Punting along the River Cherwell, exploring the oldest public museum in the world or taking tea in one of the honey-coloured Cotswolds villages pouring into Oxfordshire; a holiday in this gorgeous part of the world is a gift that keeps on giving. Featured in countless films and TV series for its overwhelmingly photogenic qualities and benefitting from an enviable number of attractions, it has timeless, multi-generational appeal that won’t fail to impress all those who cross its borders.

Whether you are looking for a tranquil solo break in a secluded nook, a picture-perfect thatched cottage for a romantic escape, a spacious family home for a week of adventure with the children or a luxurious bolthole in the heart of the action, our Boutique Retreats in Oxfordshire offer the most idyllic base from which to spend days chasing adventure and leisure in equally hearty doses. Pour through our collection and let the anticipation of your next adventure leave you grinning from ear to ear. 

Whether you are laying out a bounteous picnic on the banks of the river with your family, cuddling up with your beau in your romantic retreat for a candlelit  dinner for two or heading out for an evening of the finest gastro fare; a holiday in Oxfordshire offers ample opportunity to tease your taste buds.

To make use of your luxury cottage’s self-catering facilities, hop from delicatessen to wild food hotspot and bundle up the freshest goodies. For pick-your-own fruit and homemade ice cream, give Medley Manor Farm in Oxford a try, or visit the Old Farm Shop in Abingdon, Wykham Park Farm in Banbury, Wyatts Farm Shop in Great Rollright, Mrs Bumbles Delicatessen in Burford and Rogérs Fresh Fish and Delicatessen in Chipping Norton for a superb range of goods.

For a Michelin star experience, the Mason Arms in Oxford, the Wild Rabbit in Kingham and Belmond le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton each offer a truly special dining experience, while Oxford’s Food Festival and Chocolate Festival offer a delicious sensory symphony of tastes and smells.

Whether your idea of bliss is supping tea in a quirky café or swilling Champagne under chandeliers dripping with crystal, Oxfordshire has somewhere for everyone. One name that regularly crops up amongst those in the know, Gee’s in Oxford is a Grade-II listed Victorian Glasshouse-come-restaurant and bar and serves everything from much-needed morning coffees to well-deserved evening cocktails.

Also in Oxford, the Eagle and Child is famed for being one of the favourite haunts of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien while the pint-sized Bear Inn has been welcoming patrons since 1242. The Michelin Nut Tree Inn in Oxon boasts cute-as-pie beer gardens perfect for Sauvignon under the sun, whereas the 13th century Turf Tavern is a hidden gem in Oxford and offers cosy nooks a-plenty to hide away from the winter weather.

For a glimpse behind the scenes, a tour of Wychwood Brewery in Witney affords the opportunity to sample a mouth-watering selection of beers, including Legendary Hobgoblin and Brakspear Oxford Gold. You can also visit the Oxford Artisan Distillery, Oxford’s city’s first distillery.

Home to the world’s oldest public museum (the Ashmolean Museum), one of the world’s oldest scientific gardens (Oxford Botanic Garden), the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Britain’s oldest chalk figure and a plethora of medieval market towns and ancient monuments, Oxfordshire boasts some hugely impressively accolades.

Start your trip with a tour of Oxford city, visiting the legendary colleges, churches and historic sites, before flying solo and discovering all the more reasons to fall in love with this beautiful pocket of the world. As diverse as it is beautiful, the city offers something for all generations and interests, whether you are most content browsing bookshops, boutiques or bars.

For history-lovers, Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Rousham House in Rousham and the Rollright Stones are must-visits in Oxfordshire, as are Broughton Castle in Banbury and Uffington’s White Horse. To dowse yourself in sweet, fresh air and get your legs pumping along winding country paths, Shotover Country Park, the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Warburg Nature Reserve are well worth your attention.