I would also mention North Oxford (Jericho) and Iffley Road, both of which are pretty quiet and pleasant areas, though pricey if you're buying (though everywhere is in Oxford!). Take a look at a map and you'll see that the two long roads Iffley and Walton Street have many little streets branching off them, mostly residential. Headington is more self contained but at least an hour's walk but with easy driving and plenty of buses into town. The two areas I've mentioned are walking distance and nice journeys on foot. Cowley Road is great, particularly in terms of ethnic diversity and eating out/big supermarkets but is very studenty and also has loads of pubs as well as the O2 club so in fairness is generally very noisy at the weekends. Hope that helps!

Also in North Oxford is Summertown, a quiet and fairly affluent area around the Banbury Road that has it's own little town with shops, coffee shops, bars and restaurants. It is very handy for lovely Jericho, and also for the city centre, perhaps a 30-40 min walk there, depending upon where in Summertown you live, or a quick bike ride, or an even quicker bus ride - there are lots and lots of buses. It's also close to the ring road and A34. Actually I'm a bit biased because I live here : ) I suppose it is one of the more expensive parts of Oxford, although I should think that if you look outwards toward the ring road things get a little cheaper, but are still convenient for Summertown shops and the buses.

That is wonderfully helpful. Thank you! :-)

Does everybody else concur?

The keys are location and price, generally the better the area the nicer the accommodation so the best places in Oxford are, Banbury road & Summertown, Jericho and Woodstock road, St Clements, & by the train station, next is Abingdon road, Iffley road, Cowley road, quaint places are Old Headington, Binsey village, Iffley village, areas to avoid are Blackbird leys, Barton, Wood farm, Rose hill. You can find rooms for as little as £200 a month + bills but the standard is likely to be poor and only available in a weak area, start at £400 a month + bills and you are off to a good start, timing is also important, start your search in the summer when most of the Uni students are away.

Thank you guys. I have now found a lovely place in Jericho and move in shortly. Hurrah!

Congratulations MoleBaby, we wish you well in your new abode! Do let us know if you'd like a Daily Info map to guide you around the many and varied parts of the City. (info@dailyinfo.co.uk, or just drop in to the office).

Glad you've found a place Molebaby :) For future readers of this thread seeking somewhere quiet and non-nightlifey close to central Oxford, do consider Botley, and - as others have said - Headington. I lived in west Oxford (Oatlands Road and Riverside Road, off Botley Road, technically 'New Osney') for several years and the noisiest thing there was the Hollybush pub (generally when we were in it, to be fair). It's also very convenient for the train station. If you find the right street in Headington (ie. not too full of student houses) it can be super-quiet too - and there's a real sense of community there, as it's v proud of its somewhat separate, almost villagey identity in relation to Oxford. I lived there happily for 3 years. Hope that helps! :)