My husband and I arrived on a bright but cold winter's afternoon to a warm and welcoming reception. Our comfortable room was across the courtyard from the main hotel building, and had been recently refurbished in subtle Farrow and Ball-esque shades - the towels were thick and the sheets, sumptuous and crackley.
Our 2 night deal included Dinner which was served in the Dining room - lots of beams, candlelight and very atmospheric. The food was perfect - good choice of fresh produce beautifully cooked and presented. Breakfast next morning was also a delight - a choice of full-English or huge selection of Continental.
We found all the staff to be friendly and ever helpful. All in all, our short break was perfect in every way - what a shame it was so short!

Stayed for several nights to attend a wedding in Oxford/Blenheim Palace. Staff was courteous and attentive, room was large and well appointed, and the walk to the Blenheim grounds was lovely.

Excellent breakfast spread and well-appointed in-room tea cupboard.

The Bear is EXACTLY what it should be; try as I might I simply cannot fault it.

Perfect location in the centre of the town and looking like the front of a Dickens novel.

From checking in to departing it ticked every box expected and I concur with all the positive postings other contributors have made.

Service – ALL the staff seemed happy and offered a smile.....how rare is that is 2012...they were enthusiastic, well presented and well mannered and obviously well trained and managed... they were genuinely eager to be of assistance .

This is all credit to the management of this hotel, so to them many brownie points!

Cleanliness and state of repair? - couldn’t find anything to whinge about, honest!

Value- we got the deal; MacDonald was running so it was great value for money.

Wi fi- can’t comment - not interested – I have a life!

TV in room was new with a big screen with sufficient but limited channel choice

Food – we had dinner B&B.Dinner was exceptional , scallops, pheasant etc etc ...good bread, decent coffee and a sensible wine list...the ambiance is great as is the room , well what do you expect with a building some 700 years old, it’s all beams and fresh white linen.
The full English breakfast was cooked to order – perfectly. Produce was of high quality and a special note – freshly squeezed orange juice, marvellous!!....... all hotels should be required by law to serve freshly squeezed and not the usual penny pinching diluted orange gunk that so many inferior clueless establishments choose to offer

Parking – free and secure

All in all a big round of applause, I have stayed in many MacDonald’s – and I say the Bear is without any hesitation the very best in the group.

Just a few comments about Woodstock –it’s easy to walk around and there are numerous pubs which are OK but not the best for differing reasons...we only found the Feathers as an alternative decent eatery and the menu there was very expensive.

Blenheim is just down the road and it’s a short walk but check opening times!!

I am so very pleased we chose to stay at the Bear and indeed in Woodstock compared to our original intention of staying in Oxford having had a look inside in a few of the hotels there that we had seen on this site .Visiting Oxford? Then stay in Woodstock at the Bear!

Onward travel to Oxford is easy although the day we spent walking around there surprisingly wasn’t the most interesting, a day does the place + it will cost about £12 to park – even on a Sunday

NB -The Oxford open top bus tour isn’t worth it.

We stayed for one night. We arrived early and David was pleased to get us into our room early which was lovely. The room was lovely and warm and clean, superb!! The fireplace and beams gave it real character. Breakfast was lovely with a huge range served very very promptly, small things were very very prompt tea and toast to our table. On saturday evening we asked for some milk for tea, it arrived in 3 minutes!
I would have liked a more varied choice of dinner menu, we decided to eat out, a mistake as it turns out.
Over all a lovely hotel, helpful friendly staff. I will be back. Thanks you to every one!!!!!!!!