Cottages in Oxfordshire

Located in the South East of England, the county of Oxfordshire is an excellent choice for those who wish to spend a holiday in the serenity of the countryside. You will find spectacular cottages with beautiful views of the countryside and forests, all close to the best cities where you will find a variety of historical sites and activities to do with the family. Oxfordshire is the perfect place to go if you want to leave your phone in a drawer and join the extraordinary nature.

Oxfordshire offers comfortable cottages for the perfect stay, most with a traditional stone façade, wood framed windows and a fully renovated interior with modern kitchens and wooden floors, as well as beautiful flower gardens with a dining room next to the impressive views, relaxing hot tubs for stargazing at night and plenty of space for the kids to run around. You'll feel like you've arrived in the holiday paradise you've been waiting for so long.

For couples, Oxfordshire has the most romantic places to visit and plan a perfect date. You can start by visiting the grounds of Cogges, a historical monument with over 1000 years of history that has a 13th century house. You will be able to explore the 15+ acres of the house and its surroundings, although the key point to visit is the walled garden and orchard for a pleasant picnic. A walk along the Windrush River is also a good idea. The College of Worcester also offers you a romantic lake landscape with ducks, swans and an abundance of beautiful plants such as wisteria and a cafe with hot chocolate. Another great option for a day out with a partner is to visit Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery in Henley-on-Thames. The area is surrounded by natural beauty and a winery vineyard overlooking the Hambleden Valley. You can take a tour and taste around the premises where you will taste a selection of wines and spirits. At the end of the tour you can also buy a bottle of wine and chocolates in the shop for lunch at the cottage.

If you want an open space to spend the day surrounded by colour and fragrance, the perfect place is the Cotswold Lavender Farm at Hill Barn Farm. You can explore the purple covered fields and enjoy a cup of tea in the Cotswold Lavender Tea Room. The best time to visit is from late April and early May to August, which is the best time to see them in bloom. The Magdalena Bridge Boat House is also a good place to enjoy the fresh air and serenity. You can book a boat and take a walk on the River Cherwell or if you prefer to practice canoeing you can go with Henley Canoe Hire at Henley-on-Thames where you can hire Canadian canoes to sail along the River Thames with the family. And for an outdoor experience with animals, Heythrop Zoological Gardens offers you a wide variety of trained animals. You can make a reservation to feed the sloths, penguins, the pygmy hippopotamus and walk with the wolves.

During your visit to Oxfordshire you should not miss a tour of one of the world's leading universities, The University of Oxford. You can walk around the neoclassical Radcliffe House, pass the Bridge of Sighs, enter the Sheldonian Theatre and see the beautiful gardens and the Bodleian Library, as well as seeing the filming locations that were used in Harry Potter, the New College and the Divinity School. You can also take a guided bike tour of the University. The tour starts in the heart of the city where you will make 11 designated stops that offer you hidden places and history.

Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that will leave you in awe thanks to its baroque architecture and beautiful green areas. You will be able to explore 150 acres of its Formal Gardens which include the Duke of Marlborough's Private Italian Garden, The Secret Garden with various hidden treasures, the beauty of the Rose Garden and the new garden commemorating Sir Winston Churchill. You can also explore 300 years of history in a lively experience and tour the magnificent State Rooms. And for children, the Palace offers a miniature train ride to the Pleasure Gardens where they can play in the adventure playground and eat at the Pizza Café.

Founded in 1683, The Ashmolean is Britain's first public museum and is the Museum of Art and Archaeology at Oxford University. The site contains collections of objects dating from 8000 BC, ranging from interesting Egyptian mummies to contemporary art. You can see ancient Egyptian ceramics, Anglo-Saxon treasures, the most important collection of modern Chinese painting in the West, the largest collection of drawings by Raphael Sanzio and the only Minoan collection in Britain. The museum also has a rooftop café where you can enjoy a cup of tea at the end of the tour and appreciate the beautiful views of Oxford.

Watch history come alive on guided tours of Oxford Castle and Prison. You will have the great opportunity to explore 1000 years of history where you will learn about the stories of the most famous criminals in the prison. Wander around the cells and climb to the top of St George's Tower and then descend into the candlelit crypt. You can also climb the mound where the remains of a castle are located and see the birthplace of King Arthur. The prison is recognised by the BBC as one of the most haunted buildings in the UK, if you're brave you can spend a whole night there or visit the Ghost Festival on Halloween.

For a family day you can head to the Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens. The park covers 120 acres and is home to over 260 species. You can walk around and see the wildlife environment which is made up of spectacular animals such as giraffes, the Asian lion, camels, adorable sloths, penguins, lemurs from Madagascar, wolves, rhinos and many other amazing animals. The place also has the largest collection of reptiles in the UK with a big number of snake species, an adventure park, a train ride and picnic areas.

Sudeley Castle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in England, the site has stunning views of the Cotswold Hills and 10 award-winning gardens with exotic colours that stretch around the architecture. The Queen's Garden is the centrepiece of the gardens and has 80 varieties of magnificent roses. The castle also has a very interesting fact that no other has, it is the only private castle in England with a buried queen, Queen Katherine Parr. During your visit you can see the exhibitions with collections of objects and curiosities of the owners like the love letters of the queen and a Roman stone that was believed to be lost for more than 100 years.

If you have never been in contact with the dreaded crocodiles before, this is your big moment! On your holiday to Oxfordshire you will have a fun and safe experience at Crocodiles Of The World, the only crocodile zoo in the UK. You will have underwater views and close encounters with some of these wonderful reptiles. You will see the endangered Cambodian Siamese crocodiles, the huge Nile crocodiles, Chinese and American alligators, the Komodo dragon and other species. It is a unique experience which will give you a lot of information about these prehistoric-looking predators.