Spring has sprung!  To celebrate the season, Four Pillars Hotels has some fantastic offers for guests including weekend escapes from just £44 per person, per night (dinner, bed and breakfast) and mid-week breaks from just £35.20 per person per night (dinner, bed and breakfast).  Plus, children stay and eat breakfast for free.*

With the Easter holidays, May half term and bank holiday weekends just around the corner, guests can make the most of this lovely time of year by escaping to the countryside and staying in one of six Four Pillars hotels located in England’s holiday hot spots of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.

Choose to stay in either a Grade II* listed Victorian mansion set in beautiful landscaped grounds near Bristol, a contemporary hotel and spa in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park that also offers a range of outdoor pursuits or one of four fantastic properties in and around Oxford including the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel.  Providing the best of both worlds, this hotel combines medieval charm and contemporary elegance and is set in picturesque Oxfordshire parkland yet just three miles from the centre of ‘the city of dreaming spires’.

Additionally, guests preferring a little more privacy can choose to stay at one of the luxury self-catering apartments at the lakeside Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel. Combing the flexibility of a self-catering holiday with the convenience of the hotel’s facilities on site, these stylish self-catering apartments are perfect for families, groups and couples. Prices start from £160 for a two-night break in a studio apartment and increase to just £1,050 for seven nights in a two-bedroom apartment – representing just £38 per person, per night, based on a group of four people.

A stay with Four Pillars also includes many exclusive discounts at some of the region’s varied attractions including a VIP invitation to gain an extra 10% off at nearby shopping destination Bicester Village, discounted entry for all the family at Cotswold Wildlife Park or exclusive rates to visit Blenheim Palace.

Those seeking a mid-week break will find better value the longer they stay, so families seeking an Easter escape, or a half term holiday, can capitalise on discounted rates for up to five night breaks.  Plus, kids stay and eat breakfast for free.*

For full details and to book, visit: www.four-spring.co.uk or call 0800 374 692

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People can be forgiven for believing that a short break in Oxford is all about visiting all those historic university colleges and Inspector Morse’s favourite pubs. The reality is that there is also a wide variety of other fun activities to be enjoyed in the city and the surrounding area.

Provided the weather is reasonably clement, you just have to take one of those famous punting trips on the 2 rivers with which Oxford is blessed, the Cherwell and the Thames, or the Isis as it is known in the area. Each flat bottomed punt holds up to 5 people including the punter. A bottle of Pimms or Champagne is considered obligatory if the experience is to be optimised. You can hire your punt from Howard C & Sons at Magdalen Bridge or from Salters Boat Hire next to the Head of the River pub on Folly Bridge.

If you are feeling even more adventurous, why not consider hiring a comfortable canal boat and exploring the Thames and the South Oxford Canal which meander through local countryside and through the city itself. College Cruisers are a family firm and their boats are painted in traditional Oxford Blue. They are located at Combe Road Wharf.

For really sensational views of the City of Dreaming Spires and Blenheim Palace, why not book a balloon flight from adventureballoons.co.uk ?  Lift off is from Oxford’s South Park.

If you have children aged over 8 or are just simply young at heart yourself, Outdoor Lasertag is a fun way to exercise and the harmless infrared guns they use cater for all levels of fitness and are sturdily built with life-like sound effects, realistic weights and real scopes. This is just one of the novel activities available at the Culham Adventure Park, a few miles outside the city.

The park also boasts Oxfordshire’s first ever Tree-Top High Ropes course with Rope Bridges, Tarzan Swings and Zip Slides set high in the trees in 50 acres of woodland. There is full safety training for all new participants and this is a great way of kicking off birthday, stag and hen parties (ideally before anyone starts drinking).

For anyone with any energy left, Oxford has its own ice-rink and is one of the few locations where speedway and greyhound racing take place. Both are staged at the Greyhound Stadium in Sandy Lane and are well worth trying once if you’ve never been before.

Visit hotels in Oxford and explore this beautiful city.

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Oxford has been home to some of Britain’s most famous writers, poets and novelists and there’s no better time to visit this historic city than to coincide with the UK film release of The Hobbit and January’s 200^th anniversary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice.  Both J. R. R. Tolkien and Jane Austen have links to the city, and local hotel group Four Pillars Hotels is offering a range of amazing offers on winter breaks from December through to March 2013 starting at just £59 per person per night including dinner, bed and breakfast.  And children stay and eat breakfast for free*.

The four-star Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel is located less than half a mile from the centre of Oxford, where both Tolkien and his great friend C S Lewis – author of The Chronicles of Narnia – were professors, at Pembroke College and Magdalen College respectively.     Jane Austen was tutored in Oxford by the widow of a former Principal of Brasenose College, and her father and brother became Fellows of St John’s College. The perfect location for your literary explorations, Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel is set in acres of tranquil parkland and features 170 stylish bedrooms and suites, a full-service restaurant and bar, as well as recreational facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam-room and gymnasium.

Four Pillars also have three other hotels in and around the Oxford, the picturesque riverside Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, Oxford Whitney Four Pillars Hotel and Oxford Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel.  Prices at Oxford Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel start at just £42 per person per night.

For full details and conditions on Four Pillars Hotels’ winter offers, or to book, please visit www.four-winter.co.uk or call 0800 374 692.

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Are you anticipating the Christmas blues when January kicks in? Not sure what to do with your time now that Christmas is over? Then why not take some time out to visit the Cotswolds this January – what could be more inviting than our beautiful scenery and great food, alongside excellent attractions to visit? Here a just a few attractions that you could visit during your stay!

Sudeley Castle

The historic Sudeley Castle is right at the heart of the Cotswold Hills near Winchecombe in Gloucestershire. Its award-winning gardens spans over a thousand years and contains many varied tales of royal associations, wars and periods of neglect and subsequent restoration which makes it the perfect place to visit during your stay.

Tewksbury Abbey

For those looking to take in a bit of local culture you could pay a visit to Tewksbury Abbey. Despite the fact that the Abbey was founded in 1087, the construction of the modern Abbey didn’t actually begin until 1102. The Abbey was originally constructed solely for the purpose of housing Benedictine monks; however the Norman Abbey was near completion when it was consecrated in 1121. Furthermore, the Abbey is the currently largest surviving Norman tower in the country.

Westonbirt Arboretum

If you are looking for an outdoor adventure, then why not visit the historic, early Victorian picturesque landscape and internationally important tree and shrub collection.  The vast collection of 16,000 trees (2,500 different species) come from a number of world countries such as China, North America, Japan, Chile and other tropical climes. The collection was started back in the 1850’s by Robert Holford who owned the property at the time.

Gloucester Cathedral

Another fantastic attraction is Gloucester Cathedral which is still used every day for worshipping and has a fantastic musical tradition. It was built over 1300 years ago and has undergone a number of architectural adjustments over the years. It plays host to some incredible medieval glass along with its own exhibition, superb cloisters and the crypt. Better still it was setting for some of the scenes from the Harry Potter films which were filmed in the stunning cloisters.

Roman Baths

For those interested in Roman history, why not make your way over to the Roman Baths attraction situated in the original Roman town of Bath. Take a stroll round, Britain’s only hot spring, the Romans constructed a fantastic temple and bathing complex which still flows with natural hot water. See the water’s source and make your way around the Baths, where Romans once walked on the ancient stone pavements which surround the steaming pool. Furthermore, the extensive ruins and treasures from the Spring are well maintained and demonstrated in the most prestigious way using the best in modern interpretation.

Whether you are looking for a traditional New Year break, a weekend break to get over your January blues, or just a peaceful time to relax and unwind, you are bound to find what you want this New Year in one of our Four Pillars Hotels. Locations include Oxford, The Cotswolds and Bristol.

http://www.four-pillars.co.uk/

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Oxford Lieder Festival – Friday 12th – Saturday 27th October

The Oxford Lieder Festival is held throughout October every year. It aims to celebrate singers and musicians and this year will include: Sarah Connolly, Florian Boesch, Lucy Crowe, Alice Coote, James Gilchrist, Katarina Karnéus, Robert Murray, Birgid Steinberger, Wolfgang Holzmair and many others.

Concerts will be held every night and in addition there will be a series of lunch-time and late-night recitals, a programme of master classes, workshops and talks.

The opening recital will be performed by the French soprano Sandrine Piau at 8pm on the 12th October. She’s known throughout the world for her opera performances and she will be accompanied by Roger Vignoles; they will open the festival with a selection of French songs.

For music lovers, this festival is one not to miss. There are recitals everyday so you’ll be able to attend at least one on your visit!

Alison Pullen New Paintings – Tuesday 2^nd October – Tuesday 6^th November

Alison Pullen is a sought after interiors painter, she will be showing a series of new paintings throughout October at the Sarah Wiseman Gallery. Her work includes a beautiful illustration of the Observatory at Green Templeton College.

Alison is said to be an expert at portraying daylight, pattern and textures; she has also been commissioned to complete works for private collectors and for the throne room at Buckingham Palace. Her collection is worth a look for art lovers.

It’s almost Halloween!

There are a number of events around Oxford at Halloween, located in some of the eerie and old buildings – Perfect to get a little spooked!

Blenheim Palace – Witches and Wizards –  27th October – 4^th November

The palace offers Halloween activities for all the family throughout the half term week.

Witches and Wizards Trail at the Pleasure Gardens – The trail is great for the kids and will be held during the weekdays in half term. Hunt the gardens and follow the clues to find the ten items you’d find in a witch or wizards house! After exploring the palace, children will also get the chance to decorate their own scary pottery in the Garden room.

At the weekends, Cat Weatherill will tell ghostly tales at the indoor cinema and also during half term week you can take part in one of the spooky palace tours. Hear stories from the night guards and visit Grace Ridley in the visitor experience “Blenheim Palace: The Untold Story”.

Ghost Fest

Ghost fest is a universal tradition and was launched in Oxford 7 years ago; ghost hunting is back at Oxford Castle – Unlocked.

There are a number of thrilling events at Oxford Castle throughout October as part of Ghost Fest!

After Dark Dinners

The castle has got together with The Big Bang, Pizza Express, The Living Room and Malmaison Brasserie. They will offer visitors a sinister journey through the castle, taking you to the most haunted locations, which will be topped off with a stunning three course meal in the castle quarter.

Scary Tours

The tours take you to the dark side of the castle; explore the most haunted rooms including the dark atmospheric 900 year old underground Crypt.

Overnight Ghost Hunts – Not for the faint-hearted!

The castle is steeped in history of bloodshed and imprisonment, and has had a number of reported ghost sightings. If you’re brave enough stay overnight for Vigils and Séances in some of the most eerie rooms of the castle. Will you spot the figure often seen in the Crypt?

Make plans for half term now and book your hotel in Oxford.

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Starting off at the historic market town of Witney, for whom the Prime Minister David Cameron is the Member of Parliament, visitors should head off via Brize Norton to the village of Bampton which doubles up as Downton, the village featured in Downton Abbey.It is frequently used in the hugely successful ITV series for filming outdoor scenes, most notably St. Mary’s Church and the library, which serves as the entrance to the cottage hospital.

A few miles on from Bampton is the chocolate box town of Lechlade on Thames which is the highest point on the river for navigable vessels. This is a wonderful spot to just wander around and take in the ambience perhaps with a refreshing drink at the famous Trout Inn. Just 4 miles away is the small village of Fairford whose delights fail to be eclipsed by the nearby air base which holds the World’s largest military airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo.

From Fairford, it is only a few miles to Cirencester, the historic town that dates back to Roman times. You are now officially in the Cotswolds and Cirencester, renowned for its Royal Agricultural College, the largest in the World, is regarded as the capital of the district. After exploring its bustling streets and imposing church, head back towards base via the quintessential Cotswold village of Bibury, described by William Morris in Victorian times as the most beautiful village in the whole of England. In fact, Fox News insists it is one of the most picturesque in the World. One terrace of former weaver’s cottages called Arlington Row is regarded as such a treasure that it is now owned by the National Trust. 

After a brief sojourn to Bibury, take the road back to the A40 at Burford, another famous medieval town on the edge of the Cotswolds and recently voted by Forbes Magazine as one of the top ten best places to live in Europe. The gently sloping main street is a cornucopia of fascinating shops and has some wonderful little alleys in between the centuries old buildings. The Church of St. John the Baptist is rated one of the finest in the country and was the scene of a cruel subjugation of rebellious Levellers by Oliver Cromwell and his cavalry at the end of the English Civil War.

From Burford, return to Witney for a hearty dinner at your hotel. Explore the surrounding areas when staying at hotels near Oxford

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The impressive buildings combined with winding rivers and hidden nooks all work to create a romantic and inspiring atmosphere that many experience when visiting Oxford.

If you haven’t visited before, there are many sights you can admire, the architecture of Oxford being some of the biggest highlights.

Oxford University Buildings

With over 39 college buildings dotted around the city that make up the university, you may not get time to visit them all; here are a couple of the best picks well worth a visit…

All Souls College

This is at the heart of the university, and was founded in 1437 by Henry Chichele for the clergy as a centre for prayer and learning. This is the most prestigious of all the colleges.

The college boasts a four-storey gate tower and two-storey ranges either side, when you pass inside the gate house you enter the Great Quad, here you will be able to view the medieval buildings and spectacular twin gothic towers.

The quadrangle still houses fellows’ bedrooms and studies; additionally the Chapel sits in the whole north quarter and is well worth a visit.

On your visit, don’t miss out on taking a look at the sundial made by Wren and the mallards (the college symbol) that can be spotted all over the college.

Brasenose College

College of Brasenose and the King’s Hall is situated in Radcliffe Square in the heart of the University. It was founded in 1509 by William Smythe, Bishop of Lincoln, and Sir Richard Sutton.

The unique name of the college is thought of have come from a 13^th century knocker with a lion face that decorated the original academic hall.

Brasenose College has an intimate and romantic feel, typical of smaller medieval buildings. As you pass through the entrance on Radcliffe Square you will be led through to the Old Quadrangle, from here you can browse the beautiful buildings located inside.

Well worth a look is the Chapel Quadrangle, known also as Deer Park, it is home to the library and chapel – both were built in 1656-63 and were designed by mason John Jackson in an unusual Gothic-Classical hybrid.

The Chapel was the last to be designed and built in the traditional T plan, with a crossing antechapel, and replaced an earlier chapel that was located alongside the Hall.

Go inside the Chapel and take a look at the impressive antechapel, it comprises a memorial to Walter Pater a Fellow 1864-94, flanked by figures of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Plato and Dante.

You also won’t be able to miss the stained glass of the west window; it is by James Pearson to designs by J.R. Mortimer, from 1776.

Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library is the main research centre for the university. It was founded in 1602 and opened with about 2000 books collected by Thomas Bodley. It is considered to be one of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture in the UK.

The collection of books grew fast as Bodley made an arrangement with the Stationers’ Company in London to include a copy of every book registered with them, in the Bodleian library in 1610.

As the collections grew, the library was extended in both 1610-1612 and again in 1634-1637. Then, in the 1930’s the New Bodleian building was constructed – a tunnel under Broad Street connects the Old and New library buildings and contains a walkway, , a mechanical book conveyor and a pneumatic Lamson tube system for book orders.

Other places in Oxford well worth a visit include:

-          Christ Church Cathedral

-          University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

-          Harris Manchester College

-          House of C.S.Lewis

-          Eagle and Child Pub – patrons included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

This is just a snippet of what you can see on your Oxford break, all that’s left to do now is discover the city for yourselves!

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Put on your tourist hat and take a look at just 15 of the most fascinating facts about Oxford.

1. Oxford was the capital of England during the English Civil War.

2. Adolf Hitler had plans to invade England and use Oxford as his base if he won World War II.

3. The first colleges at Oxford were erected in the 13^th century. Women weren’t admitted until 1878 and it was 1920 before women were allowed degrees. Women were finally admitted to the last of the previously all-male colleges in 1974.

4. Someone is picking his nose…and that’s just one of the strange and fascinating gargoyles perched around the colleges of Oxford, much to the delight of visitors.

5. Oxford residents are called Oxonians. Oxford is hardly a unique name – there’s one in Canada, one in New Zealand, and the United States boasts 21 Oxfords.

6. The Oxford Comma (used after a conjunction in a list of three or more) gets its name from the Oxford University Press.

7. A bell located in a tower of Christ Church Cathedral goes by the name Old Tom. It strikes 101 times each night, once for each of 100 original scholars plus one added in 1663. The bell tolls at precisely 9:05 p.m., a holdover from the traditional curfew time.

8. Scenes from the Harry Potter series were filmed at Oxford. So were several TV series, including Brideshead Revisited and Inspector Morse.

9. Author Lewis Carroll was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland while living at Oxford.

10. Other authors with an Oxford connection include J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia; Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse novels; and Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’s Diary. And let’s not overlook the Oxford English Dictionary, which published its first edition in 1884.

11. In 1954, med student Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes at Iffley Road track in Oxford.

12. The world’s first public museum, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, opened its doors in 1683.

13.Two roads, two miles apart, run parallel to each other in North Oxford. The southern road is called North Parade. The northern road is called South Parade.

14. Twenty-six British Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford.

15. Participants try to knock a wooden skittle off the top of a post by throwing sticks at it. Aunt Sally is the name of this quirky pub game you probably won’t see anywhere but Oxfordshire.

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