Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel
Church Way, Iffley, Oxford, OX4 4DZ, GB
Rating: 4.5 ★ (2158 ratings)
Details
Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel is an upscale boutique property set within the picturesque village of Iffley, surrounded by three acres of stunning private gardens. This tranquil retreat occupies three distinct buildings, including two charming 19th-century manor houses that exude character. Blending timeless elegance with modern comfort, the hotel's interiors draw inspiration from classic Oxford fashion, creating a truly distinctive and inviting atmosphere. The main building itself holds a rich history, once serving as the birthplace of the esteemed explorer Francis Howard Bickerton.
The hotel offers 77 beautifully designed bedrooms, spread across the Main House, Elm House, and The Coach House, each thoughtfully equipped for a comfortable stay. Guests can expect amenities such as invigorating rain showers, flat-screen TVs with Freeview, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and tea and coffee-making facilities. For an elevated experience, Privilege Rooms provide additional luxuries including Nespresso coffee machines, complimentary soft drinks, plush bathrobes, and slippers. Dining is a highlight at Frank's Restaurant, named in honour of the explorer, where modern British cuisine is prepared using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, alongside a daily breakfast service. Furthermore, the hotel provides free self-parking, a welcoming terrace, a garden, and a convivial bar.
This delightful hotel particularly suits those seeking a blend of historic charm and contemporary comfort during their visit to Oxford. Its convenient yet quiet location, just a short drive from the city centre, makes it an ideal base for exploring Oxford's renowned cultural landmarks, colleges, and various attractions. The serene setting within private gardens also makes it perfect for leisurely breaks and relaxing getaways. The flexible event spaces cater well to business gatherings, meetings, and special occasions such as weddings, while its proximity to the universities makes it a popular choice for guests attending graduation ceremonies.
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 749988
Comments
The hotel is in a fantastic location, set in peaceful and attractive surroundings while still being conveniently close to Oxford. Our rooms were spacious, comfortable and beautifully presented, and the hotel as a whole had a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Everything was well maintained, and the service throughout our stay was excellent.
A very special mention must go to Wendy in the restaurant, who was an absolute superstar. She was incredibly friendly, attentive and welcoming, and she was especially wonderful with our children. Her warmth and sense of humour made every visit to the restaurant even more enjoyable, and she genuinely helped make our stay memorable.
It was also great to discover that she is a proud Liverpool supporter, which led to some very enjoyable football conversations! We hope that Fernando Torres decides to visit her at the hotel one day!
Thank you to Wendy and the entire hotel team for making our family stay so comfortable and enjoyable. We would happily return and would certainly recommend the hotel to anyone visiting Oxford.
Staff was always friendly and helpful with anything i needed.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable and clean. Perfect for working. breakfast is great with diverse and delicious options. The lunch and evening menus in the restaurant are reasonably priced and the food itself is very high quality.
The only negatives i have are that when the hotel hosts an event it can be a bit overwhelming and affect other guests. Mostly by noise and taking up a lot of the public areas.
I do feel like there's a bit miscommunication between staff and housekeeping. There was one time i specifically asked for my room to be cleaned and it was not done. But staff were always helpful, and in this instance i did get new towels from them.
Overall i appreciate this place a lot. The location is superb and is overall reasonably priced for a great experience.
The room was set up beautifully, and every detail was just as we had imagined. A special thank you to our wedding coordinator, Jasmine, who did an amazing job from start to finish. She was so organised, supportive, and made the whole experience stress-free. We truly felt we were in the best hands.
The food was also outstanding. A huge thank you to the chef, who did an amazing job. The hot and cold buffet was plentiful, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Our guests commented on how amazing the food was, and it was clear that a lot of care had gone into preparing it.
The hotel and its surroundings are absolutely beautiful and provided the perfect setting for our special day. We are so grateful to everyone at Hawkwell House for making our wedding reception so memorable. We would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for a stunning location, exceptional food, and outstanding service.Thank you much Clare and Nathan.
When we returned in the evening, we just loved every inch of the beautifully decorated building as we walked up a few stairs to our spacious and very nicely appointed privilege family room. There we found a handwritten welcome card with a box of delicious local cream fudge.
We had a meal in the bar / dining area and that was also delicious, served by attentive and friendly staff.
The next morning we discovered the fabulous and recently renovated breakfast room. It was like a giant country cottage kitchen diner. It was like something you might see on Escape to the country but much bigger. Breakfast was excellent with so many choices and poached eggs and eggs Benedict cooked to perfection. After breakfast we explored all the little and not so little sitting rooms and the lovely terraced areas outside.
To sum up: Lovely staff, excellent food and the most delightful building and garden. It's also only a short walk to the bus stop to catch a bus to the Oxford town centre.
From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. A special thank you to Wendy and Tomek, who went above and beyond to make us feel at home. The grounds are spacious, peaceful, and beautifully maintained. It’s both pet-friendly and wonderfully child-friendly, which made all the difference for us as a family. They even made our son’s Easter weekend truly magical — he was thrilled knowing the Easter Bunny was coming!
We stayed in the Elm House, and our room was gorgeous — light-filled, thanks to a huge bay window overlooking the grounds. The bathroom was luxurious, and the bed was supremely comfortable.
This place is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing country escape with the convenience of being close to Oxford. It’s just a 10-minute bus ride into town, and honestly, we can’t wait to come back.
Highly, highly recommended.
The food was totally amazing and we were very lucky to enjoy the first days of the new menu. Nothing disappointed! - the flavour combinations, the perfect cooking and the service were all of the highest standard and left us so very impressed. Our breakfasts were fabulous too - piping hot and what a selection. A special thanks to Wendy and the other ladies for such a cheery, warm welcome to the start of our day.
We wish we had taken more notes of names but everyone we encountered during our stay deserves praise for going over and above at every opportunity. Absolutely wonderful and will recommend to all our family and friends Thank You all
The staff really are great and in my opinion thats what makes a stay enjoyable. 10/10
The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive throughout our stay. Both dinner and breakfast were absolutely perfect, delicious, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared. A special thank you to Wendy from the restaurant team, whose warm and friendly service truly elevated our dining experience.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a cozy, refined stay with great hospitality.
Staff are great from a british standard , they are very welcoming from check in and is more than willing to explain everything.
the skylight allowing natural light to enter the room is a big bonus.
Bathroom is equipped with separate bath and shower feels luxurious. Bath is also very well ventilated and feels absolutely no sign of damp.
We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant on 2nd Aug , Wendy is one of the best hotel restaurant lady in the country! We feel welcomed.
However the restaurant is seems to be understaffed at busy period in the breakfast, all 3 staff are seen non-stop refilling everything from glasses to food, and collecting dishes from tables, while Wendy was plating room-service breakfast and still able to find time to greet customers.
Obviously they gave their best and definitely deserved a salary raise.
Ordered Egg Royal and Omelette. for egg royal unable to say whether it’s traditional or not but definitely tasted great! Omelette seems a little bit overcooked nevertheless still tasty. Everything from the buffet is great and is of high quality.
Overall loved the hotel and highly recommend if you visit oxford by car.