Most of you will have likely heard of the Artist Residence by now. They’re a small but beautifully formed chain of hotels around the UK, and you’ll find rooms to rent in London, Brighton, Bristol, Cornwall and Oxfordshire. The interiors are great, the cocktails and food just great and the prices aren’t too crazy either (which is probably why they made it onto your top UK hotels list from 2021).
Their Oxfordshire hotel is a located in a refurbished 16th century inn, about a twenty-minute drive outside of the city centre and nestled on the outskirts of the Cotswolds, making it an ideal location to explore from. It opened back in 2018 and earlier this month they added a two-bedroom cabin to the site which is aimed at families and groups.
Having not stepped foot on a plane in over two years and desperate to just take a break from the monotony of daily life with two young kids (and the constant nagging between us that it often ensues) me and my boyfriend decided on a whim to whip off for a UK city break with the kids. We made the decision on a Thursday night at 8pm and by 8.15pm we’d booked Artist Residence Oxfordshire’s brand new two-bedroom cabin for the coming weekend.
Here’s how our stay went…
What is it?
There’s less than 10 hotel rooms at their Oxfordshire location and in usual Artist Residence style, all rooms are different. There’s budget cosy rooms, bigger rooms with four-posted beds and copper bath-tubs, a shepherd’s hut, and of course, their new two-bed ‘Hideaway.‘ The grounds are sparse, this isn’t a location hotel that comes with plenty of activities and amenities, this is a place with gorgeous rooms and a traditional-style pub with plenty of comfort food and board games. There’s also bikes and welly boots to borrow.
Where is it?
It’s located in a super rural location just outside of Witney which is to the west of Oxford. It’s just off the A40 and easy to drive to from the M40, and having a car would definitely be easier than public transport for this one.
How much does it cost?
You can find rooms for not much more than £150 a night, but for the two-bed Hideaway you can expect to pay closer to £400 for the night. We only stayed one night, but most Artist Residence weekend bookings require a minimum of a two-night stay.
Who should I stay with?
In general, I’d place Artist Residence as an excellent place for a romantic night away (we stayed at the Brighton location for my babymoon with my second baby), but the Hideaway makes for a great spot to enjoy some time with kids. The master bedroom contains an incredibly comfy super king size bed, whilst the second bedroom is a teeny tiny bunk room complete with bunk beds and enough space to just about squeeze in a travel cot.
What is there to do?
There’s not much in the surrounding area so it’s definitely a place to come if you want to switch off and curl up next to a log fire with a good book (which I did, multiple times). It’s also brilliant for generous bubble baths if you have a room with one of their copper baths (side note: these can fit two adults in). There’s also plenty of places within local driving distance from Oxford city centre to Bicester shopping villages as well of course as the Cotswolds.
What are the rooms like?
The decor is cool with flashes of colour, velvet sofas and jazzy artwork. WiFi is standard, as is complimentary tea making facilities and a Nespresso machine. There wasn’t a TV in our bedroom but there was in the living room (The Hideaway has two bedrooms, a living space and a huge family bathroom), although it was just standard freeview – not sure if this is the same throughout the hotel so you might need to bring a tablet or laptop if you want Netflix etc). For me, the rooms and the amenities (unlimited luxury bubble bath) are what make Artist Residence so brilliant IMO. There’s also room service!
What about the food and drink?
There’s just one place to eat and that’s at The Mason Arms, the pub which the Artist Residence is located within. Thankfully, the food and drinks are outrageously good. Breakfast has everything from avocado and eggs to pancakes, and dinner has burgers, burrata, squid, the lot! The drinks menu is vast and contains plenty of cocktails too – which can be delivered straight to your door if you so wish.
What makes it great?
It’s the way you can arrive at 3pm and not feel the need to venture back out again because everything you need to fill a lazy, switched-off afternoon and evening is there: the fires, the baths, the food and drink, the decor you just want to absorb. It feels like a well-deserved break from reality.
What should I pack?
My biggest regret was not bringing some fancy loungewear with me. It’s not a dressy place for dinner (not that we made it out with two overtired and cranky kids) but I wished I’d had something in-between jeans and pyjamas for relaxing in. Swimwear etc is not needed as there’s no pool or spa, but other than that: comfy clothes for day trips out, a takeout coffee cup for exploration fuel and a good book to indulge in.
Anything else?
We visited in January which obviously meant it was super chilly (although the rooms were warm), but it would be lovely to sit outside and enjoy a glorious summer’s eve in the country with a cold glass of wine.
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