What about overnighting in Reading? Only about 30 minutes by train from Oxford and you might find a more reasonably priced hotel. There's certainly an Ibis there about 5 minutes walk from the station, not sure what else. Probably a bit of an un-necessary complication though. Looking at Expedia there's a few reasonably priced places in Oxford that are central, this for example http://www.expedia.co.uk/Oxfordshire...lt&rfrr=-30461 I've only ever overnighted in colleges though, you might be able to find a room at one - some of them do have guest rooms. Here you go http://www.oxfordrooms.co.uk/book/ro...px?scope=local