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 INFO
HOTEL DETAILS
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast