Hiring a car in Oxford

River Hotel


Hotel Accommodation and Car hire in Oxford

Oxford is a compact city and for most tourism purposes easy to navigate on foot.  The River Hotel is close to the train and bus stations and an easy ten minute walk into the centre of the city with the colleges, museums, art galleries.  Jericho district in North Oxford is a 15 minute walk along the canal, while the River Thames is a stone's throw.

All this means that a car is not essential when visiting Oxford as a tourist.  If you do travel by car to Oxford we have a car park on site, which is free for residents.  If you are not used to driving in England, or on the left side of the road, it is not advisable to drive your car in to the centre of London;  congestion and parking fees are horrific.  Again, Oxford is very conveniently located to London, taking just one hour on the train direct to London Paddington, London Marylebone, or around 90 minutes from the bus station to Marble Arch and Oxford street.

If you are touring the UK by car, visiting tourist destinations such as the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Stonehenge, Shakespeare country, Wales and the Brecon Beacons, travelling by car may be your best choice.  Oxford is a good destination to pick up your vehicle, or drop off your car before heading into London.

When you stay with us at the River Hotel, you can easily walk to the main car hire companies, including Hertz and Europcar .  The main car hire companies in Oxford are located along the Botley road, which makes it very convenient to our hotel.

So why not start your travel from London Heathrow Airport on the airport coach, spend a few days in Oxford without a car and then arrange the car hire for the day you leave Oxford and start your trip around England with Blenheim Palace and Woodstock as your first destination, an easy drive along the A44 before continuing to the Cotswolds.

River Hotel with free car parking
17 Botley Rd, Oxford OX2 0AA, telephone 01865 249756

Zipcar
Zipcar offers vehicle hire by the hour, fully inclusive.  Ideal for short sightseeing trips around Oxford and with two locations very close to the hotel it is a very convenient option, with cars and vans available.

Europcar Car Rental

Littlemead Business Park, Ferry Hinksey Road, off Botley road, OX2 0BY, Oxford
Closest to hotel: 5 minute walk from River Hotel, you can walk along the river and backroads shortcut.

Thrifty Van and Car Hire
Ferry Hinksey Rd, off Botley road, Oxford, OX2 0BY. Call directly on 01865 250252
5 minute walk from River Hotel

Hertz Car Rental
Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES. Phone: 01865 920164
5 minute walk from River Hotel

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
53 West Way, Botley, OX2 0JE phone 01865 202088
A34 junction at west Oxford, 1 mile from River Hotel, 20 minute walk, or local bus

Avis  / Budget Car Rental Agency in Oxford
The car hire office at the train station moved in 2017, do not use old directions to these offices.

Nationwide Car Hire UK
This company will deliver your car to the hotel to await your arrival, or collect after your departure.  Phone them on 0800 524 4780 for more information.  With the traffic congestion in Oxford as well as the lack of fuel stations (read on below), this is a good option.

Fuel / Petrol
The BP service station at Seacourt closed in October 2017 and is now a coffee a coffee shop - fuel for you, not for your car. There are no petrol stations in the centre of Oxford; the closest are on the ring road (BP at Pear Tree North Oxford, Sainsburys at Heyford Hill, South Oxford, BP at Marston Ferry Road North East Oxford).

Electric Cars
We are considering installing electric car charging points; if this is something which is potentially useful for you please do let us know.

In the mean time, EV charging is available via regular socket.A standard 3-pin socket is located in the car park.Ask at reception for prices, to book your time slot and for the connection to be activated.

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Our Facilities


  • Daily House Keeping
  • Luggage Storage
  • Wake Up Call
  • Cots Available
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Located In City Centre
  • Bicycle Storage
  • Free Wifi
  • Free Parking
  • Parking On-site
  • Restaurant
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan Options Available
  • Bar
  • Conference Facilities
  • Family Room Available
  • City Breaks
  • Close To City Centre