Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location">THE LOCATION</h2>



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<p>For anyone looking to clock in some serious shopping hours at <a href="https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en">Bicester Village</a>, or find a central meeting point for a reunion (it&#8217;s close to junction 9 on the M40,) this family-owned hotel is a godsend. Just ten minutes down the road from the designer shopping destination (where guests receive a 10% discount), <a href="https://www.bicesterhotelgolfandspa.com/">Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa</a> sits luxuriously within 132 rolling acres of Oxfordshire countryside, with 52 bedroooms (yes, they also do weddings) of various sizes and accessibility.</p>



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<p>The roll call of facilities includes a restaurant, bar, spa facilities, treatment rooms, and health club, nine-hole golf course and, for the MAMIL in your life, Performance Centre with gym, assault course, 200m outdoor swimming lake, tennis courts and <a href="https://www.bicesterhotelgolfandspa.com/smash-padel/">Smash Padel</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



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<p>The hotel was originally built as a golf club in the 70s, and it retains that air of functionality, softened by the Chesterfield sofas in reception and colourful artwork on the walls (mostly the handy work of the hotel’s managing director, and includes several portraits of King Charles). While it isn’t boujie, it is practical. For a girls’ weekend away, you won’t find anyone struggling to find parking or needing to sit in smaller groups at separate tables. There&#8217;s almost a holiday resort vibe, with guests swanning around in robes, pool being played in the sports bar and giggles coming from the festoon-lit spa garden hot tub (where drinks are allowed). In the daytime families with kids enjoy the swimming pool, but it&#8217;s timetabled to enable lots of child-free time &#8211; the hotel largely feels like a grown-up space. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stay">STAY</h2>



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<p>I visited in the run-up to Christmas with the brilliant idea of taking my husband and toddler for the daytime but sending them home after dinner (we don&#8217;t live far) to steal some me-time and much-needed sleep. I stayed in a Classic room which was spacious and well appointed, with all the bits you&#8217;d expect, hair dryer, tea and coffee, etc, with the traditional styling elevated by the dramatic headboard and retro-style chairs. There are a couple of Junior Suites if you want to push the boat out on four poster beds overlooking the golf course. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-spa-amp-gym">THE SPA &amp; GYM</h2>



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<p>This is a strong suit for the hotel. The spa facilities including a sleek 20m indoor pool, sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, solarium, and foot spa (which my toddler enjoyed splashing in). Couples chilled out in the pools and groups of women chatted on the heated loungers. The shooting water jets felt great on my lap-top hunching, toddler-heaving back. Treatments on offer her run from manicures and massages to waxing and body wraps. I had a much-needed 25-minute neck, back and shoulder massage between spa time and dinner but next time I&#8217;m booking in for a whole MOT.</p>



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<p>For those looking to work out, there are two gyms to choose from &#8211; one above the spa with a multitude of classes and kit for the typical gym bunny, plus a Performance Centre down by the swimming lake; a huge hanger-style space adorned with all the latest equipment. The Performance Centre pitches itself as a place for everyone from beginners to pros and despite equipment that looked more torture than treat to my eye (I&#8217;ll own it, I&#8217;m no gym girl), it didn&#8217;t feel at all intimidating, with female PTs milling around and a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="534" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/1-IMG_0423-800x534-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-154222" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/1-IMG_0423-800x534-1.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/1-IMG_0423-800x534-1-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/1-IMG_0423-800x534-1-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<p>In a word, impressive. The dinner menu featured a modest selection of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes with more casual options available if dining in the bar, but presentation and flavours were fabulous. </p>



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<p>I started with a ham hock terrine and then enjoyed the pan-fried hake served on new potatoes, hispi cabbage and mussel sauce (above). I would have guzzled the English cheese selection had I room for more afterward, there was a range of sweet desserts available too.</p>



<p>In terms of drinks, the red and white wine had a page worth of options each, and there were some fun cocktails listed. Drinks off-menu could also be ordered from the bar and brought across by the staff. I overheard two guests ordering cosmos, which made me feel nostalgic, so I had one too (RIP SATC).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-friendly">FAMILY FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>The staff were absolutely amazing with my toddler. She was exhausted after her day out, but they were just really kind rather than annoyed with her two-year-old ways. They did anything they could to help (I think my daughter still has the waiter&#8217;s pen) and this really helped us relax and enjoy the stay. I doubt it would be her first choice for a weekend stay as there isn&#8217;t a dedicated playground and under-14s aren&#8217;t allowed in a lot of the spa pools, but she had a lot of fun. She loved her time in the swimming pool, the afternoon tea and her dinner from the kids&#8217; menu. There were high chairs plus baby changing facilities available and a cot in the changing room (thank you!). Teens are catered for if they want to try out new sports, or grab a mani-pedi. They&#8217;ll also appreciate the space to relax while the family are kept busy golfing or shopping. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility">ACCESSIBILITY</h2>



<p>The hotel is a modern building catering well for those using wheelchairs, with some rooms designed specifically. You can read their statement on accessibility <a href="https://www.bicesterhotelgolfandspa.com/accessibility-statement/">here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-and-about">OUT AND ABOUT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="751" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/rousham-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-62241" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/rousham-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/rousham--150x113.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/rousham--300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/rousham--666x500.jpg 666w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Bicester Village is down the road and has plenty to charm those who live to shop. For more natural pleasures, <a href="https://rousham.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rousham House and Gardens</a> (above) is a 10 minute jaunt away, offering one of the UK&#8217;s most replete 18th century gardens, viewed almost entirely as designer William Kent left it.&nbsp;There&#8217;s no tea room or toilet facilities here and no under 15s allowed so it&#8217;s a wonderful, slightly eccentric lo-fi activity for garden lovers or those hoping to get away from the bustle of modern life for a bit. </p>



<p><a href="https://oxfordcity.co.uk/">Oxford</a> is also less than a 20-minute drive away (park and ride very much encouraged unless you want to arrive with road rage) as is the historic <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/">Blenheim Palace</a> &#8211; factor in some time to enjoy Woodstock itself too and its indie shops. You&#8217;re about 20 minutes from the Michelin-starred <a href="https://www.nuttreeinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nut Tree </a>pub in Murcott if you&#8217;re after a special meal out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>If Bicester Village is your Disneyland (yup), this hotel offers a great opportunity to turn a day of shopping into an overnighter of fun with friends or family. Adults looking to duck out of their busy lives to recharge, indulge or try out new sports are in the right place.</p>



<p><strong>Not for: </strong>This is not a boutique hotel experience, so if design and luxury are your life, you&#8217;ll need to live it elsewhere.</p>



<p><strong>The damage: </strong>Rooms start at £99 a night, and spa packages from £155 a person. Main meals in the restaurant from £15 and cocktails £10.50.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.bicesterhotelgolfandspa.com/">Bicester Hotel Golf &amp; Spa</a> Chesterton, Bicester OX26 1TE. Tel: <a href="tel:01869 241204">01869 241204</a>.</em></p>



<p><em>Words: Miranda Luke</em></p>



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Muddy stays: Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa

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