The Best Budget-Friendly Hotels to Book in Oxford
The city of Oxford is synonymous with academic excellence and outstanding architecture. If you’ve been before, you’ll have likely glimpsed the city’s dreaming spires and walked among the university’s Baroque, Neoclassical and Gothic Revival buildings where the likes of Oscar Wilde and Stephen Hawking studied. Within day-tripping distance of London, Oxford can quickly burn a hole in any traveller’s pocket. But its budget-friendly bases offer a few more perks than your typical cheap-as-chips hotel – we round up the best budget hotels in Oxford.
1. Ethos
Apartment, Budget Hotel
Smack-bang in the middle of the city, this bright and well-appointed Oxford budget hotel puts you within a short walk of the esteemed Christ Church College – one of the city’s most recognisable centres of study and a frequent filming location for the Harry Potter film series. Rooms only come in king-size here – take your pick from classic king, deluxe superking or signature superking, and put your feet up. After a rest, head to the local gym and health club – then the hotel bar is on hand for undoing the good work afterwards.
2. Abodes
Bed and Breakfast, Budget Hotel
Abodes is a collection of Oxford-based B&Bs which specialise in providing unique stays with local hosts. Each and every room is personally vetted by a member of the Abodes team, so you can be sure of fantastic standards and service. The full continental breakfast is not to be missed – there’s plenty of bacon, egg and all the trimmings to fill you up before a jaunt into town, the countryside or nearby Bicester Village for some discount shopping.
3. Gorselands Hall
Bed and Breakfast, Budget Hotel
Located on the outskirts of the bucolic Cotswolds, this boutique countryside-style offering is encased in authentic Cotswold stone. All rooms come with plump queen-size beds, beautiful views and power showers that you’ll never want to leave. It’s definitely somewhere you’ll need a car for – Oxford is half an hour’s drive away, as are Bicester Village and the Shakespeare-famous town of Stratford-upon-Avon. For a bite to eat outside of Gorselands Hall, take your pick from an array of local eateries right on your doorstep.
5. Hawkwell House
Boutique Hotel, Budget Hotel, Chain Hotel
Set just 2mi (3km) from Oxford city centre, Hawkwell House overlooks three acres (1.2ha) of private gardens, which you are free to roam at your own pace. You can bring your dog along, too – this hotel is an avid accommodator of man’s best friend, supplying dog beds, dog bowls and even dog biscuits on request. The cosy rooms and big queen-size beds guarantee a good night’s sleep, before breakfast is served in the on-site restaurant the next morning.
6. Hampton by Hilton Oxford
Budget Hotel
Guests get a generous free breakfast at this great-value-for-money hotel on the outskirts of the city in the suburb of Littlemore. There’s free parking, too, and it’s also next door to the Kassam Conference Centre and Football Stadium – home to Oxford United Football Club. Rooms are comfy and contemporary, with smart TVs to keep you entertained if you’re in the mood for a quiet night in.
7. Noa Residence
Apartment
Short-let studio apartments with a luxury hotel feel, Noa Residence is in one of Oxford’s most sought-after residential areas – giving you a flavour of what it’s like to be an Oxford local. The apartments themselves are elegant, cosy and equipped with everything needed for a comfy, self-catering stay. It’s only a 15-minute walk to the city centre, and even closer to the cute cafes and shops of Summertown. If you’re stuck on where to eat out, just dial nine for some personal recommendations from the friendly reception staff.
8. Head of the River
Boutique Hotel, Chain Hotel, Inn
The rooms at this pub-hotel are elegantly designed with all the mod cons you’ll need for a convenient stay: a Nespresso machine, a Dyson fan and super fast wifi, to name a few. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and on a warm morning you can dine al fresco on the terrace, watching punts and barges emerge one by one from underneath the Folly Bridge. You’re in university territory here, too, with the hallowed halls of both Christ Church College and Pembroke College right around the corner.
Looking for more accommodation options in Oxford? Read our guide on the best hotels in Oxford, then book your stay on Culture Trip.
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