I'd heard of Iffley Road where Roger Bannister ran his 4 minute mile on the athletics track, but never Iffley village. That though is where l found Hawkwell House which I stumbled across at booking.com when looking for somewhere, reasonably priced, to stay whilst spending time in the Oxford area with friends.
The Hotel was easy to find, set in attractive grounds; the welcome was friendly, the rooms spacious and comfortable. It was undergoing building work at the time but that did not affect us at all and was clearly intended to upgrade and extend the accommodation. Access into Oxford is easy by bus or taxi. What made it rather special though was the location in Iffley village.
Returning to the hotel from a hot days sightseeing we strolled downhill towards the village centre. No great expectations, but we rapidly discovered the excellent Prince of Wales pub, the River Thames and the most beautifully preserved Norman church, all within 10 minutes walk. With more time and energy you can take the riverside path right into the centre of Oxford.
We sat and watched a barge negotiate the lock whilst in the distance a rather amateur boatload of rowers came under guidance from a coach cycling the path and canoeists were trained in the skills of righting themselves. A lovely end to the day, concluded with nightcaps served by the capable bar staff back at Hawkwell House.
Just one word of warning: there is another hotel in Iffley that looks as if it should be avoided unless it has undergone major renovations in the last few months or you are a great fan of karaoke!
