We (grandparents) will be visiting our GD during this semester at Oxford University. She will be housed at St. Clares, Banbury Rd.,(north of the university grounds) and will take two classes at St, Clares. However, she will also be taking three classes at Blackfriars within the university grounds.

I want to keep our lodging costs low (joke), but still be able to navigate well enough to meet up with her at various locations. There are guest rooms available at most of the colleges, but en suite can cost about 90 pounds, whereas some of the B&Bs outside the university may charge 100 pounds for more comfortable accommodations.

This trip is solely about spending time with her, not the hotel or B&B room, of course. I would like my lodging choice to enable us to move around the area efficiently without a car.

Any guidance?

Are rooms available during the semester ? I stayed in an LSE dorm in London, but that was during a Christmas break.

I stayed in Keble college, booked through http://www.oxfordrooms.co.uk/ and would recommend a night or two for the experience, but it's not cheap. I was going to suggest the Buttery, on Broad Street, but it's even more expensive.

Oxford has a pretty good local bus service that extends to local towns such as Woodstock and Abingdon, so I wouldn't worry about getting around. Given that your GD is going to be staying at St Clares, I'd suggest you look for a B&B in the Summertown area - a bit north of the centre with a very frequent bus service.

Bedar, Staying in London is not an option...too far away.

thursdaysd, Would you mind elaborating on the experience? I am curious.

Well, you get to see the college more as a student would. I had a room overlooking Liddon quad, and realized I could see everyone coming or going. Plus I got to eat in the dining hall - Keble's is only Victorian, but the longest in Oxford. Very atmospheric - think Harry Potter.

http://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/about/tour/hall
http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/R...2010-11/Oxford - password oxford

Of course, you wouldn't stay in London. My point was:- is this possible DURING the term ?

@Bedar - yes. Use the link I posted above.

@Bedar - you can stay in LSE lodgings during term time too, just not the regular student rooms. See: http://www.lsetopfloor.co.uk/

For other univerisities see: http://www.universityrooms.co.uk/

>>she will also be taking three classes at Blackfriars within the university grounds.<<

There are no 'university grounds'. Colleges are spread throughout the city. Blackfriars is a building in St Giles which is the confluence of the Banbury and Woodstock Roads. So you can easily stay at any B&B along either toad an be w/i a few minutes by bus.

It is maybe a bit over a mile between St Clares and Blackfriars straight along the Banbury Rd. B&Bs on Woodstock/Banbury rds would be closer than most lodging in other colleges.

janisj, thank you for clarifying that there are no 'university' grounds - I didn't get that visually from maps. I had read on Wikipedia that Blackfriars is in St. Giles, but again - I didn't quite get it.

I sent an emails for a room quotation to the Remont B&B, Banbury Rd.as well as Marlborough House Woodstock Rd. I have one more B&B to try, which is The Galaxie.

To clarify - St Giles is a street name . . .

Oh and that typo -- meant road . . . not toad

At least that's one thing I did know, you didn't mean toad!

I've often recommended both the Remont and Marlbourgh House. Woodstock is just a short block over from Banbury Road. Both roads have excellent bus service into the centre of Oxford. The Banbury bus runs through Summertown. Not familiar with The Galaxie.

Truth be told historytraveler, I'm almost positive it was your old post from 2001 or 2002 where I picked up the names of those two hotels.

I thank you now for your old posting!

I'm done! Galaxie and Marlborough House are out. I booked the Remont B & B for three nights, double, en suite, full breakfast for 341 pounds total. Right on Banbury Road, 1.4 km from Saint Clares college.

Mission accomplished. Thanks for all your help.

Congrats! Aren't you glad that is settled

janisj: You bet! We come back and head to Italy on April 30th. Gotta do these trips while you (both) can.

Glad you're set. You are probably aware that both Woostock and Banbury converge at St. Giles. If you have any further questions regarding Oxford, I'd be happy to try and answer them.

>>You are probably aware that both Woostock and Banbury converge at St. Giles.<<

They don't. These are separate places elsewhere in Oxfordshire, respectively 10 and 30 miles away from Oxford. To avoid any confusion when in the UK (<i>especially</i> when asking for directions) always refer to streets by their <u>full</u> names: in this case, Woodstock Road and Banbury Road. The US convention of shortening street names doesn't apply in the UK.