Holiday rentals and lettings in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a truly exceptional county for a holiday, with the world-class destination of Oxford, leafy suburbs and stunning houses and some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. Oxford is a vibrant student city filled with fascinating independent shops. Go south east to the Vale of the White Horse for holidays in traditional rural England, or north of Oxford for delightful stone houses and blossoming villages such as Woodstock and Witney. In the far south, the 18th century town of Henley on Thames offers river walks and hosts one of the world’s finest museums!

Cotswald stone houses feature heavily in Oxfordshire’s excellent offering of holiday rentals. This beautiful stone bestows a rich and warm feeling to the houses, welcoming you to your holiday destination. In the city of Oxford and towns such as Henley on Thames, you’ll find bright, convivial holiday flats, some with attractive terraces so that you can relax and as the town flows by below you. Look for holiday lettings on the banks of the Thames for a river view.

The beautiful county of Oxfordshire is the perfect holiday for people who enjoy the outdoors. Woodlands feature strongly in Oxfordshire, such as Stoke Wood, near Bicester, famous for its display of Bluebells around the end of April each year. Oxfordshire also has some of the prettiest villages in the UK, such as Minster Lovell, near Whitney, with its famous Minster Hall ruins (reputed to be extremely haunted!) and its superb fine dining pubs. Stroll around the streets and discover the quintessentially English thatched houses and stone walls.

While pretty villages are a key feature of Oxfordshire, the towns and cities must also be seen and enjoyed. Don’t miss Chipping Norton in West Oxfordshire, built on the site of a Motte-and-Bailey Norton castle. It is a wonderful place for independent shops, set in charming stone buildings. Bicester, to the east, boasts a historic market town centre and excellent pubs and restaurants. The town is over 1,000 years old and has a fascinating history to discover.

Don’t forget your credit card if you head to the fabulous Bicester Village shopping centre, just outside the town of Bicester! It features luxury items such as designer clothing and jewellery and has no fewer than 160 boutique stores to browse and enjoy. In the city of Oxford is a shopper’s delight, with an abundance of independent shops offering retail rapture for every budget and interest. Antique lovers will be in nirvana, as many Oxfordshire towns and villages have their own antique shops. Try Station Mill in Chipping Norton, or Banbury’s Antique Centre.

Oxford is synonymous with learning, and books of all types are lovingly offered in the numerous book stores in Oxford. Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects of top-notch high street book sellers but take a look at the indie stores for something really special. Blackwell’s is where you’ll find the biggest choice, with an astonishing 250,000 books! The original store is on Broad Street but there are eight other branches around the town. Last Bookshop offers books on a wide range of topics, and is extremely well priced. Don’t forget to leisurely read your new book on the historic banks of the river – or in one of Oxford’s wonderful cafes overlooking the great university buildings.

Is there anything more English than taking a punt down the river, stopping in a riverbank to have a picnic and punt back, enjoying the sweet meadow flowers and wildlife which inhabit the river banks?

Now selling Alice related merchandise, Alice’s Shop near Christchurch in Oxford featured in Lewis Carroll’s book ‘Through the looking-glass’, both as illustrations and as part of the story.

This 110 metre long horse was carved into the ground in either the Iron Age or Bronze Age. Made by cutting huge trenches and filling them with white stone, there is some controversy about whether it is a horse – or maybe a dog, or even a sabre-toothed cat!

A fabulous day out for the whole family, featuring rhinos, giraffes and many other exotic animals, as well as delightful and beautifully maintained gardens.

Raymond Blanc’s outstanding restaurant in Great Milton proudly boasts 2 Michelin stars and is undoubtedly one of the UK’s most exceptional dining experiences. Go on – treat yourself!