Athena Guest House
255 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1XQ
Rating: 2.3 ★ (266 ratings)
Details
Athena Guest House is a friendly, family-run establishment in Oxford, housed within an original red brick Victorian detached property that retains a distinct charm and atmosphere. It is conveniently situated in East Oxford, an area offering its own selection of shops, and provides easy access to local hospitals and Oxford Brookes University, with the city centre readily reachable by public transport or car. The guest house holds a 3-star rating from The Automobile Association.
Guests can choose from various room types, including double, triple, and family bedrooms, many of which are en-suite with bath facilities. All rooms are generally equipped with heating, tea and coffee making provisions, and a television with a DVD player. Some accommodations also boast private hot tubs and kitchenette facilities, complete with a refrigerator, oven, and kitchenware. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout, alongside free on-site parking and services such as daily housekeeping and luggage storage.
This guest house particularly suits tourists and those visiting Oxford for academic or medical purposes, offering good value for money, especially for shorter stays. Its welcoming management and flexible policies contribute to a positive guest experience, making it a comfortable choice for various visitors. The property is also considered couple-friendly, enhancing its appeal for romantic getaways.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: Open 24 hours | Tuesday: Open 24 hours | Wednesday: Open 24 hours | Thursday: Open 24 hours | Friday: Open 24 hours | Saturday: Open 24 hours | Sunday: Open 24 hours
Contact
+44 1865 425700 | http://www.athena-guest-house.bookdreams.co/
Comments
Also, having to walk a few hundreds of meters after getting the keys to go to the actual hotel is not convenient.
I am mostly disappointed with the ´free wifi´, which indeed is free, but has no internet connection.
Lastly, the rooms are not soundproof.
Apart from this, I did not have to deal with bedbugs. My room was decent with a personal fridge and a small breakfast (coffee and biscuits), and the view from the window was fairly good.
The bed was a major issue—I ended up dealing with bedbugs, which completely ruined any chance of rest. The bathroom wasn’t much better; it had a strong, lingering smell of urine, and the toiletries had clearly already been used. Even the soap seemed watered down, which just added to the sense that nothing was properly maintained or replaced.
The “garden view” was particularly unsettling. Instead of anything remotely pleasant, we were faced with what looked like a dumping ground, including an old, moldy mattress left outside. There was visible black mold in multiple areas, which made the whole environment feel unhealthy and unsafe.To make things even stranger, there were vodka bottles in the room that appeared to be filled with water specifically Glenn’s. It just added to the overall sense that things were off and poorly managed.
The only small positive I can mention is that the bidet worked well—at least something in the room functioned as it should.
Overall, I would strongly advise against staying here. The lack of hygiene, maintenance, and basic standards made the experience genuinely uncomfortable.
as instructed, entered the code, and then called to confirm our room number. The person on the phone told us that it was not the right place and that we needed to go to 255 instead. He was very rude and shouted at us over the phone. We had to walk about 6–7 minutes to reach the other location.
When we finally arrived at 255, the same key didn’t work, and no one was there to help us. We had to call again, and the man continued shouting and behaving very disrespectfully.
Once we managed to enter the room, it was completely different from what we booked. We reserved a double room but got a room with three beds instead. The room was dirty, unhealthy, and unhygienic. Later that night, we discovered bedbugs — we were bitten all over and could not sleep. It was around 3:00 a.m., and we were suffering with pain and itching.
We have photos and videos of the bedbugs and the condition of the room as proof. This is a serious health issue, and we strongly request a full refund. We also recommend that this property be reviewed and not offered to guests until these issues are properly fixed.
This experience was awful — rude communication, unclean conditions, and bedbug infestation. We never expected something like this.