An Oxford Garden Flat That’s Perfect for Writers (and Everyone Else)
Oxford has long been a magnet for the literary set—C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien swapped early drafts of their masterpieces in these very pubs. On a recent writing retreat with a few friends, I needed a place that balanced quiet creative space with easy access to the city’s bookshops and historic taverns. We found it in a three-bedroom, three-bathroom garden flat just a 10-minute walk from the train station and central Oxford. The setup was ideal for a group where not everyone knows each other well: private bathrooms for all, a cozy sitting room, and a kitchen that saw heavy use for late-night coffee and Scotch-fueled conversations. There’s also a washer-dryer, which saved us after a week on the road.
We visited during a glorious June week, but the flat would shine in the famous English rain, too. The standout feature is a sunny courtyard where we drank morning coffee and listened to a European robin’s song—Oxford turned me into something of a birder. The interior is Scandi-minimalist: clean lines, light wood, and neutral tones that make the space feel larger than its footprint. One minor embarrassment: we couldn’t find the third bedroom on the first night. It turned out to be a standalone shed in the back, with its own bathroom and a Murphy bed that pulls down over a couch. I claimed it for myself on the second night, using the pull-down desk for early-morning writing with a mug of tea.
The flat sleeps six, but it’s snug for a full day of hanging out indoors. That’s fine, because the location is a short walk from Oxford’s best spots. I applied for a day pass at the Radcliffe Camera library, where the energy of students studying for finals was infectious. Afterwards, I slipped into the hidden Turf Tavern, tucked down a narrow alley, and nursed a pint beside the medieval city walls. For souvenirs, Scriptum is a treasure trove of inkwells, fountain pens, and wax seals—I bought my daughter a feather quill that she now treasures. Evenings often took us to Port Meadow, along the Thames, where The Medley served phenomenal pizza and plenty of house white. I’d return to Oxford in a heartbeat, and this flat is a soft landing for writers, families, or friend groups—just don’t forget about the third bedroom.