For more information and to book please visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or let us arrange your whole trip, by calling +44 (0)20 8987 4312 or from the USA dial 1 866 610 3867.
You can go punting past the Botanic Garden and fishing at Blenheim Palace, then enjoy mouthwatering modern cuisine at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and see great 21st-century art at Modern Art Oxford. Oxfordshire is far enough away from London to have real countryside calm, but it also has the confidence and character that comes from having a world-renowned centre of learning at its heart.
Port Meadow, in north Oxford, is 440 acres of common land where you’ll see cows grazing and migratory birds flocking. Meandering around the meadow, stopping for a drink and maybe some roasted chestnuts at the Perch or the Trout Inn, is a perfect Oxfordshire pastime.
… tying up your boat (or hiring one) for a glass of champagne at the Beetle & Wedge Boathouse in Moulsford (www.beetleandwedge.co.uk).
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and romantic boutique hotels in Oxfordshire
This charming boutique hotel in a sleepy Oxfordshire village sits among beautiful vegetable gardens, which feature on Raymond Blanc's magnificent menu. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons is family-friendly, too.
An 18th-century inn, the Miller of Mansfield stands proud, sidled up to a flint cottage and opposite a stone parish church and a lovingly tended green. This king of pub stays is a great base for exploring Oxfordshire, the Royal County of Berkshire and the tranquil Thames Valley.
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
May The Henley Food Festival includes cookery demos from Heston Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc, Tom Aikens and Antony Worral Thompson and their ilk (www.henleyfoodfestival.co.uk). The Oxford Balloon Fiesta at Cuttleslowe Park, where you’ll spot dozens of the contraptions floating through the sky, and get the chance to fly in one yourself (+44 (0)800 052 1455). The Blenheim Triathalon sees thousands swim, cycle and run against the clock – but you can just watch if you like. July The Truck Festival near Abingdon (www.truckfestival.org) is a small but perfectly formed music weekend that has seen bands including the Magic Numbers and Piney Gir grace the (really quite small) main stage. The Henley Royal Regatta: like Ascot, but in boats instead of on horses (www.hrr.co.uk). For more details, see our European events guide Smith 52, or buy the book for the full insider lowdown.
Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred hotel is the very sparkly jewel in Oxfordshire’s culinary crown, and the apple of Smith's eye. Indulge in the seven-course gourmand tasting menu surrounded by beautiful grounds and you will have glimpsed a little bit of heaven.
Church Road, Great Milton, Oxford
If you want some Raymond Blanc genius, and for a little less money than you'd have to fork out for a few fancy forkfuls at Le Manoir, head to this French bistro in Oxford.
71–72 Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6AG
This olde-world inn has a pretty Cotswolds village setting and an excellent gastropub menu that focuses on game and fish dishes.
Clanfield, Oxfordshire OX18 2RB
This creeper-clad country inn, opposite the parish green of pretty Goring, has an à la carte menu of Modern British and European cuisine, as well as a tapas-style bar menu. The pub also has a selection of local ales.
High Street, Goring-on-Thames, Reading RG8 9AW
Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson's 17th‑century country pub offers real ales and home-cooked fare.
Gallowstree Common, Rotherfield Peppard, Oxfordshire RG9 5HT
Hugely characterful restaurant with a Gallic bistro menu of French-accented cuisine. The food is lovely, but another big draw is its amazing, great-value wine list, which makes for very enjoyable evening meals. It's very convenient if you're staying at the Miller of Mansfield in nearby Goring.
The Chequers Inn, Aston Tirrold, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX1 9DD
Even the fussiest eaters are spoilt for choice when selecting dishes from the top‑notch British pub classics on offer here; the bar also has an excellent calendar of music events from Mozart to blues and jazz.
Newlands Lane, Stoke Row, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 5PS
A traditional no‑frills pub serving up salads, pies and fish ’n’ chips – the main draw is that you'll also get the best views over the valley.
Hailey, Ipsden, Oxfordshire
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