Charney Manor

There were no extra charges for breakfast, WiFi or parking, and it made for a pleasant, budget-friendly base for exploring Oxford, Blenheim and the Cotswold villages. The countryside is lovely, with nice walks around the neighbourhood. At Charney Manor, we found the rooms practical and comfortable, and there were plenty of shared spaces, including a library, sitting room and TV area to relax in at night. Staff were helpful and friendly. The continental breakfast had far more choice than expected, and everything was fresh.

We left straight away. At the front desk, the staff were dismissive and rude, and offered a refund without admitting any fault. They insisted the cleaning attempt was enough, which I found completely unacceptable. We had arrived at Charney Manor in a remote part of the countryside, and although the outside looked charming from a distance, the property was old and in poor shape. The interior was dirty, and our room hadn't been cleaned before we arrived. I stopped counting after seeing more than 20 spiders. When I complained, staff seemed to take it seriously and said they'd send a “cleaning specialist.” She introduced herself as “the spider specialist” and started knocking spiders off the ceiling with a feather duster, straight into my open suitcase. That was the last straw. I strongly advise against staying here. Cleanliness isn't guaranteed, and I saw no professionalism or concern for guest comfort.

We'd just visited Oxford and were looking for somewhere quiet, so we brought a picnic after seeing that there weren't pubs and restaurants all around. It was a perfect stay, with a beautiful historic building, lovely grounds and picnic spots in a peaceful little village. The staff were friendly and helpful.

It had just the setting I imagined for an English country manor, and it was beautiful. The staff were delightful, and the rooms were kept impeccably. I'd love to come back.