7 romantic hotels in Oxford, including cosy rooms and couples’ walking tours

Ivy-clad Old Parsonage Hotel is next to the church of St Giles, with lovely bell chimes flowing through the windows on Sunday mornings. Through a pretty courtyard with large umbrellas for summer dining, and the original front door believed to date from 1660, you reach the reception hall, with original stone hearth and crackling fire. Then comes the bar and raised restaurant, lined by owner Jeremy Mogford’s eclectic collection of English portraits. The atmosphere is simply charming, from the lovely library/sitting room to the smiling staff. Bedrooms are slick and stylish and beautifully equipped, while the restaurant offers a bistro-style menu that’s simple, straightforward and very tasty.

A pretty, quaint and quirky family-run hotel hidden within the cobbled streets and alleys near the historic Turf Tavern, at the heart of Oxford University area. The five 17th-century cottages cluster around a little courtyard bedecked with hanging baskets and flower tubs. Cosy rooms are a firm favourite with visiting academics, musicians and couples, and retain many of the buildings’ original features including the fireplaces, beamed ceilings, wonky floors and very steep staircases. The hotel is said to have been a secret love-nest for the actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor when Richard performed at the Oxford Playhouse.

This 16th-century cottage, imbued with the scent of warm cinnamon, fresh flowers and a crackling fire, is a warm, homely and welcome retreat in the heart of Oxford University. An oak-panelled front room with antique furniture boasts an impressive collection of blue and white china on the dresser. It’s well-lit, warm, comfortable and alive with original artwork, antiques and collectables. Guests are treated to immaculate rooms – adorned with quirky antiques, bunches of dried lavender, imaginative book collections and fluffy bathrobes – and a candlelit breakfast by hosts who run their own historical tours of the city.

MacDonald Randolph Hotel’s grand Victorian Gothic façade provides a striking presence, even with the impressive architecture of some of Oxford’s most famous and handsome colleges and buildings for neighbours. Inside, the hotel continues to wow. Many features such as gothic arches and windows have been retained (the building is merited with a Grade II-listing for its architectural importance) and the famous Morse Bar, so named after the Oxford-based novels and television drama Inspector Morse (the hotel was often used as a film location), maintains its lavish but cosy wood panelling.

The Old Bank brims with character, as you’d expect from three interconnecting buildings which, in part, date back to the 14th century. There’s striking modern art throughout, and many older features have remained, including Georgian alcoves, wood-panelled walls and large sash windows. Book the Superior Deluxe rooms for good views from cushioned window seats onto Oxford’s mellow, limestone buildings, or the Suite, which the best view of city spires and rooftops. Quod Brasserie, formerly the banking hall, is a convivial place to eat. The hotel is surrounded by some of the oldest Oxford colleges, adding to the atmosphere.

This elegant, 18th-century Cotswold-stone townhouse was previously used for council offices, but a complete renovation has transformed it into one of the most distinctive hotels in Oxford. Rooms have soothing colour combos and a generous breakfast spread is served in a small courtyard with outdoor tables. Couples keen to explore Oxford can purchase walking package, which combines an overnight stay with an informative two-hour private tour. The hotel’s location – within a few paces of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Playhouse, many colleges and the main shopping streets – couldn’t be better placed for exploring the sights.

Malmaison Oxford may not have the most romantic origins (its building was used as a prison until 1996) but the old cells have been transformed into opulent bedrooms (complete with original chunky cell doors and bars at the windows). Part of the hotel’s quirky appeal comes from its evident history; with its towers, metal bars at some of the peephole windows and ‘The Exercise Yard’, now converted to a pleasant garden for relaxing on deckchairs and al fresco dining. Service is excellent, with an amenable Maître d’ to the head chef that makes a point of visiting each table to see how guests are enjoying the food.