Oxford, UK: Two Week Course - Lodging and Extended Side Trip(s)
 

Hello,<BR><BR>My husband will be taking a two week course in early August at Oxford University at the College of St. Edmund Hall. This college appears to be located on Hight Street in the historic center of the city. I am looking for an upscale guest house, B & B or hotel with walking distance of the city center. Hoping to pay a max of $175 (US $) per night. Location is important as I plan to see the sights on my own while he is in class and don't want to be too far removed.<BR><BR>Additionally, he will have five free days (Thurs - Mon) and we hope to leave Oxford for a five day excursion. What would you suggest? I'm thinking we will explore the Cotswolds and Blenheim via bus in the afternoons after his classes so these areas won't interest us for these five days. Also, we will have visited London four times by August, so London is out. Looking for relaxing, peaceful and scenic....any suggestions out there? Would Wales or Scotland by train be too far? Thanks very much.

The Eastgate Hotel is almost opposite St Edmunds's (Teddy) Hall but might be too pricy: <BR><BR>http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/hotels/eastgate/<BR><BR>Same for the Old Bank Hotel<BR><BR>http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/hotels/oldbank/<BR><BR>There are few B&Bs right in the city centre, but you could be lucky. B&Bs in Headington or on Iffley Road are on frequent bus routes which stop at Queen’s Lane, ie outside Teddy Hall. B&Bs in North Oxford will not be quite so easy to get to the High Street.<BR><BR>Does the course not offer college accommodation for you and your husband?<BR><BR>I think a trip to Wales or Scotland would be very possible. Or you could consider Cornwall, Devon or the Lake District. NB August is high season (school holidays) so you should try to book as soon as possible.

there are many B&Bs throughought Oxford - don't worry too much about being in the very center since the bust sytem is very good. Oxford is fairly expensive as UK towns go - but you should have no trouble finding something at your price range or less.<BR><BR>The High is a fabulous street and St Edmund's Hall is twoards the east end near Magdalen colleg/bridge and the river (pronounced Maudlin)<BR><BR>The main roads into town - each with hotels and B&Bs are Woodstock, Banbury and Iffley. So anything on one of those will be convenient.<BR><BR>For your five day break - You could go almost anywhere and I would normall recommend Edinburgh by train. But August is crazy in Edinburh due to the Tattoo and festivals and accomodations are hard to come by and VERY expensive during that period. And Cornwall is alos jammed in August - it is not unusual to have 5 or 6 mile tailbacks (traffic jams) on the main roads in Cornwal in August.<BR><BR>So to really get away from it all - consider going to North Wales. It is not far but you will feel you are in a completely different country. It is spectacular. <BR><BR>I will look up some places in Oxford and post more later.

OOPS - That's BUS service

Ruth and Janis,<BR>Thank you for your replies. Yes, Ruth, the college offers some accomodation for an add'l fee, but there are only a handful of double rooms which would be held for two people both participating. So I'm looking for a double accomodation. Janis, if you have a chance to post some places in Oxford that would be great!

Bette - here are a few good ones - all much less than $175. Most Less than $100. Unfortunately I am getting these from some material I put together for a friend w/o a computer so I don't have URLs - but I suspect most are on line. Doo a web search and you should be able to find them. <BR><BR>Ascot House 283 Iffley Road. About a mile from the city center. lots of amenities including small fridges. not sue of the rates - but reasonable. BTW - Almost all hotels and B&Bs offer reduced weekly rates so you should be able to get a really nice place for less than $100.<BR><BR>Arden Lodge, 34 Sunderland Ave., just off Woodstock Road. A modern house with 3 ensuite rooms 25GBP pp last year<BR><BR>Chestnuts 45 Davenant (off Woodstock Road). Very high quality five room B&B in the 70 GBP double range<BR><BR>Dial House 25 London Road, Headington - about 1+ mile from city center. 8 room small hotel with "all mod cons" about 70 GBP double<BR><BR>Tilbury Lodge Private Hotel in Botley. On the west end of the city center. Foru posters and garden. Abour 35GBP pp.<BR><BR>

I second the vote that your 5-day excursion be to North Wales. It is absolutely beautiful.

Janis,<BR>Thank you very much for all your assistance. I'm sure I'll find something by searching on the names of the establishments. You've given me a great start! More Oxford research...then....onto N. Wales!!

For the UK I like this lodging site:<BR><BR>http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/<BR><BR>The links to the mapping tool do a great job of telling you where the establishment is located.<BR><BR>www.guidefriday.com is a hop-on/hop-off bus tour that operates in Oxford. I recommend something like this for the first day to help become oriented to the city. <BR><BR>

For day trips from Oxford, can I suggest Ragley Hall and Coventry?

Hartwell House<BR><BR>Set Sunday Lunch<BR>or<BR>Afternoon Tea in the Library\<BR>http://www.hartwell-house.com/<BR><BR>21 miles from oxford....<BR><BR>Beautiful old mansion in lovely grounds..

Bette,<BR><BR>I highly recommend the Parklands Hotel.<BR><BR>http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/hotels/parklands/<BR><BR>We stayed there August 2000, and were very, very pleased with our accomodations. It is a lovely place, with wondeful hosts, and is just a short distance from city center. The bus stop is about 1/2 a block away. We found that we liked being a bit removed from the busy city center as it was nice and quiet at night. Use the local bus service and buy a pass that covers the duration of your stay. It not only gets you around in Oxford, but allows you to travel to some of the other towns and villages (Woodstock, Abingdon, etc.) in the area, which would be nice to do while hubby is studying!<BR><BR>We hope to get back to UK in a year or so and would stay at Parklands again in a heartbeat!<BR><BR>Happy trip planning!