Fodor's Expert Review Macdonald Bear

Park St., Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1SZ, England

Tudoresque wood paneling, beamed ceilings, wattle-and-daub walls, and blazing fireplaces help define this as an archetypal English coaching inn. The guest rooms, overlooking either a quiet courtyard or the town square, have plenty of carved oak; some have four-poster or canopied beds. Legend has it that the Bear is where Richard Burton finally popped the question to Elizabeth Taylor. A spookier legend holds it to be one of the most haunted hotels in the United Kingdom. One story concerns the ghost of a little boy, who allegedly loves to play hide-and-seek with guests.

PROS

  • plenty of character
  • historic (and some say haunted) house
  • lovely old English atmosphere

CONS

  • creaky old floors
  • old beams can get in the way
  • reputation for ghosts not for everyone

QUICK FACTS

Hotel
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HOTEL INFO

Phones: 0844-879–9143

HOTEL DETAILS

54 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

What’s Nearby