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The Ridings Guest House

3.0 star property
Travelers find a peaceful retreat with a garden sanctuary near Christ Church College, perfect for nature lovers and academic explorers alike

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Lobby - The Ridings Guest House (Oxford)
Iron/ironing board, free WiFi - The Ridings Guest House (Oxford)
Lobby - The Ridings Guest House (Oxford)
Exterior - The Ridings Guest House (Oxford)
Lobby - The Ridings Guest House (Oxford)
The Ridings Guest House, steps from Christ Church College, offers a quiet escape with a peaceful garden. Guests appreciate in-room WiFi, helpful luggage storage, and knowledgeable tour assistance, making it easier to explore Oxford's academic treasures.

Reviews

6.4 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Room service

Room options

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Showing 3 of 3 rooms

View all photos for Single Room, Shared Bathroom

Single Room, Shared Bathroom | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Single Room, Shared Bathroom

  • 12 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

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Double Room, Ensuite | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Double Room, Ensuite

  • 15 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Twin Room, Ensuite

Twin Room, Ensuite | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Twin Room, Ensuite

  • 12 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

South Oxford, a neighborhood in Oxford, is home to The Ridings Guest House. Ozone Leisure Centre and Waterperry Gardens are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit Bicester Village and Covered Market. Millets Farm Centre and Didcot Railway Centre are also worth visiting. Visit our Oxford travel guide
View more Guest Houses in Oxford
Map
280 Abingdon Road, Oxford, England, OX1 4TA

What's nearby

  • Thames Path
    Thames Path
    9 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • University of Oxford
    University of Oxford
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Tom tower at Oxford university
    Christ Church College
    5 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Oxford Castle
    Oxford Castle
    7 min drive - 1.5 miles
  • Bridge of sign with the Sheldonian theatre background - Oxford, UK
    New Theatre Oxford
    8 min drive - 1.5 miles

Getting around

  • Oxford Station
    10 min drive
  • Heathrow Airport (LHR)
    60 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Alchemist
    3 min drive
  • The Chester
    19 min walk
  • The Head of the River, Oxford
    16 min walk
  • Caffè Ethos
    17 min walk
  • The Mad Hatter
    5 min drive

About this property

The Ridings Guest House

Guesthouse near Thames River
The Ridings Guest House provides a garden and more. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Additional perks include:
  • Free self parking
  • Luggage storage, tour/ticket assistance, and smoke-free premises
Room features
All guestrooms at The Ridings Guest House include amenities such as free WiFi.

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Double Room | Iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
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  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast available
  • Housekeeping
7.2 out of 10, Good, 90 reviews
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free offsite parking
  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • No housekeeping service
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Garden

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Limited room service

More

  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 7:30 PM
Late check-in subject to availability

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 7:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Frequently asked questions

Is The Ridings Guest House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property; nearby parking is also free.

What time is check-in at The Ridings Guest House?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 7:30 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at The Ridings Guest House?

Check-out is at 10:30 AM.

Where is The Ridings Guest House located?

Located in South Oxford, this guesthouse is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Thames River and 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from University of Oxford. Thames Path and Pembroke College are also within 1 mi (2 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

The Ridings Guest House Reviews

6.4

7.0

Cleanliness

7.0

Location

7.0

Staff & service

6.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 166 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 47 out of 166 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 47 out of 166 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 30 out of 166 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 166 reviews

Reviews

Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Owner changed property last minute

I can’t actually comment on the Ridings Guest house as I didn’t stay there At 4pm on the day I was due to check in I was phoned by the owner & asked if I would go to their ‘twin guest house’ instead I was texted an alternative address & stayed in a place called White House View instead
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021
Verified

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Staff Helpful but room unappealing...

The staff were very helpful and accommodating as I needed to arrive later than advertised - efforts were made to communicate with me which was greatly appreciated. The bedding and bathroom were clean enough, but the building was a bit seedy, and room was smelly with old carpets and an alarmingly cracked ceiling. On first telephone discussion I had in advance, I was told only continental breakfast was available and included, but on the morning of my stay I was told my tarriff did not include breakfast at all, so information was inconsistent and could be made clearer one way or the other, plus I noticed full breakfast was available - but clearly not for me, so I had the added expense of finding and purchasing breakfast as an extra in the City Centre which I had not been expecting so disappointing.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
great location only a 20 minute walk into Oxford. Pleasant room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Comfortable and relaxing room

Very welcoming and lovely clean room.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

The house is a satellite and the staff are based at another house nearby so you have to text them to come over. There's parking for three in the front and house does not have a lift. The room was tight but the bathroom was excellent. It's half way between the town centre and the Park and Ride, so there was a lot of walking. Good services in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The owner was friendly and accommodating. Bed was comfortable.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
So sorry to have to leave this review, but our stay was exhausting and uncomfortable from the start. The guy who let us in was polite enough, but that was the last we saw of him. Constant traffic noise, inconsiderate and noisy guests, late at night. Beds extremely squeaky, lumpy, uncomfortable. Bedding dirty, dried food on spread, blood stains on the quilt cover. Towels unwashed, dirty and smelly, which would have been obvious to the management. Shower mouldy and tiles loose, need grouting, hot water tap cold, curtains not well fitting, let in light. Heating sporadic and not individually controlled. No room service, even though it's stated in the literature, no breakfast available either, unless you want to walk 15 minutes down the road to another venue, which wasn't an option for us as my mother has limited mobility. Fridge in the common room was full of mouldy food, 'tea and coffee facilities' consisted of two tea bags, two cups and a kettle. Broken lamp, wall plaster cracked in need of repair, heavy dust on all horizontal surfaces, filthy mirror. TV over head end of single bed was not safety chained to the wall, my mother had to sleep on the mattress on the floor as was fearful of it's robustness - at least it stopped the squeaking portable bed frame. Smoke alarms bleeped constantly, cigarette burns, mould on the net curtains, mould on the window mastic, windows stiff, some with broken handles. Dangerous extension cable to kettle. They did however empty the bins daily.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Definitely recommended. Lovely public rooms downstairs, with comfy sofas, large TV, bookcase, also conservatory to sit in. My room both scrupulously clean, well provided incl kettle etc. and deliciously warm, as was shared bathroom with good power shower. Courteous and helpful welcome from owner, incl. offered to carry in my luggage - not many places still do this! House itself was quiet and peaceful. My room faced Abingdon Road (constant traffic) which doesn't bother me at all, but others might like to know to ask otherwise. Property still undergoing refurbishment on stairs and top floor, so will be even better soon. Beyond the property: bus stop into/from town v nearby, or about 20 mins wallk to Cornmarket. There is parking in front for up to 4 cars. At worst you can park at Redbridge Park & Ride and walk 12 minutes. I had dinner at the Duke of Monmouth a few doors down, really good steak & salad where they catered brilliantly for my allergies. There's also a Tesco Express within walking distance for ordinary food shopping. The Ridings overall: a modest place to stay but has everything you need including cleanliness, and at an excellent price for near-central Oxford.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Stefanos

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Position of the hotel and hospitality
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019
Verified

2/10 Terrible

J

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Really hate leaving bad reviews particularly as the main owner who greeted was very pleasant but this had to be my worst guest house experience in a long while. Smoke alarms kept bleeping (low battery voltage?) dreadful mattresses, room bin hadn’t been emptied, shared bathroom dingy, shower head broken, filthy toilet...the list goes on...not great particularly when you have to get up the following morning to give a music recital - I was exhausted! It’s such a shame as this could be a really, really nice place
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2019
Verified

6/10 Okay

A

Liked: Cleanliness
Walking distance to Oxford but a very basic hotel. This hotel is super basic. The bathroom is shared and had mould in the corner. Fine for a night in a pinch, but just be aware.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

Jonny

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Die Betten waren gut und erschienen sauber. Der Rest leider nicht. Die Fenster waren aufgrund eines Baugerüstes aussen nicht bzw. nur minimal zu öffnen, d.h. man konnte absolut nicht gut lüften, was aber dringend notwendig gewesen wäre, da zumindest eins der beiden Zimmer massiv nach Chlor gerochen hat. Dieser Geruch ist ein Indikator für Schimmelbefall bzw. Versuche diesen zu beseitigen. Die Fugen in den Badezimmern zeigten, dass diese Versuche nicht erfolgreich abgeschlossen waren. In den angeblich gereinigten Zimmern lagen leicht bewegliche Krümel auf dem Boden. Regale waren staubig. Die Sitzgelegenheiten sind ebenfalls schmuddelig. Die online Fotos sind aus den absolut best möglichen Winkeln geschossen. Die Zimmer sind kleiner als der Schein trügt. Vorsicht: Die Reservierung ist nicht erstattbar, und erst nach langem Reden wurde uns ein Rabatt gewährt. Allerdings kein angemessener. Wir haben es uns teuer zu stehen lassen müssen, die Unterkunft frühzeitig verlassen zu können. Wir sind sehr unzufrieden und extrem enttäuscht. Unser Tip: Holiday Inn im Norden der Stadt und das P&R unmittelbar (unter 5 min. zu Fuß) daneben verwenden.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort

Very disappointed and will not stay again.

The manager was very pleasant however, I booked this guest house for free parking to realise that there are only 3 spaces of which the manager parks in one. First night i was lucky enough to have a call from him when he arrived to move his car. The next night, I return at 8 to find no spaces and had to park on side road. £75 per night, no breakfast, no en-suite and had to park on the road. Don't advertise free parking if you can't deliver. I got a much better hotel for next week in Oxford with Ensuite and breakfast included plus a big car park for just £10 extra per night. Also, breakfast only availabe from 8:30. If you can afford another £10 stay somewhere else.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Don't go there

Disgusting bathroom, no ventilation (scaffolding blocking windows), uncomfortable bed, the feel of a by-the-hour premises and people sleeping in the breakfast area. We left after the first night by 8:30 am. Felt dirty and cheap. But the charges and the misrepresentation on Expedia was most disappointing. Don't go there.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

lynsey

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wouldn't stay here again

Nowhere to park on arrival and had to sit outside with hazard lights on until a car moved. Only 3 spaces for a 8 room hotel???? No bath towels or hair dryer in room as expected and had to ring hotel to get them as staff could not be found anywhere. After nipping out for some food we arrived back in our room to the smell of sewage. It was coming up out if the shower drain. The manager came and gave it a quick clean but we spent the night with an awful smell. Couldn't open the windows either, except one a tiny bit (and it was a 27° day) because of scaffolding outside. Surely this is a health and safety risk? Woke up to the continued smell and a shower cubicle full of smelly water with bits in! I managed a quick shower once I got it to drain away but it filled up so quickly again my daughter couldn't shower. To top it all off the bathroom was grubby with brown stains on the wall by the toilet and scum around the shower. There was a damp stain on the bedroom wall too and little holes in the ceiling which made me rather uncomfortable as I can't figure out why they are there. All in all a horrible experience after a very long day that I could have done without. Not impressed at all.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

Michael

Disliked: Cleanliness

Good and Bad

Bathroom was disgusting - mould, sink plugged, toilet often impossible to flush. Rest of the place was ok,
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018
Verified

6/10 Okay

Tamara

Ok

As another guest stated, one night was enough. You must pay extra for breakfast, but there was a spot to park. It’s about 25 minutes to Christchurch College. Very basic, but good nights sleep.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Meget venligt personale og et ganske fint værelse. Det lå dog lidt væk fra centrum, men bussen går lige uden for hoveddøren. Der var rent og pænt.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2018
Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service
The guest house was easy to find and access was fine as I communicated with them in advance. The house is on a busy street and 30 min walk to downtown-driving is virtually impossible due to a severe lack parking. The room was very dated although it seemed clean . The bed was ok but not great. There is scaffolding on the building and workers were there by 7:30am on a Saturday.The owner did allow me to park there until 2:00pm on departure day.
Stayed 1 night in May 2018
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We did not end up staying at this hotel as all the windows were blocked by scaffolding, There was black mold around the window and in the bathroom. We requested a refund due to unsafe conditions. Requested a refund and asked for Expedia to assist with this, however to date have received nothing and no communication from Expedia. Can not believe a building that is unsafe to stay in is able to advertise on Expedia
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Yukio

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
スタッフが常駐していない貸し部屋で、用のある時はちょっと困った。 特に到着時、ちょっと遅れたので、なかなか連絡が取れなかった。 それ以外では、文句なく快適。市中心までもバス一本で行ける。
Verified

4/10 Poor

andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Cheap and cheerful

Very basic But what you’d expect for the price It’s half the price of anything else
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018
Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Cheap and cheerful

Basic but clean and warm. Road very noisy but close enough to town and amenities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Verified

4/10 Poor

Kerry

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not the best

Tv didn't work, shower not very clean, no hand towel and big towel smelled. No parking as advertised
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Verified

8/10 Good

Nicolas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Belle petite chambre d'hôte...

L'accueil a été parfait. Je suis arrivé le matin et on m'a gentiment proposé de garder mes affaires le temps qu'il fasse la chambre et que je fasse un tour dans la ville. A mon retour, j'ai pu retrouvé mes affaires dans ma chambre. Le personnel était très aimable. Les chambres sont bien rénovées et très accueillantes. Le lit est confortable. Seuls bémols : l'isolation sonore et le manque de volets. Ma chambre donnait sur un autre bâtiment en face et la lumière est resté allumé toute la nuit.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2017