This is a 5 Star Hotel in a very central city centre location with spa and restaurant set in an recently refurbished elegant and spacious building, reminiscent of a grand baronial house in decor. It also has the benefit of its own on-site secure concierge parking similarly priced to the Oxford long stay car parks which is an important consideration when coming by car and needing to park (they drive it in for you) and check-in easily. Alternatively, the train station is just up the road.
We stayed in a four-poster room and opted for lounge access at £20 extra per person night. The room was plushly furnished in the traditional style and airy with coffee machine, welcome wine, Molton Brown toiletries. The beautiful bed was very comfortable but so high I had to tip toe to get on and I am tall. I was frightened I might fall out in my sleep and it’s a long way down. It might be difficult to get into if you have mobility problems. Our room over-looked the busy side street with bus stops near by but we never heard anything as the rooms are well sound-proofed. The curtains are heavy enough to black out light too and no-one can see in. We were just on the first floor. There is a small lift but we used the grand staircase just off the main reception area.
The lounge access was certainly worth it as you could call in all day for snacks, drinks, (soft, beer and wine) which we often did when we called back to have a rest in between museums, colleges, concerts, shopping, etc. – that being the beauty of its location. We could snack and drink as we opted for b&b only and it turned out cheaper overall. I can highly recommend the fab albarino it stocked!!! The renowed ‘Morse’ bar was downstairs but we opted to stay in the very quiet and relatively empty lounge most of our down time.
We didn’t use the spa as there was no spare time as there was so much to see and do and we stayed for 3 nights.
Just round the corner was the bus stop for Woodstock where Blenheim palace is. Across the road is the Ashmolean. Again round the corner are lots of restaurants and pubs serving food as well as many shops and colleges.
On leaving, the car was brought for us at the front and the doorman safely directed us out as we had to do a U-turn onto our road back to Wales. This is very helpful as one wrong turn and you in the busy and confusing one-way system that is the city centre. We are planning a return visit soon to this hotel as there is just loads to do in Oxford.
