one night within 2 hrs from Reading

[pillowcase]

Hi all,
I'm thinking of giving a night in a nice hotel to a friend as a thank you present and wondered if you have any recommendations not too far from Reading. I really don't know the area at all but somewhere accessible by train/bus if possible. Budget of 200 pounds for a couple.
Thanks

Somewhere in windsor?

oxford?

oh thanks for that, yes either of those sounds good, any hotel to recommend? I've been trawlin through tripadvisor but i keep getting distracted to another city, another town and can't decide! was just looking at Brighton Pavillions Hotel but not sure if it's really OTT, would you recommend brighton for a weekend?

well by public transport, Oxford to reading is actually easier than Reading to Windsor (have to change at Slough) so would go for that. You can sometimes get a good deal to stay in an oxford college which wd be lovely, if out of term time. Also oxofrd castle development meant ot be good, there's a hotel there, if you google it.

The Forbury in Reading is supposed to be amazing. Or you could try LAterooms for a London hotel. You don't have to book too late to still get huge discounts. Hotel Du Vin in Henley? Malmaison in Oxford?

Brighton is good for a weekend lots of stuff to do.

crazy bear supposed to be excellent

crazy bear

booking inot an oxford college is a lovley idea - will give you a great base in the centre of town and although low on luxury will be high on experience.

Go towards the Cotswolds. Trains to Worcester/Gloucester stop at Reading so you will find somewhere. Alternatively Oxford is always good - but college beds!!! Go for the boutiquw hotel.

OK love the look of crazy bear, am veering towards that, but now you've thrown in cotswolds so i have to figure where that is (i'm not british) and it looks like Bath/Cheltenham, any specific hotels?

my friend has just got married and i'd like to put together a nice weekend break package, including train travel, meal and hotel. Next question: some people hate vouchers (me included) so I want to make it specific, but letting them choose their dates. Does a voucher for the hotel prevent them from finding a last minute deal and paying with the voucher?

aaaghhhh! it's so hard to get it right, i hate just giving cash, hate getting a voucher for a specific shop, and hate choosing something I think is lovely and they may hate, aaaaaghhhhh!

The Crab at CHievely
Private rooms with hot tubs (hubba hubba!!)
me and DH love it

Also, in Newbury so 30 mins from Reading but you could be a million miles away

taylormama, looks gorgeous but now you're getting a bit too expensive for me, sigh!
but 30 mins was great.
still like oxford, would like to get train travel, hotel and restaurant for about 250 pounds, sorry guys I'm really not sure what i'm looking for but I love looking up your suggestions, wish it was for me!

two recommendations for oxford

hawkwell house hotel, iffley
four pillars hotel, sandford on thames

you'll have to google for prices, had our wedding at hawkwell and eaten some nice meals at four pillars. both on bus routes (though its limited service to four pillars as it crosses the ring road) and taxi about £8-10 from city centre.

train also goes direct to stratford upon avon from reading and think you change at oxford for a train to evesham - would recommend these as options too. For evesham would stay at the Waterside hotel.

• have you got tesco clubcard vouchers arriving, could use those at certain hotel chains to save some money?

oh if it were me, reliant on public transport and only going for w/e, wdn't want any change or taxi ride the other end, Oxford station not the nicest/most convenient. I'd go for a hotel within walking distance of a train direct from Reading, should narrow it down! have a look at firstgreatwestern website to see where you could get to from there.

Waterside hotel Bath
This hotel is near the train station - direct from Reading to Bath Spa every 15 mins / 30 mins.

It's set just by the river and the old canal lock - lovely restaurants/sights/pubs/walks on the doorstep

Yeahinaminute - I'm yours!!!

Bath, no other choice really