the crown and thistle

The history of Abingdon and its favourite coaching inn are intertwined. In this homely, intriguing and delightfully eclectic building, innkeepers have been serving beer and food and laying fresh linen on cosy beds, for four centuries. You could fall in love with The Crown & Thistle with its gently meandering layout, architectural variety and relaxed, modern style. This is the 400-year-old Grade II listed coaching inn immaculately refurbished in late 2013 for 21st-century tastes. Our rooms are fresh with contemporary colour and design, yet the unmistakable hand of bygone craftsmen still shows itself in the quirky angles, aged beams and swirling patterns of courtyard cobbles. We love what time and generations of innkeepers have created at The Crown & Thistle. Even the 200-year-old wisteria that wraps one of our bars in its leafy embrace has a story to tell: it was planted around the time the first mail coaches arrived. No two bedrooms are alike at The Crown & Thistle. Each of our 18 guest rooms is a delight cosy and idiosyncratic with ancient beams, flashes of exposed brickwork and rich wallpapers created by British designers. Our interior designers have used the building 's abundant variety to create a series of stylish and fun-filled escapes. Some overlook the bustle of Bridge Street, others look inwards across the cobbled courtyard. They offer the best views of the inn 's vernacular architecture as it developed across so many generations of builders. Inside you can look forward to a sound night 's sleep between crisp white linen in a four-poster bed surrounded by modern comforts. Each room has an en-suite bathroom with traditional roll-top bath or shower, air-conditioning, flat-screen television, iPod docking station, unlimited Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities and a well-stocked mini bar. The Barn is our 17 th -century function room where we ve peeled back the years to reveal original beams and ancient stone walls softened by time. This spectacular timber-vaulted venue, has its own private bar and can accommodate 64 seated guests or 100 buffet guests. So, whether you are looking for a dreamy wedding venue or a punchy location for a corporate event we can cater for all your requirements.