7 Best Hotels in The Thames Valley, England

Part Jacobean, part Georgian, this magnificent stately home provides formal luxury in an opulent country setting. The building is decorated with a masterful touch—crystal chandeliers, original oil paintings, and carved ceilings adorn the ornate public areas; the magnificent Jacobean staircase is guarded by unique carved figures. Bedrooms, furnished with well-chosen antiques and comfortable beds, are suitably grand. Some rooms are situated in Hartwell Court, on the approach to the main house, and some have direct access to 90 acres of landscaped parkland. You can dress to impress for dinner, enjoy the terrace of the spa's café, or just drop in for a refined afternoon tea.

From the impressive collection of modern artwork throughout the hotel to the sleek furnishings in the guest rooms, this stately converted bank building displays contemporary style in a city that favors the traditional. Oxford's most centrally located hotel also holds the busy Quod Restaurant & Bar, serving creative salads and pizzas, as well as heartier dishes like duck confit.

Although fishing aficionados consider this luxurious, 17th-century, Thames-side inn ideal, the place is stylish enough to attract those with no interest in casting a line. The name comes from Izaak Walton's 1653 masterpiece of angling advice and philosophy, which he wrote in this area. Rooms, traditional in style, are subtly decorated in earth tones with purple touches, and many have views over the Thames. The hotel's Riverside Restaurant serves outstanding Modern British cooking with terrace and waterside views. A sunny conservatory serves afternoon tea.

A romantic getaway on the Thames, this Victorian-era mansion stands on landscaped grounds 3 miles west of Windsor. Its bristling towers and spires have been used in several films, including The Rocky Horror Picture Show and multiple Dracula movies. Except for the suites, all the rooms are in modern wings and are furnished in a modern style. Public areas, however, retain their old-fashioned, wood-paneled, and clubby charm. The Dining Room restaurant serves Continental cuisine in plush surroundings.

A 17th-century gabled stone house in a small garden next to St. Giles Church, the Old Parsonage is a dignified retreat. Dark red walls, eclectic art, and a crackling wood fire give the lobby a distinguished look. The guest rooms favor plum, purple, and gray with wool, linen, and velvet materials; bathrooms are rich with marble. Memorable meals by the fire (or in the walled garden terrace in summer) keep people coming back. Afternoon teas with scones and clotted cream are excellent.

The Graduate Hotels group took a 19th-century neo-Gothic landmark and gave it a top-down makeover, beautifully amplifying its Oxford heritage and incorporating such stylish guest-rooms touches as William Morris–esque wallpaper, quirky artwork, and nods to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Some of the hip yet elegant, chic yet traditional accommodations have views of Oxford's spires. A tiled, vaulted spa offers pampering treatments designed to ease those travel-related aches. 

Chic interiors characterize this city-center boutique hotel that's a luxurious alternative to Oxford's more historic properties, offering not only first-class service but also a more contemporary approach to design, drinking, and dining. Rooms are airy, finding a balance between heritage and boutique modern with their soft, pale tones and wood floorboards. The stunning spa, Treadwell restaurant, rooftop terrace, and lobby bar will provide tempting distractions from the rest of Oxford's pleasures.