Conifers Guest House

We found this place at the last minute, and it was the only one that offered a room for a family. Our quadruple room had a double bed and two singles, plus a relatively large bathroom. The room was clean and well furnished, and the beds were comfortable. There was a basic kitchenette with a microwave, kettle, mini fridge, plates and bowls, plus basic tea and coffee making supplies, teabags, coffee sachets and dairy creamers. We didn't eat breakfast here, though they offer a buffet for £10 a head. It was hot when we visited, so the hosts brought us a standing fan. Even with it, the room got quite stuffy at night, and we had to leave the windows open. The room faces a picnic table, parking area and gateway, so there was a lot of foot traffic and groups chatting late into the night, drinking and smoking right outside the door and windows. There wasn't much privacy or quiet. Parking is very tight if you have a big car. We had a 7-seater, and there aren't separate spaces for each room, you park wherever you find a vacant spot. After struggling to park for the first two nights, the hosts let us park next door. Getting onto and off the street is tricky too, since nearly half of it is taken up by bicycle lanes and traffic queues in a single lane on both sides of the road. The loose, lopsided toilet seat and the bathroom extractor fan, which wasn't turning, need fixing. It would also help to have a box of tissues and a kitchen towel roll to wipe around the sink after washing dishes. Getting into Oxford was easy. We used the nearby park & ride, which gives a free return bus ride to the city centre for up to 2 adults & 3 children when you park your car for £2.50 for 16 hours. There are lots of eateries and restaurants within a 15 minute walk. Don't miss the "Headington Shark" along the way or the Lye Valley nature reserve right on the doorstep.

Room 10 worked perfectly for our weekend away. It was roomy enough for our family of three, with a kitchen area and all the tea and coffee making things we needed. The owner was really friendly and made us feel at home. Getting into Oxford centre was easy too, with a bus along the route taking about 15 minutes. Communication from the proprietor was excellent, access to the rooms was simple, and parking was free. We’ll definitely stay again when we’re back in Oxford.

The room was a good size, clean and comfortable, and the bathroom had a bath with a shower. You can pay for breakfast the night before. It’s only a couple of minutes’ walk to the Orthopaedic hospital, so it’s ideal if that’s why you’re here. Central Oxford is less convenient and needs a taxi, around £11 if you aren’t driving. I couldn’t see any shops or restaurants right nearby, so make a plan for food. The road is busy and noisy and never gets properly quiet, so light sleepers should be aware.

My husband was going in for surgery, and the staff let us check in early. They also allowed us to leave our car there from mid morning until late afternoon the next day, which was such a help since parking at the hospital is hard to find. The staff couldn’t have been lovelier. Thank you, we really appreciated it.