are good for city access. In this part of town, though, you can expect to pay a little bit more. Botley Road, in West Oxford, has a lot of accommodation and is excellent for the train station. The city central Bath Place Hotel is a hard-to-find gem, but find it and the reconverted 17th century cottage is sure to charm.

Hotels

Oxford boasts many hotels for those who want something a little more luxurious than just bed and breakfast. The charming Old Parsonage Hotel is, as the name suggests, a beautiful and quite rustic converted parsonage. A popular spot among Oxford people for enjoying cream tea on a sunny afternoon, The Old Parsonage is also an excellent hotel with delightfully furnished and decorated rooms and helpful staff. It has a superb restaurant, but its central location means it is also close to the city's other eateries.

The most famous and distinguished hotel in Oxford, however, is The Randolph Hotel on Beaumont Street. Built in 1864, this hotel is one of the places to eat and stay in the city. Situated in the center of town, opposite the historic Ashmolean Museum, the hotel has a commanding presence. Its vast dining and function rooms are often the first choice for wedding receptions, business conventions and balls.

The relatively new, centrally located Old Bank Hotel is luxurious and contemporary - perfect for either the leisure or the business traveler.

Oxford has a fair range of places to stay, but such a popular city does get overcrowded. The importance of planning ahead cannot be stressed enough.