VisitEngland names Oxford holiday retreat among best in UK

Cedar Hollow at The Oaks just outside of Headington and the ring road secured a top honour at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026, held on June 3 at Aerospace Bristol.

It won the Silver Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year award in the Tourism South East Beautiful South Tourism Awards, the region’s pathway to the VisitEngland Awards.

In a statement, Dr Yaz Romahi of Cedar Hollow at The Oaks said: “We are absolutely delighted to share that Cedar Hollow Oxford has been awarded Silver in the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026.

Cedar Hollow at The Oaks (Image: AA)

“To be recognised on the national stage alongside some of England’s most exceptional tourism businesses is an incredible honour.

“With winners on the night including icons such as Bletchley Park and The Beatles Story in Liverpool, it felt surreal to be standing among such storied names.

“What started as a dream to create a magical woodland retreat near Oxford has become something far bigger than we ever imagined.

“A special thank you to Maya, who joined me on the journey and looked considerably more elegant in a top hat than I did.

“Thank you to every guest who has stayed with us, every member of our team, our volunteers, our family, and everyone who has supported us along the way.

“This award belongs to all of you too.”

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Cedar Hollow at The Oaks is described as a whimsical treehouse set in a private 12 acre woodland.

With cozy nooks, rustic charm and views that capture the heart, the treehouse offers a serene escape into the magic of The Oaks.

The Treehouse is 750 square ft of open plan space that hosts up to two adults and four kids, or four adults.

Fran Downton, chief executive of Tourism South East, said: “To see three South East businesses recognised among England’s very best is a fantastic achievement and a real credit to the teams behind them.

“Their success highlights the exceptional visitor experiences being delivered across the region and we congratulate them all.”

Ms Downton said that the guest house began its journey through the Beautiful South Tourism Awards, a vital step to reaching the national stage.

Other winners include The Grand Brighton winning the Bronze Large Hotel of the Year and Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire winning the Silver Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.

She encouraged other businesses to enter the awards for a chance to compete in 2027.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence recognise outstanding achievements in tourism across England and worked with 21 regional competitions.

This year, 369 winning businesses were put forward for national consideration.