River Hotel

Hotels
8.2 (1191 reviews)
17 Botley Road , Oxford , GB

Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Heating
Family rooms
Garden
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Cons:
Rooms need improvement
Some construction noise

Categories

Cleanliness
7.84
Clean and comfortable, but some reports of paint issues.
Service
8.62
Staff were friendly and helpful across reviews.
Location
8.35
Great location, convenient for city access.
Room Quality
7.6
Rooms need some TLC; generally comfortable.
Amenities
8.33
Honesty bar appreciated; basic amenities well-reviewed.
Value for Money
7.99
Good value considering the location and amenities.
Food and Beverage
8.84
Excellent breakfast offerings and quality.
Overall Experience
8.01
Enjoyable stay with minor issues noted.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 00:03

Property Description

Individually Designed Rooms
Each room at River Hotel is uniquely designed, offering a cozy stay with essential amenities such as a desk, WiFi, and a flat-screen TV. Select rooms even provide a picturesque view of the garden extending to the serene River Thames.

Scenic Dining Experience
Start your day with a delightful English breakfast at the hotel's restaurant while overlooking the tranquil River Thames. Whether you prefer a traditional English meal or have specific dietary requirements like vegetarian, the hotel ensures a satisfying dining experience for all guests.

Convenient Location
Situated near renowned landmarks like the University of Oxford and Ashmolean Museum, River Hotel offers easy access to explore the cultural gems of Oxford. With the Museum of the History of Science just a short distance away, guests can immerse themselves in the city's rich history.

Book your stay at River Hotel for a memorable experience in Oxford.

Important information:

Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a family member.

Breakfast and parking included, except in 'room only' rate.

When booking 5 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LHR

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 1191 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.84
Service: 8.62
Location: 8.35
Room Quality: 7.6
Amenities: 8.33
Value for Money: 7.99
Food and Beverage: 8.84
Overall Experience: 8.01
S
Sigurjón Ingi • solo_traveller • is
6
2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
C
Christina • solo_traveller • us
9
Pros:

The bed was the most comfortable we found in England so far. The staff was lovely, the breakfast was fantastic. The location was great, however there was nightly road work but the curtains kept out the lights.

Cons:

Only one window opened so it was a little stuffy. They gave a fan, but it didn't do much. We couldn't leave the window open overnight as it was on the first floor and no screens (which I know is a British thing) but it felt unsafe to leave open.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
S
Samson • solo_traveller • bh
7
Okay - fit-for-purpose
Pros:

Breakfast was sufficient

Cons:

Aeration in the room was not great at all. it was stuffy.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • gb
8
A short stay in a hotel in a very convenient location with great staff.
Pros:

Very helpful and friendly staff. Excellent parking. Very good breakfast. The location is convenient and close to riverside walks.

Cons:

There are major road works on the road which makes access complicated and can be noisy. This is very frustrating for the hotel staff who are keen to provide a great experience for their guests. I would certainly stay again though, as the hotel is very friendly and has a personal feel.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
C
Carolynne • couple • au
6
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
D
Dirk • couple • nl
8
Heerlijk verblijf gehad
Pros:

De ligging

Cons:

Was niet echt heel duidelijk vermeld dat de kamer op de tweede verdieping lag zonder lift.
Is uiteindelijk allemaal gelukt

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
I
Isaac • solo_traveller • es
10
2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
V
Vickie • couple • us
8
Comfortable Hotel with walking of the major attactions.
Pros:

The River is within easy walking distance for most of the attractions.
Unfortunately for them and us, there is ongoing construction nearby, which the staff made sure to reach out and inform us about. The construction had minimal impact on us.
The river Thames is adjacent to the property (though it looks more like a canal at this point). Be sure to take a stroll down the footpath to the lock. We enjoyed the nearby pubs the Holly Bush and The Punter.
Visit St John's College.

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
C
Catherine • solo_traveller • us
8
Pros:

Close to river and not too far from city.

Cons:

No lift. Multiple stairs.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
A
Amy • couple • gb
8
Great location, excellent breakfast, would stay again
Pros:

Great location ten minutes walk from the centre. Excellent breakfast, and fantastic staff. Very clean, and during our stay very quiet.

Cons:

The bathroom was quite old fashioned with a very low shower rail and cheap toilet paper.

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • solo_traveller • gb
7
Nice hotel but the double room was quite small, which was fine as I was staying alone. Breakfast was excellent and staff
2026-09-03 • via Nuitee
H
hendrik • couple • nl
7
Goede uitvalsbasis voor Oxford bezoek.
Pros:

Goed ontbijt en gunstige ligging en hele goede informatie over bereikbaarheid

Cons:

Is iets gedateerd

2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
M
MATT • couple • gb
7
2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
D
Debbie • extended_group • au
8
Very nice, friendly,attentive staff. Really good breakfasts. Very close and easy walking distance to city centre.
Pros:

It was a lovely traditional old style hotel. Staff were very nice and welcoming. Enjoyed the lounge area at night where you can enjoy a nice drink and read a book.

Cons:

Tv could have been a little bigger, hard to see channel selection from bed.

2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
E
Emmanuel • solo_traveller • de
10
Pros:

Le petit-déjeuner super
Le personnel serviable et aimable
L'emplacement proche de la ville, des la Tamise et avec un parking

Cons:

Il y avait des travaux dans la rue, mais ça n'a pas gêné et l'hôtel m'avais prévenu et donné l'itinéraire à suivre

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
J
Jelena • solo_traveller • rs
9
Pros:

The location is great, close to the train station and the city centre. The room was very clean and the staff very friendly.

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
L
Louise • couple • gb
3
Good location and parking but not much else to recommend
Pros:

Free car parking and good location near Oxford city centre

Cons:

We stayed in th annex. It was shabby and it was difficult to open the window. The shower was awful. The bed was really soft and squidgy. The staff were odd - not totally unhelpful but the place had an old fashioned run down feel.

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
W
Wendy • family_with_children • gb
6
Close to town but over priced
Pros:

On arrival we were re-directed to the annexe, this was across the road to the hotel. Looked like previous student accommodation. On entering the accommodation it felt like student accommodation, however on entering our room it was clean and beautifully presented. They only left one bath towel for two of us and no bottled water was left. This was rectified the following day. The breakfast was nice with any cooked items cooked freshly. Best sausage I’ve ever tasted. Fresh fruit and cereal was also plentiful. The hotel was located a short walk into the town.

Cons:

The garden behind the annexe was unusable and extremely over grown. You could however sit out at the hotel across the road.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
V
Vikki • family_with_children • gb
7
2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
F
Fabio • family_with_children • it
5
Hotel buono per la posizione
Pros:

ll punto di forza di questo hotel è certamente la posizione, poiché si trova a 5 minuti a piedi dalla stazione e a 15 minuti a piedi dal centro di Oxford, e il parcheggio, poiché consente a chi ha l'auto di muoversi liberamente. La stanza e i letti erano abbastanza confortevoli per una famiglia di 3 persone.

Cons:

La pulizia purtroppo ha lasciato molto a desiderare: visto che è un hotel con la moquette dovrebbe avere un'attenzione decisamente maggiore per quest'aspetto e invece... La colazione inglese che propongono è buona, però manca completamente non solo la possibilità di avere un caffè o un cappuccino (il caffè che portano se lo chiedi è un brodino solubile davvero pessimo... cosa abbastanza grave per un hotel che costa comunque oltre 200€ a notte), ma anche tutta la parte dolce: non c'era nemmeno un biscotto o una torta locale.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee