The Head of the River

4.0 star property

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Photo gallery for The Head of the River

Exterior
Exterior
Garden
Comfy Room | Desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Front of property

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pet-friendly
  • Breakfast available
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

Map
Folly Bridge, St. Aldates, Oxford, England, OX1 4LB
  • University of Oxford
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Christ Church College
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • New Theatre Oxford
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Oxford (OXF)
    ‪14 min drive‬

Room options

Comfy Room

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Indulgence Room

  • 16 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Cosy Room

  • 12 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Family Room

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Single Sofa Bed

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About this property

The Head of the River

Eco-certified inn with restaurant and bar/lounge
This smoke-free inn features a restaurant, a bar/lounge and a garden. WiFi in public areas is free. Housekeeping is available on request.
The Head of the River offers 19 accommodations with espresso makers and complimentary bottles of water. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels. Bathrooms include a shower, complimentary toiletries and hairdryers.

Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and an iron/ironing board. Housekeeping is provided on request.

Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at The Head of the River. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Thames River. Free WiFi in public areas, a restaurant and a bar are available. This property offers pet-friendly amenities, such as food and water bowls.
  • Free WiFi
  • Enjoy British cuisine while dining at The Head of the River
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast served daily for a fee
  • Amenities include a terrace
  • Guests have great things to say about the location and the helpful staff
  • Steps from Thames River and 3 minutes on foot from University of Oxford
  • Pets welcome for a fee
  • Pet-friendly amenities are available, including food and water bowls
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Public spaces have free WiFi. The eco-certified The Head of the River also features a terrace and a garden.

This 4-star Oxford inn is smoke free.

For a fee, guests can enjoy cooked-to-order breakfast on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM and at the weekend from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
The Head of the River – This pub specialises in British cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.

Awards and affiliations

Eco-certified property
This property participates in Green Tourism Programme – a programme that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural heritage and the local economy.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available

Food and drink

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM on weekends; GBP 10 to 15 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • The Head of the River

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • On a river
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Handrails in stairways (89 centimetre high)
  • Lever door handles
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Visual fire alarm
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (107 centimetre high)
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Espresso maker
  • Free bottled water

More

  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 8 AM - 9:30 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets: GBP 10 per pet, per night
  • Food and water bowls are available
  • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately GBP 10.00 to 15.00 per person
  • Pet fee: GBP 10 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
The front desk at this property is open daily from 8 AM - 9:30 PM.
Guests arriving after 11:00 PM must make advance arrangements by contacting the property using the information on the booking confirmation. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

Property is also known as

Head River
Head River Inn
Head River Inn Oxford
Head River Oxford
Head Of The River Hotel Oxford
The Head of the River Inn
The Head of the River Oxford
The Head of the River Inn Oxford

The Head of the River Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 318 out of 649 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 233 out of 649 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 56 out of 649 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 35 out of 649 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 649 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Elly

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

rosario

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

LYNN

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Had a great stay at Head of the River this weekend. Hotel and staff were great.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly and helpful staff. Bedrooms were very comfortable with excellent bathroom and shower - although floor of shower was a bit slippery. Lovely choice of breakfast. Can’t wait to return.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melanie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay at The Head of the River. Our room was really comfy - and our dog Bert was made really welcome too. Breakfast was exceptional.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leonard

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sally

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great breakfast
Room very clean and comfortable, good view, quiet despite being next to a busy road. Staff all pleasant and helpful. Top quality complimentary teas and coffees. Lovely toiletries. Great breakfast. Would definitely stay again
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mehmet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

panaporn

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wed night Thames water decided to dig up Folley Bridge at 11.15pm. Unbelievably loud pneumatic drills being used to break up the concrete. This disturbance went on until about 3am. A total nightmare. Obviously not the fault of the Head of the River, but i hope HOTR will complain to the council for sanctioning these roadworks to begin at 11:15pm right next door to a hotel full of guests. Other than that, a perfect stay in Oxford and i fully recommend the HOTR as an ideal location with lovely hotel rooms.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
would recommend & would stay again when in the area. room was clean and comfortable, food was good and affordable, staff was excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quick but perfect stay at Head of the River!
We enjoyed a 2-night stay at Head of the River. Fantastic location. Restaurant/pub on site was excellent—and the included breakfast was an added bonus. Staff was lovely! Beds were very comfortable and bed linens were high quality. Loved our stay and would absolutely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lucy

Great accommodation with lovey staff and great pub !
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love this property, everything you could ask for. Great food, lovely room with such character, great breakfast. Close to all the top spots in Oxford and close to the railway station and bus drop off from London.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Head off the river is a stunning place to stay. The room is very clean and has everything you can need. The staff from the beginning were helpful and accommodating. The food at the restaurant had a full and great selection, and delicious.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carl

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely
Lovely stay
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

keith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michele Van

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Enjoyed our stay in this unique hotel on the river Thames. Staff was very friendly and room cozy.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Larry

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Convenient location and walkable to town. Staff was friendly and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

M Jane

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly, helpful staff. Comfortable room. Excellent pub/restaurant. No lift.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Graeme

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Sarah

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024