Vanbrugh House Hotel, Oxford

We love having the ability to walk to all the sights, and have the pick of the city's bars and restaurants on the doorstep.

Set on a quiet street in the heart of the city, everything is at your fingertips, with theatres, museums, shops, bars and restaurants all within a few minutes' walk.
By car: from London or Bristol around 1 hour 30 minutes and just over 3 hours from Manchester. The nearest public parking is the Worcester Car Park, just under five minutes' walk away.
By train: 50 minutes from London Paddington, 1 hour 20 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads and 2 hours 45 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly. Oxford station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. thetrainline.com

The hotel suits style-conscious, young city explorers planning to spend most of their time out on the town. The warm, honey-coloured Cotswold stone and the sense of history imparted by the building at every turn is a highlight.

The staff's knowledge of the building and its history, as well as their recommendations for what to see and do beyond the obvious, is excellent.

• Bar

• Outdoor seating

• Free Wi-Fi

• Parking
• 24-hour front desk

• Facilities for disabled guests

For us, the utter luxury of the Vicarage Suite wins thanks to its private garden, four-poster bed and his-and-hers, freestanding slipper baths. Fresh milk and a wide choice of Nespresso pods and Teapigs brews make a good start to the day.

Single Room, Small and Standard Double Rooms, Accessible Room, Superior Rooms, Oxford Union Suite, Vicarage Suite, Sir John Vanbrugh, Nicholas Hawksmoor
Facilities include: continental breakfast delivered to your room, ensuite bathroom with shower, The White Company toiletries, Wi-Fi, smart TV

Although there is no restaurant, the hotel serves a generous continental breakfast in the ground-floor dining room.

Breakfast: expect cheese, meats, fish and honey from named local suppliers, fresh bread from a local bakery and a push for seasonal produce.