Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

A few weeks ago, I started reading a novel set in the English countryside and the story took me back to a short trip to the UK at the beginning of the year. I want to share a few of my highlights from a weekend in Oxfordshire. This story should be read covered in a blanket and with a steaming cuppa in your hand. So make yourself comfortable, turn on the fairy lights and read on.

January in Western Europe is usually a grey affair. You accidentally write last year’s date on everything, and the people around you don’t mind because they understand – they’re just as overwhelmed by the thought of getting through another winter month, let alone starting a new year. This is one of the reasons why I recently rated January 2 out of 10 in a guess the number game with friends – only undercut by its successor, February. The only thing you can really do to get through the less wonderful time of the year is to find small treats like sticking googly eyes on your colleagues’ belongings, baking sessions, or whatever else brings you joy. When these things don’t help me anymore, I try to get away for a while. I’ve found that even just planning small day trips gives me something to look forward to.

Last January, I visited the English countryside for the first time. I had been to London and Sussex, but and as an avid reader of British novels, I got an impression of rural areas of England that I had read about and not known before. It is definitely possible to travel by train from Germany to England. As I only had a few days for this trip, I took a flight from Frankfurt Airport to London Heathrow. Looking back, there is only one thing I would change about this trip: I would take more time and not travel by plane. The impact on the environment is simply no longer worth it to me. There are train connection via Brussels and Paris, from there you can take the Eurostar. To get from London to Oxford or the smaller villages in the surrounding area, you can either take the train (faster) or the bus (cheaper). From April 2025 you need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before traveling to the UK.

As I am not a fan of flying, I arrived at the airport much too early to get in the mood and have a moment of peace and quiet with a cinnamon bun and coffee before take-off. After an hour and a bit I arrived at Heathrow airport and picked up the rental car. Checking the development of rental prices a few times in the weeks before going somewhere can save you a bit of money. I made my way towards Oxford on the M40 through heavy rain. Just as I arrived at the destination in the heart of Oxfordshire the sun came through.

The Accommodation

I had the privilege to stay in a true gem: Stoke House in the small village of Kirtlington. The host Barbara welcomes you to the cosy annexe of a traditional British cottage, surrounded by a beautiful garden. The annexe is ideal for one or two people. It has a small living room with a kitchenette and a dining area (perfect for hearty English breakfasts), a bedroom – the bed is huge – and a bathroom. If you are looking for a quiet accommodation, I can highly recommend staying here.

Things to Do

Make sure you pack waterproof clothing and boots and explore the peaceful and picturesque countryside on foot. You can wander from village to village through endless meadows, saying hello to horses and sheep along the way. Spending so many hours outdoors made me feel very grounded. In my opinion, every walk should be followed by a stop at a pub for a drink and a snack – the Oxford Arms in Kirtlington is a good choice.

If you are staying in a smaller village, a day trip to Oxford offers museum exhibitions, restaurants and shopping. On Broad Street, I stepped inside Blackwell’s bookshop and was in awe. It is one of the largest and finest bookshops I have ever been to and every book lover should have the chance to browse its shelves once. The university’s botanical garden is also worth a visit. From there, you can stroll along the River Cherwell and pass the Meadow Building, a gothic college. If you have the chance to attend Choral Evensong in one of the college chapels, you should definitely do so. It is a special experience, even if you are not religious.