a stay at Mollie's Motel: the modern motel in Oxfordshire
Experience the ultimate in retro-chic with a stay at Mollie's Motel in Oxfordshire. This guide covers everything you need to know about this trendy roadside stop, including its stylish decor, delicious food and prime location for exploring the surrounding area.
Roadside accommodation is no longer exclusively crappy rooms that smell of cigarettes with questionable comforters. No sir. In 2021, the motel is making a comeback thanks to the road trip renaissance we’ve seen with the current halt on international travel. Enter Mollie’s Motel. Aptly located along the A420 motorway between Oxford and the Cotswolds, Mollie’s has taken the idea of a motor hotel and integrated beautiful design elements, simple amenities, and a sense of nostalgia to create a modern, more sophisticated motel.
I never (ever) thought I’d say it was nice to have a taste of the U.S. in England, but here we are. I’ve never really been homesick for the States. Sure, I’ve wished for some of its conveinences; to be near my American friends, and to magically teleport to the Pacific Northwest’s mountains at my every whim, but it’s not the same homesickness or longing I’ve felt with other places. It’s been harder being an expat in England than almost anywhere else I’ve lived (bar China). I fell naturally into a friend group and the relaxed culture of New Zealand. Likewise, the slow pace of Luang Prabang and its tight-knight community was an organic fit for me. But, being in England during a majority of the world’s current chaos has been so much harder than I expected, which really threw me for a loop because I spent a chunk of my childhood here. Knowing that, you can imagine the twinkle of joy and blanket of comfort I felt after sleeping somewhere reminiscent of the motel accommodation we’d stay in as a famliy during cross-country military moves. Mollie’s gave me the comfort of the familiar with a splash of something exciting and new; admittedly a hard balance to strike.
Unlimited drip coffee, a diner just steps away, and a view of the open road— Mollie’s Motel in Oxfordshire has upgraded classic American motels for a new generation of travelers to enjoy.
modern motel rooms ↴
You’d expect nothing short of stunning aesthetics in any accommodation designed by the hospitality giants, Soho House. The hotel and restaurant empire is known for being the benchmark for cool. As I walked into the pale green room, lit with round, Edison-esque bulbs, it was immediately clear that this was not like other places I’ve stayed. There were none of the decorative details I adore. Instead, the room was made beautiful in its simplicity: a soft salmon-coloured chair in the corner for reading, locally-produced shower products in refillable fixtures in lieu of mini travel bottles. The airy, Scandinavian design inspiration for the rooms is obvious from the moment you enter. We stayed in a Double Room, which was absolutely huge by U.K. standards. I had one of the best nights’ sleeps I’ve had in I-don’t-even-know-how-long thanks to Mollie’s soft bedding, plush mattress, and marshmallow pillows.
ROOM OPTIONS INCLUDE:
Interconnection rooms | ideal for family stays
Bunk room | perfect for friend groups traveling together
Twin room | a good fit for two people who aren’t fussed about bigger beds
Double room | equipped with a Super King-sized bed
Accessible room | ground floor rooms with a wider floor plan
gorgeous general store ↴
If you’re someone who always forgets little bits while you’re traveling, you’ll be happy to know that Mollie’s gorgeous General Store sells all sorts. Toothbrushes, fluffy robes, and old-fashioned candy— they have a variety of often forgotten things as well as comfort items. The General Store is also where you can enjoy complimentary drip coffee and tea. Make sure you grab a beer or cider here and enjoy it in the garden patio area out the back doors of the store. There is space in the General Store to sit and read, play games, or just bask in the beauty of the store itself.
delicious diner food ↴
This ain’t your typical “American diner”. No cheesy 1950s memorabilia hanging from the walls. No Elvis cardboard cut-outs. At Mollie’s Diner, which is just across the parking lot from Mollie’s Motel, the bar for food, service, and styling is set high. As you enter the diner, you’re promptly greeted by smiling (I assume…they all wore face masks, obviously) staff. We checked into the NHS Track and Trace app and were seated at a cozy blue mini-booth for two.
Luke and I have both recently transitioned to being fully vegan at home, so we were a little sad that there were no fully vegan options. However, I noticed the Plant Burger on the menu and, while not technically vegan, it hit the vegetarian mark for me. I opted for sweet potato fries as my side which hit the freaking spot! Since we’d already broken our veganism, we decided to go ahead and enjoy one of Mollie’s famous milkshakes with not a single regret. One shake, two (paper) straws— a true diner moment. The next morning, we had arranged for an early breakfast. I picked the Build-Your-Own Pancakes and topped it with fresh fruit and maple syrup. Luke grabbed the Full Vegetarian Breakfast.
Currently, it’s recommended that you make reservations for dining to guarantee you get a table. In a rush? Make use of the Mollie’s Drive-Thru.
DINER OPENING HOURS | daily 8AM – 10PM
DRIVE-THRU OPENING HOURS | daily 12 -10PM
what’s nearby ↴
Being a roadside motel, you’re probably wondering what there is besides a motorway nearby. Mollie’s being located right by the Cotswolds and only 25-minutes by car from Oxford puts you in the perfect spot for exploring.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECKING OUT:
Bibury | Famed as the most beautiful village in the UK by William Blake
Stow-on-the-Wold | Known for the famous door at St. Edward’s Church which is rumoured to be the inspiration for the Doors of Durin in Lord of the Rings
Moreton-in-Marsh | The village features a beautiful open air market and quintessentially British gardens
Oxford | A reputation for academia thanks to its exclusive and elite University
Blenheim Palace | Famous for being the birthplace of Winston Churchill
Bicester Village | Retail shopping outlet
booking your stay at Mollie’s ↴
A stay at Mollie’s is perfect for those who are on a road trip around the Southwest U.K. or traveling through the Midlands. Ready to book a beautiful night’s sleep? Check availability and prices here.
