Quintessential British country inn with eclectic interior just outside Oxford
Artist Residence Oxfordshire / Witney / Oxfordshire / United Kingdom
There is something magical about the British countryside with its cozy little villages, winding one-lane roads so narrow it is impossible to pass, lazy rivers lined with weeping willows and welcoming country pubs. And not to forget, countless affable country inns ready to host you for the night. One of these great country hotels is this one, Artist Residence just outside Oxford in Oxfordshire.
When you arrive it is a quintessential British looking building that greets you with half-timbered walls, thatched roof and wrought iron sign. This used to be The Masons Arms pub that was transformed to hotel with the adding of hotel rooms in the back of the pub. The Mason Arms is still the central meeting place of the hotel where the bar is also doubles as the reception desk.
It is interesting that the outside looks so polished, almost cookie-cutter conservative while the interior is the complete opposite with an eclectic mix of vintage furniture, cheeky neon signs and quirky lamps. It is a wonderfully bohemian, arty, quirky vibe where it is easy to feel right at home while relaxing in one if the worn leather chairs.
When booking our stay I knew immediately which ”room” I wanted, a wooden caravan standing in the middle of a herb- and vegetable patch. This caravan evoked a childhood memory from a TV show I used to love, From A to Ö with Hedvig Höök. Hedvig lived in a caravan just like this one, rode an old postman bike and had an owl living on her roof. So the opportunity to fulfill my Hedvig fantasy was too tempting to not act on and I was so happy we did.
The interior is super cozy with the bed placed in a nook at one end of the caravan and the bathroom on the other. There is a fireplace and a small sofa in front where you can cozy up of you are staying here in the colder months. The bathroom is stocked with Bramley bathroom products and there is a great minibar. Just outside there was a small patio with sun loungers surrounded by greenery.
if you want to do an excursion the hotel is perfectly placed, almost like a gateway to one of the most scenic regions of England, the Cotswolds.
Welcome to Artist Residence Oxfordshire!
I love these old timber framed buildings with thatched roof and wrought iron details. It doesn’t get cuter or more English than that.
Parking our car at the disguised charging station.
We almost weren’t allowed in… Ok, I was but not the husband.
The pub which is also the reception of the hotel
Me having an icy drink to cool off in the heat while waiting for our room to be ready.
Our “room” was finally ready and we could move in. When I was a kid there was a show on TV called “From A to Ö with Hedvig Höök”. The main character, Hedvig, lived in a caravan just like this one and ever since I was a child I have had a dream of having that experience. Hedvig also had an owl living on her roof and a very high-tech camera phone that she spoke to her sister on. Those features weren’t available in our caravan.
The inside is all about compact living with a cozy alcove for the bed.
This is my favorite photo from our stay. Love the colors, the different materials and how the sun paints a pattern on the sofa.
We were tempted to start a fire but decided not to considering it was July and super hot outside. And inside for that matter.
Bathroom products from British company Bramley.
Our own little patio.
We asked for a place to go for a dip and was recommended by the receptionist to head to nearby Minister Lovell Hall and Dovecote, where you can cool off in River Windrush.
Back at the hotel and I just had to try the Dutch door.
M is looking up, ready to head to the pub for a pre-dinner drink.
Dinner time! A British version of an Italian classic, the caprese.
The sun is setting over Artist Residence.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are looking for a cozy, relaxed hotel with quirky design in a rural setting just outside Oxford. I know! It is a very specific brief, but if this is what you are looking for, this place is for you.
My favorite thing about this place…
…was our room, the cozy caravan. I am such a fan of when hotels offer different options to stay in than the usual, classic hotel room. Especially when it looks as good as this.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to drive to nearby Minister Lovell Hall and Dovecote, where you have a dip in River Windrush. When we stayed it was during the height of Summer and we desperately wanted to find a place to cool off. The receptionist pointed us towards this little place, right next to a medieval church ruin where we could have a dip in the water and later relax under the shade of the willows.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
The Star, Alfriston, East Sussex, UK
Glebe House, Soutleigh, Devon, UK
Villa Augustus, Dordrecht, Netherlands
