River Hotel

Hotels
8.2 (1151 reviews)
17 Botley Road , Oxford , gb

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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

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 4 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and charges may be applicable.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 4 years old stay for £10 per person per stay when using an available cot.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 1151 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
M
Mark • solo_traveller • gb
5
Basic room near the station
Pros:

It was a convenient location with free parking. The communal honesty bar was well stocked. It was relatively cheap.

Cons:

There were basically no staff. The outside doors were locked at about 7pm. There was nobody on reception, all evening, breakfast wasn't available until 7:45 which is hopeless if you are working. It wasn't particularly clean and the facilities were really rather shabby and poorly maintained. It's lucky I wasn't with my wife as she would have refused to stay here

2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
M
Marianne • couple • no
5
Trangt og dårlig luft på rommet, kun egnet til å sove. Hyggelig betjening!
Pros:

Beliggenhet ved elven, hagen og hyggelig frokostsal og lounge

Cons:

Trangt rom, ikke mulig å få frisk luft

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
K
Kokulu • solo_traveller • tr
5
Orta
Pros:

Temizdi

Cons:

Yatak iki kişi için çok küçüktü ve yatak kenarlara doğru eğimliydi, biraz küf kokusu vardı koridorda. Bir de dışardaki kapının sürekli çarpması rahatsız etti

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
E
elena • solo_traveller • fr
10
Pros:

Hotel très bien tenu

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
L
Loredana • couple • ch
7
Für einen Kurzaufenthalt gut.
Pros:

Sehr freundliches Personal. Gutes Frühstück. Top Lage.

Cons:

Kein klimatisiertes Zimmer nur kleiner Tischventilator. Das Fenster konnte nur einen Spalt geöffnet werden.

2026-07-14 • via Nuitee
A
Annett • solo_traveller • de
7
2026-07-14 • via Nuitee
M
Manda Stone • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

The building was beautiful and right on the banks of the Thames. The breakfast room was lovely - quaint and calm. There was also a delightful little garden and a very well stocked honesty bar. The staff were very pleasant, helpful and informative.

Cons:

The room was very dated. The decor was tired and in need of an upgrade. It was all a bit shabby. However, it was graded as a 2 star hotel so I think it was appropriate, and overall, it had a charm about it and was ony the best location.

2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
E
Ehrnrooth • extended_group • se
5
2026-07-11 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • extended_group • us
8
2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
L
LYNETTE • family_with_children • gb
9
We had a very enjoyable stay at the River Hotel
Pros:

Location just a short walk from the train station. Welcoming touches in the room bottled water and biscuits.Spacious and clean room and bathroom.Lovely breakfast with plenty of of choice.Warm and friendly host a nice pretty exterior with seating outside overlooking the river.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
L
Lidia • family_with_children • es
7
2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
M
Martinez • solo_traveller • es
7
Pros:

Près de la gare. Bon petit déjeuner. Ambiance familiale. Personnel attentionné.Au bord de la Támesis

Cons:

Manquement à l'entretien de la salle de bains: vieux calcaire autour des robinets, joints noircis, poubelles sales ( rouille et éclaboussure)

2026-07-07 • via Nuitee
I
In Ja • solo_traveller • au
9
2026-07-07 • via Nuitee
A
Alexander • solo_traveller • gb
10
Great hotel very close to station
Pros:

Stayed during British GP weekend- good location for the train up to parkway for the shuttle bus for the Friday and Saturday. Taxi to the shuttle on Sunday AM.

The hotel were very accommodating with our large and heavy bags and although we were too early for the breakfast on both mornings they gave us an early breakfast bag which was invaluable for us.

Very close and easy for the station. Room was comfortable and spacious. Old style hotel but nicely kept and good facilities for a comfortable stay.

Would definitely recommend for our purpose and thanks to the kind staff to make our weekend straightforward and easy.

2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
N
Nadine • solo_traveller • de
8
2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
J
Jaemin • solo_traveller • hk
2
This is an inn, not a hotel.
Pros:

Breakfast and location

Cons:

- Cleaning crew management: I found a big trash bag when I returned to my room. Turns out they didn’t finish and left. Never experienced like that in any hotel in my entire life.
- very limited amenities
- Weary room.
- No lift - if your room is on a high floor you have to take your luggage by yourself all the way through the stairs. Of course, they do not offer help!
- Staff not friendly: That afternoon reception guy somehow always looks at a computer monitor and leaves guests hanging. He won’t even lift a finger - whether luggage pick up or guest greeting.

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
A
alessandro • solo_traveller • it
10
Piacevole e accogliente
Pros:

Lo staff è gentilissimo. Ti fa sentire a casa. L'hotel è gestito con molta cura ed è pulito.
La colazione è molto buona e c'è molta varietà. I piatti caldi, molto buoni, sono preparati al momento. Il giardino accanto al fiume è uno splendido angolo di pace.

Cons:

Non è in centro città ma il centro è comunque molto vicino, a piedi.

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
M
Malcolm • solo_traveller • gb
8
Oxford again!
Pros:

Location very good / convenient. Breakfast excellent and dining area tip top. Good guidance re access, etc.

Cons:

Room needed a bit of a refurbishment ... and better cleaning. Bathroom shower curtain mouldy or stained at the base. Slip mat looked very aged. Window was grubby behind the glazing.

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • solo_traveller • nz
8
Pros:

Location, the age of the hotel with its history. Breakfast was delicious and filling.

Cons:

Room was at the front and very noisy. Shower tricky to use.

2026-06-29 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • solo_traveller • gb
10
Absolutely perfect
Pros:

Really well located from the bus station and railway station, the outside is beautiful and looks so inviting. The gardens are so peaceful by the river. Great size rooms with everything you need. The breakfast room is spacious and cool and the breakfast was perfect. The owners are fabulous and friendly. I slept so well even in the heat. I will definitely be back

2026-06-29 • via Nuitee