Museum Hotel, Oxford

You can't really get more central than this. Overlooking the Town Hall and a stone's throw from Christ Church, you can walk everywhere in the city from here. The busy road outside and the revellers in the pub downstairs cause noise issues, however, earplugs are provided. Nearby, you'll find shops, restaurants, bars and colleges. The Ashmolean is a five-minute walk and The Bear Inn, established in 1242, is even less.

By car: around 1 hour 30 minutes from London or Bristol and just over 3 hours from Manchester. No on-site parking but Gloucester Green car park is a seven-minute walk from the hotel.

By train: around 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 15-minute walk away. Book trains to Oxford.

The hotel's winning feature is its design, which combines plush décor with period features dating back to medieval times. The glossy blacks and golds, soft leathers and crushed velvets of the opulent furnishings contrast with a cast-iron staircase, exposed beams and Victorian fireplaces. However, the narrow corridors can feel oppressive.

The hotel is practically self-service. You'll get an entry code for the door and it's possible you won't see a single staff member while here. A bag drop service can be arranged as there is no parking available but if you're looking for personality, you're unlikely to find it here.

• Airport shuttle
• Self-service check-in
• 24hr executive lounges with complimentary water, soft drinks, coffee, tea and snacks
• Free Wi-Fi

The sleek but compact rooms are coaxed into the odd shapes and contours of the two historic buildings that make up the hotel. Each is different in size and shape, but the décor is consistent. Bathrooms are bright and modern with powerful showers, but several rooms have skylights only, rather than windows.

Room types: Standard Double Room, Superior Double Room, Executive Junior Suite, Executive Double Deluxe Room

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with SPA themed Rituals amenities, TV, free Wi-Fi

The hotel does not have a bar or restaurant and only a limited continental breakfast is on offer. Breakfast is laid out in the Artist Studio lounge at the back of the building but is pretty basic. Complimentary snacks and drinks are available in the two hotel lounges throughout the day.

Breakfast: continental breakfast, laid out in the Artist Studio lounge at the back of the hotel.