Excellence Luxury Villas · Oxfordshire
Luxury Holiday Rentals in Oxfordshire
Cotswold stone cottages, country houses and riverside homes, from Burford and Kingham to Oxford and Henley
As featured in
Dreaming spires, Cotswold stone and the upper Thames
Few English counties pack so much into so little space. In the west, Oxfordshire runs into the Cotswolds, where honey-coloured villages line the Windrush and Evenlode valleys. At its centre sits Oxford, with its colleges, libraries and the Ashmolean. To the south the Thames widens past Henley into the beechwoods of the Chilterns, and in between stands Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
Our Oxfordshire collection runs to 160+ properties. You will find stone cottages in Burford and around Chipping Norton, converted barns and carriage houses, country houses with pools and saunas, and riverside homes near Henley-on-Thames. The largest have 8 bedrooms and suit family gatherings.
This guide covers the parts of the county that matter most when choosing a house, and the right season for each.
Oxfordshire at a glance
- Properties
- 160+ houses, cottages and barns, with up to 8 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,400 to £6,100 a week, from around £1,400
- Best areas
- Burford, Chipping Norton, Kingham and Charlbury in the Cotswolds; Oxford; Henley-on-Thames
- Highlights
- Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Oxford colleges; Henley Royal Regatta each summer
- Getting there
- Trains from London to Oxford take around an hour; Heathrow is around an hour by road
Browse all 160+ properties in Oxfordshire
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Peony Cottage United Kingdom3 bedrooms
House Evenlode Chipping Norton: Luxury 7-Bedroom House with Sauna & Pool – Chipping Norton7 bedrooms
Manor Spires Oxford: Spacious 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Courtyard – Oxford6 bedrooms
House Evenlode Hanborough: Luxurious 8-Bedroom House with Pool & Sauna – Oxfordshire8 bedrooms
Burford, Chipping Norton and the villages between
Burford's broad high street slopes down to a medieval bridge over the Windrush. Antique shops, coaching inns and a fine wool church line the way. It is the obvious base for walking the valley to Swinbrook and Minster Lovell.
Chipping Norton sits higher, a busy market town with its own theatre. The Rollright Stones, a prehistoric stone circle, lie a few miles north. Between the two are Kingham, Bruern and Charlbury, where the pubs are very good and the Cotswold Line runs to London. Many of our cottages and barns are scattered through this countryside, often a short walk from a pub.
Browse houses near Chipping Norton
Colleges, libraries and a palace in a park
Oxford rewards an unhurried day. Walk from the Radcliffe Camera to the Bodleian, see the Ashmolean, which opened in 1683 as Britain's first public museum, and have lunch in the Covered Market. In summer you can hire a punt on the Cherwell.
Eight miles north, Blenheim Palace stands in parkland landscaped by Capability Brown at Woodstock. Churchill was born there in 1874. Houses on the edge of the city, at Boars Hill or out towards Eynsham and Hanborough, give you the countryside with Oxford close at hand.
Browse houses in Oxford
Rowing, riverside walks and the Chilterns
Henley-on-Thames is a handsome brick and timber town on one of the straightest stretches of the river. It is best known for the Henley Royal Regatta, six days of racing that finish on the first Sunday in July, when houses nearby are in great demand.
The rest of the year is quieter. You can visit the River and Rowing Museum, walk the Thames Path towards Hambleden and Marlow, or head up into the Chiltern beechwoods. In autumn the town hosts its literary festival. Further upstream, the river meadows around Chimney and Bampton feel a world away.
Browse houses in Henley-on-Thames
Farm shops, country pubs and a fire in winter
The Oxfordshire Cotswolds eat very well. You will find gastropubs in Kingham and the villages around Chipping Norton, farm shops for stocking the kitchen, and Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons at Great Milton for a grand occasion.
Spring brings bluebells to Wychwood. Summer is for the river, the regatta and long evenings in the garden, and autumn is ideal for walking. Winter is underrated: crisp walks, Christmas at Blenheim and a fire lit when you come home. Our concierge can book restaurant tables, regatta enclosures and a private chef.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Oxfordshire
Cottage Helm Frazenham Chipping Norton: Luxury 4-Bedroom Cottage with Pool – Chipping Norton Oxfordshire4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £11,256 a week
House Gloaming Buscot Faringdon: Spacious 5-Bedroom House with Family-Friendly Features – Faringdon5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £11,081 a week
House Cotswold Chipping Norton: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Swimming Pool – Chipping Norton4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £10,962 a week
Manor Maidford Northamptonshire: 6-Bedroom Manor with Pool & Tennis Court – Northamptonshire6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £10,682 a week
Somerville Townhouse Estate | 6-Bedroom Apartment in Oxford6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £10,185 a week
House Cotswold Chipping: Luxurious 5-Bedroom House with Swimming Pool – Chipping Norton5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £9,975 a week
House Wytham Oxford: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Castle Views – Oxford4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £9,737 a week
Holly Grove House | 6-Bedroom Villa with Hot Tub in Oxfordshire6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £9,228 a weekWhy book your house in Oxfordshire with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Oxfordshire's houses range from village cottages to country houses down long private lanes, and we know which are a short walk from a good pub, a railway station or the river. With 160+ properties in Oxfordshire, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant reservations, a private chef, Henley Royal Regatta enclosures, Blenheim Palace tickets, punting in Oxford, guided Cotswold walks and transfers from London and Heathrow. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Oxfordshire?
For the Cotswolds, Burford, Chipping Norton, Kingham and Charlbury are the best bases, with stone villages, walks and good pubs. Oxford suits those who want the colleges and museums, and Henley-on-Thames is the choice for the river and the regatta.
When is the best time to visit Oxfordshire?
May to September brings the best weather, the gardens at their peak and the Henley Royal Regatta in late June and early July. Spring and autumn are quieter and ideal for walking, and winter suits cosy cottage breaks.
Is Blenheim Palace worth visiting?
Yes. Blenheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Winston Churchill, with state rooms, formal gardens and a great park for walking. It is at Woodstock, a short drive from most of our Cotswold houses.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Oxfordshire?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Oxfordshire cost?
Across our 160+ properties in Oxfordshire, weekly rates typically range from £2,400 to £6,100, with the most affordable from around £1,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Oxfordshire from London?
Trains from London to Oxford take around an hour, and the Cotswold Line continues to Charlbury and Kingham. Henley is under an hour by train, and Heathrow is around an hour from Oxford by road. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there houses in Oxfordshire for large groups?
Yes. Our Oxfordshire collection includes properties with up to 8 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in Oxfordshire
160+ cottages and country houses in Oxfordshire, booked direct with our concierge on hand