Day trips from London – Oxford

Fed up of the bright lights of London? Head to Paddington station and you can be in Oxford in just over an hour. I visited for the first time this weekend and couldn't believe how different it felt from the capital. 

We recommend:

• A Full English breakfast at Coco's hotel by the train station.
• A stroll around the beautiful Oxford University buildings, Venetian inspired walkways and parks
• An hour's punting (boating) on the river complete with Marks and Spencers prosecco and paper cups – don't miss this, I'm sure it has medicinal qualities and must be good for the soul
• Two courses and a coffee for £10.50 between 6 and 7pm at the French bistro Pierre Victoire, Little Clarendon Street, Jericho
• Chorizo, warm bread and delicious sweet white wines at the relaxed food and wine bar Bottega, Walton Street 

Watch out for:

•  The rude staff who look after the punts outside the Head of the River pub – if you can, go elsewhere to hire your punt or rowing boat as you might be rushed like we were
• Stinging nettles on the otherwise heavenly grass – this is the English countryside after all 
• The Bridge – this area of Oxford can get very rowdy and police are usually present on a Saturday night. We even saw a confused-looking youth dragging a bollard, covered in dirt, across the road.

Take your pick of our luxurious London apartments as a base for exploring gorgeous areas like Oxford. You won't regret it.