FLY into Oxford Airport – champagne cocktails at the Grand Cafe, an exotic coconut rub at the Randolph Hotel spa then dinner at Le Manoir.

With so many lavish treats on offer, it's no wonder Oxford has just been named the eighth best city in the UK by readers of luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller.

Two Oxfordshire hotels have also ranked top 20 in the readers' poll – Raymond Blanc's Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton bagging 12th place and the Soho Farmhouse in Great Tew squeezing in at number 20.

It is the first time Oxford has made it into the top 10 in the annual readers' poll, and comes despite months of maddening roadworks, the six-week closure of the railway from Oxford to Didcot and a scorching summer that might have been expected to send holidaymakers to the beach.

Michael Grange, general manager of Oxford's most luxurious hotel the Randolph, suggested that the crashing value of the pound following June's Brexit vote might have attracted more travellers to our shores.

He said: "We are seeing an awful lot of international visitors at the moment, and the pound being so much weaker is probably helping.

"It's likely that British people were less inclined to go away as well."

Mr Grange said some of the top local attractions for big spenders included the Randolph's own luxury spa, the local restaurant scene boasting big hitters like The Old Parsonage and Le Manoir, and even the brand-name shopping at Bicester Village.

Whatever the reason, Mr Grange said business was booming and the "super news" that Oxford had squeezed into the top 10 could only make things better.

Frederick Laurie, founder of Footprints Tours Oxford, confirmed that his guides were seeing a steady increase in luxury visitors who liked to spend big.

He said: "It's not uncommon that we'll meet a Rolls Royce in Broad Street that has come straight from the Hilton, and we have clients who fly into Oxford Airport – they often have a driver who will collect them.

"There are more luxury tourists coming to Oxford seeking those cultural elements and the brand of Oxford University rings very well."

Condé Nast Traveller editor Melinda Stevens said Oxford has scored a "double first" for culture this year and remained a "firm favourite" with readers.

County tourism board Experience Oxfordshire said it was "delighted" with the recognition from the "highly-regarded" magazine.

Head of marketing Martin Walker said: "The biggest recent development for tourism has been the opening of the new Weston Library, but there has been a consistent level of PR for great boutique hotels like the Old Parsonage and the Soho Farmhouse.

"The Soho is in north Oxfordshire but everyone else benefits from that profile and likewise with the Randolph – this is a boost for the whole county."