Browns

8.0
Excellent
(41 reviews)

281 Iffley Rd, Oxford OX4 4AQ, United Kingdom

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Hotel Description

Browns, located at 281 Iffley Rd, Oxford OX4 4AQ, United Kingdom, offers a charming and eclectic bed and breakfast experience that beautifully merges comfort, style, and convenience. Nestled in a brick Victorian house, Browns stands just a 5-minute walk from a serene riverside park along the River Thames, providing guests with a peaceful retreat within easy reach of Oxford’s city centre, a mere 1.5 miles away. The iconic University of Oxford is also within close proximity, making Browns an ideal location for both business and leisure travelers seeking a blend of historic elegance and modern comfort.
Upon entering, guests are greeted by a warm, inviting atmosphere with individually decorated rooms featuring a mix of antique and retro furniture. The rooms are thoughtfully designed to offer comfort and relaxation, with free Wi-Fi, cozy furnishings, and a soothing ambiance. While most rooms come with en suite bathrooms, a few feature shared facilities, providing options to suit a variety of guests’ preferences. Each morning, guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast served in the cozy on-site café, which also boasts a charming bakery and a crackling fireplace, creating a homey vibe to start the day.
Browns prides itself on offering a range of unique amenities to enhance the guest experience. While the hotel does not permit pets and maintains a smoke-free environment, it does provide essential services such as high-speed Wi-Fi and a public internet workstation, ensuring that guests can stay connected. The absence of air conditioning is offset by the cool, airy atmosphere that the historic building provides, keeping the space comfortable during milder weather.
In terms of accessibility, Browns enjoys excellent transportation connections. The hotel is well-served by public transportation options, with major bus stops and a variety of nearby taxis that make travel around Oxford and beyond quick and easy. The hotel’s proximity to major airports, including Heathrow (1 hour by taxi), London Gatwick (1 hour 40 minutes by taxi), and Birmingham Airport (1 hour 24 minutes by taxi), ensures that guests can easily reach their destinations, whether they’re arriving by car, train, or plane.
Health and safety are paramount at Browns, and the hotel has implemented a range of measures to safeguard guests' well-being. With attention to cleanliness and sanitation throughout the property, guests can relax knowing that their health is prioritized. The friendly and professional staff are always on hand to provide guidance and assistance, ensuring a safe and comfortable stay.
Guests will find plenty to do in the area, with Oxford’s rich history and culture just waiting to be explored. Within a short distance of the hotel, visitors can enjoy activities such as walking tours, boat rides on the Thames, and visits to local museums, galleries, and historic sites. For those seeking a bit of local culture, the Oxford Castle & Prison offers tours through a fascinating 900-year-old medieval site, while the Ashmolean Museum showcases world-class art and antiquities.
Nearby attractions include the famous Bodleian Library, just a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and Christ Church, one of Oxford's most iconic colleges, where visitors can marvel at its grand quad and riverside meadows. The Pitt Rivers Museum, also nearby, offers a fascinating collection of ethnographic treasures, from shrunken heads to ancient relics.
For dining options, guests can enjoy a range of top-notch restaurants just a short distance from the hotel. Fresco offers authentic Italian cuisine, and Antep Kitchen serves up delicious Turkish dishes, both within a 7-minute taxi ride. Dirty Bones Oxford offers American-style comfort food, while La Cucina serves another Italian-inspired menu just 5 minutes away by taxi. The Folly Restaurant offers a more modern European dining experience, also a 7-minute taxi ride from Browns.
Whether you’re in Oxford for business or leisure, Browns provides a memorable stay, combining historical charm with modern amenities in a tranquil location close to everything the city has to offer. We invite you to experience the best of Oxford by staying at Browns and enjoying the exceptional service and hospitality that will make your visit unforgettable.

The Most Outstanding Trait

1. Warm, individually decorated rooms with antique and retro furniture

2. Free Wi-Fi and a cozy on-site cafe with bakery and fireplace

3. Proximity to key Oxford attractions, including the University of Oxford and River Thames

4. Easy access to transportation, including taxis and nearby bus stops

5. Nearby major airports with convenient taxi access, including Heathrow and Gatwick

6. Smoke-free property with a commitment to guest health and safety

7. Variety of nearby dining options, including Italian, Turkish, American, and modern European cuisine

8. Convenient 1.5-mile distance from Oxford city centre, perfect for exploring

9. Historic Victorian building with a charming, eclectic atmosphere

10. Walking distance to iconic Oxford landmarks like Ashmolean Museum and Bodleian Library


8.8 Excellent

Location rating

Top sights

Ashmolean Museum
12 min
Bodleian Library
10 min
Christ Church
10 min
Pitt Rivers Museum
9 min
Oxford Castle & Prison
12 min

Nearest locations

Oxford Fish Shop
1 min
Oli's Thai & Elle’s Deli
2 min
La Cucina
5 min
Arbequina
5 min
FRESCO
7 min
Antep Kitchen
7 min
The Folly Restaurant
7 min
Dirty Bones Oxford
9 min
See more Interesting locations

Good to know

Location rating8.8
Nearest airportHeathrow Airport
Travel time to airport1 hr

Location

281 Iffley Rd, Oxford OX4 4AQ, United Kingdom

Airports:

Heathrow Airport

Taxi: 1 hr

London City Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 47 min

Transit: 2 hr 16 min

London Luton Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 16 min

London Stansted Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 46 min

Birmingham Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 24 min

London Gatwick Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 40 min

Transit: 2 hr 37 min

Southampton Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 22 min

Transit:

Brookes University (Stop B3)

Taxi: 8 min

Walking: 35 min

St Clements Street (Stop B)

Taxi: 5 min

Walking: 20 min

St Clements Street (Stop A)

Taxi: 5 min

Walking: 19 min

Howard Street west

Walking: 1 min

Oxford

Taxi: 12 min

Walking: 46 min


Nearby locations

8.8

Excellent Location

Lying a 5-minute walk from a riverside park on the River Thames, this cosy, eclectic B&B in a brick Victorian house is within 1.5 miles of Oxford city centre and the University of Oxford.

Top Attractions

Top Restaurants


Amenities and Facilities

Pets

No pets

Policies & payments

Smoke-free property

Food & drink

Restaurant

Internet

Wi-Fi

Public internet workstation

Rooms

No air conditioning


Reviews

100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo

5.8

8 reviews

Wonderful
3
Excellent
1
Good
0
Below Average
0
Not Good
4
Cover Image for Divya Narain

Divya Narain

1/5
I would strongly recommend against staying at this family-run property and if you do, please book via an online platform. DO NOT, in any event, be lured into make a direct booking with them - in my opinion, they are very unethical in their dealings. Do not be fooled by their warm and nice exterior. The room I stayed in was OK although the bathroom was small and the furniture old. But another guest, a friend of mine, told me that his mattress was a bowl of soup - they haven’t replaced it in what must be 10 years. It's a bit of a hustle - they only get away with it because decent lodging in Oxford is hard to come by.

Cover Image for vini

vini

1/5
Probably the worst place I have stayed in Oxford/London area. Smelly beds, very small bathrooms and hosts who come across as rudest people in the whole of UK! They charge a bomb for substandard services. Don't be fooled by the photos.

Room 1

Service 1

Location1

Cover Image for Vineet Abhishek

Vineet Abhishek

1/5
Shady people. They come across as very refined initially, but but lack all forms of humanity once you get to know them. Extremely crude people.Nice location but overall experience is jarring. The father daughter duo who run the place are very rude and uncouth, something you don't expect. I don't recommend them at all, based on my experience with them. They tend to impress you initially but once you know them and the place for a couple of days, you realise the charade that they play out together.Stay at this place at your own risk, and never ever pay them any advance if you are from outside the UK/Oxford. They will disappear with the money without showing an iota of remorse.

DN

Divya N

1/5
I would strongly recommend against staying at this family-run property and if you do, please book via a platform like Airbnb or Tripadvisor etc. …

JC

Jennie C

4/5
We called in for coffee and loved the atmosphere. It felt relaxed and refined. The coffee was good too! The surroundings had a ' luxurious' and 'refined' feel, mirrors and a grand piano! Service was excellent and we liked it so much that we went back on another day.

PC

Paul C

5/5
Brown's is my new favourite resting pace in Oxford. ||||Family owned since 1968, it underwent a transformation recently into a chic bohemian hotel with a simply stunning organic cafe, and a restaurant that specialises in occasional theme …

LT

Lois T

5/5
We stayed here for two nights and were made to feel most welcome. The hotel was very clean, comfortable and homely, and nothing was too much trouble for the owners. …

AM

Ann M

5/5
Five of us stayed in Browns for two nights to attend my son's graduation. We were delighted with the accommodation - very comfortable and ideally located. We availed of the breakfast in the cafe attached to it called 'Silvie'. …