Cottages in Oxford

A skyline of dreaming spires, domed theatres and college gargoyles, Oxford is truly inspirational, and a delightful place for a weekend city break, or longer if you can do it! A traditional English cottage makes a very apt base to discover Oxford. You can rent a cottage in the pleasant Oxford suburbs, well connected to the town centre by bus, or in one of the pretty outlying villages, from where you can use the convenient park and ride scheme to get into the centre.

Cotswold stone houses feature heavily in Oxford’s offering of cottages. This elegant stone bestows a rich, warm and welcoming feeling to the cottages. There are also some delightful cottages to rent made from wood, which blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. Families are well catered for, with tonnes of space and large gardens for your children to play in.

It does not get better than this for lovers of the great British pub! Feast on a delicious plate of fish and chips accompanied by a refreshing pint of beer in one of the many great historic pubs in the centre for a quintessentially English experience. Pub hidden in pretty alleys such as the Bear Inn (opened in 1242!), Eagle and Child and King’s Arm are famous for being the stomping ground of famous writers and academics such as C.S. Lewis and Stephen Hawking!

Oxford has 38 colleges that together form the prestigious University of Oxford, its main tourist attraction. New College is perhaps the most beautiful in the city, an awesome architectural complex made up of its gardens, cloisters, chapels and the oldest dining room in the country. Merton College is where J.R.R. Tolkien was a student and fans of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings can book a tour of the college through the origins of Middle Earth. But if you can only visit one, make it huge Christ Church College, the most prestigious of all and home to the city’s magnificent cathedral.

Oxford is synonymous with education, and a huge range of books are lovingly offered in the myriad bookstores in the centre of Oxford. Blackwell’s boasts an astonishing 250,000 books across nine branches around the town, but make sure to look out for the numerous indie stores for something really special. Then take your new book for a leisurely read on the historic banks of the river, or in one of Oxford’s atmospheric cafes overlooking the majestic university buildings

Is there anything more archetypally English than punting down Oxford’s meandering river, disembarking on a riverbank to enjoy a picnic on a lawn overlooked by a medical cathedral before punting back past the sweet meadow flowers and wildlife that inhabit the riverbanks?

Climb the narrow stairs of the tower of St Mary the Virgin Church for memorable 360-degree views of the nearby colleges. This 13th century church also has one of the most spectacular spires in England and several pulchritudinous stained-glass windows that you simply must check out!

The Ashmolean Free Museum from 1683 is one of the oldest museums in the country. It showcases remarkable treasures from the art and archaeology world with several globally significant collections ranging from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art. And entrance is free!

A short drive from Oxford, the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens promises a memorable day out for the family, featuring exotic animals such as elephants and giraffes as well as beautifully manicured gardens to explore.

The photogenic 18th century Bridge of Sighs links the old and new parts of Hertford College. Reminiscent of a Venetian bridge, it is another piece of splendid architecture in Oxford and has become one of the most photographed places in the city!

Alice’s Shop in the heart of Oxford was featured in Lewis Carroll’s book Through the Looking-Glass, both as illustrations and as part of the story. As well as sweets, the shop is now a treasure trove of Alice in Wonderland themed gifts, souvenirs and memorabilia.

The Covered Market, established back in 1774, is full of life! With stalls and shops galore, is it a lovely place to simply be. Ruck up at one of the many variety restaurants, cafes and simply watch the bustling world of Oxford do what it has done for centuries. The market is also a great place to pick up gifts and souvenirs to remind you of your wonderful holiday spent in Oxford!