RIVER HOTEL, Oxford – A Smart Stay in the City
About the Hotel
Rooms & Accommodations
The River Hotel offers 20 individually decorated bedrooms across two buildings. All rooms include en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower, free Wi-Fi, USB sockets, flat-screen TVs with Freeview, hairdryers, and tea/coffee facilities. Some rooms provide views of the River Thames. Room configurations include standard doubles, twin rooms with two single beds, and family rooms with one double bed and one single bed. Two rooms have private bathrooms located across the corridor.
Dining & Breakfast
Breakfast is served daily in the river-view restaurant, featuring table service with freshly cooked English breakfast items and a cold buffet with cereals, yogurts, and fruit. The hotel does not offer lunch or dinner service, but numerous dining options are within walking distance, including The Punter pub on West Street with vegetarian options and various restaurants on George Street.
Location & Transportation
Located at 17 Botley Road on the banks of the River Thames, the hotel is a 5-minute walk from Oxford Rail Station (with direct service to London Paddington and Marylebone) and less than 10 minutes from Gloucester Green Bus Station. It sits opposite Osney Island Conservation Area and provides direct access to the Thames Path Trail. Key attractions within walking distance include the Ashmolean Museum (1.5 km), Christ Church College, Oxford Castle, and the city center (10-minute walk). Free on-site parking with CCTV is available.
Services & Facilities
Services include a staffed reception offering local travel advice, taxi bookings, and maps. The hotel provides luggage storage, wake-up calls, bicycle storage, and an honesty bar. Meeting rooms are available for small seminars. For families, cots are available for £10 per stay. The property features a garden leading to the river, a boot room for drying wet clothing, and storage for canoes and boats.
Local Activities & Access
Guests can walk along the Thames Path towpath to Port Meadow (20 minutes) or into Oxford city center. The hotel is ideal for Thames boaters with 48-hour moorings opposite. Golf is available at Hinksey Heights (10-minute drive). Staff can assist with travel plans to Blenheim Palace (8 miles away) and provide information on local events at venues like the Sheldonian Theatre and Holywell Music Room, both within 15 minutes' walk.
Choose the Room
Check Dates & Room Rates
Getting around
All Transportation Options at a Glance
Amenities
General
- No smoking on site
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
- Safe deposit box
- VIP check-in/ -out
- Concierge desk
- No pets allowed
- Security
- Luggage storage
- Smoke detectors
- Electric vehicle charging station
- Fire extinguishers
Sports & Fitness
- Tennis court
Guest Parking
- Electric kettle
Services
- Housekeeping
- Welcome drink
Dining
- Restaurant
- Bar/ Lounge area
Business
- Meeting/ Banquet facilities
Children
- Cots
- Board games
Spa & Leisure
- Garden area
- Leisure/ TV room
Room features
- Heating
- Garden furniture
- Tea and coffee facilities
- Ironing facilities
Bathroom
- Free toiletries
Self-catering
- Electric kettle
Media
- Flat-screen TV
- AM/FM alarm clock
Room decor
- Carpeted floor
Location
Guest Ratings & Reviews
I absolutely loved my stay at this hotel! The location is superb, right by the beautiful river and next to a lovely pub recommended by the staff. The rooms were comfortable and had a bit of a retro 1970s decor that I found charming. The service was exceptional, with the staff going above and beyond to make my stay memorable. The dining experience, although included in my rate, could use a bit of improvement, especially with the coffee. Overall, a great value for the money with some minor room for enhancement.
I couldn't have asked for a better stay! The hotel is centrally located, right by the river, which made exploring the city so convenient. The staff went above and beyond to ensure my comfort, even arranging for me to catch the rugby match during breakfast. However, the dining options were somewhat limited, and I wished the coffee was included in the breakfast spread. The value for money was excellent, considering the exceptional service and prime location.
I had a delightful stay at this hotel. The staff couldn't have been friendlier; they even set up a special arrangement so I could watch the rugby while enjoying my breakfast which was truly above and beyond. The location is perfect, near the shopping center, close to the train station, and with a picturesque view of the River Thames. However, the rooms, while comfortable, lacked en suite bathrooms where I could leave my bags after checking out, and the plastic shower curtain was a bit disappointing.
The hotel's location is super convenient, close to the train station and within walking distance of the Oxford city centre. The service exceeded my expectations, with staff going above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable. However, the 1970s decor of the rooms without en suite bathrooms was a bit outdated. The included river view during dining was a nice touch, but the option of a small dining menu was limited.
Staying at this hotel was a mixed bag for me. While the service was exceptional and went above and beyond, the outdated room decor and lack of en suite bathroom were major drawbacks. The convenient location near the river and city center was a big plus, but the dining experience left much to be desired due to limited coffee options. Overall, a decent stay with room for improvement.
The hotel is conveniently located near the train station and the city center, offering adequate parking and picturesque river views. While the rooms had a 1970s decor with a comfortable bed, the shower over bathtub setup with a plastic curtain was a bit dated. The service was exceptional, going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay, even arranging special requests like watching sports during breakfast.
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