Old Parsonage Hotel, Oxford

Surrounded by colleges, traditional boozers and mature trees, and within walking distance of parks, shops, bars and restaurants, the Old Parsonage is conveniently located on the edge of the old city and just ten minutes from the heart of town. The terrace outside is pretty but faces a busy road. It's a five-minute walk to the Pitt Rivers Museum or the Ashmolean, or Tolkien's hangout, the Eagle and Child.

By car: around 1 hour 30 minutes from London or Bristol and just over 3 hours from Manchester. There is free parking at 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 about a 15-minute walk away. Book trains to Oxford.

Public areas have a seductive style with a heritage palette and striking artwork that gives the hotel a chic, cosmopolitan air. Original features such as the 17th-century oak door and stone fireplaces have been retained, but the décor is firmly contemporary in style. The rooms are less playful but attractively sleek.

The hotel prides itself on high service standards, with well-trained staff and attention to detail a priority. Although there is no spa or pool, a variety of in-room treatments can be arranged and there's an intimate library with private courtyard terrace on the first floor.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Walled courtyard
• Free-to-borrow bicycles
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The stylish rooms have a smart, contemporary design and a restrained sense of luxury. Expect warm woods, soft velvets and compact marble bathrooms. Some rooms feature a Juliet balcony or private terrace, but for any sense of space, opt for a Superior or suite.

Room types: Suites, Junior Suites, Superior Deluxe, Deluxe, Classic, Small Double and Accessible Rooms

Key amenities: ensuite bathrooms with Noble Isle toiletries, tea and coffee-making facilities, fresh flowers, TV, free Wi-Fi

A cross between an old-school gentleman's club and a bohemian lair, the Old Parsonage Grill is the heart and soul of the ground floor. Its dark palette, velvet upholstery and diverse collection of portraits give it an intimate, arty vibe, while the classic bistro dishes are cooked with skill and flair.

The Parsonage Grill & Bar: ​one of The Sunday Times' top restaurants in the UK. Bohemian, arty, gentleman's club feel, classic bistro food. Open 7am-10pm. Mains from £17.