Sudbury House Hotel, Faringdon, Oxfordshire

The hotel sits on the edge of the medieval market town of Faringdon, the one-time home of eccentric aristocrat Lord Berners, whose legacy remains in the form of droll signs around town ("When this sign is obscured by snow then the road is impassable"). The Cotswolds, the North Wessex Downs and Oxford are all relatively close. There's lots of countryside to explore - for walkers, the Ridgeway and Thames Path National Trails both pass around five miles from the hotel.

By car: Near the M4 and M40 motorways, Sudbury is a 30-minute drive from Oxford's centre, 1 hour from Bristol, 2 hours from Leicester. There is free parking at the hotel.

By train: Swindon Railway Station is a 20-minute drive away, with trains from London Paddington (1 hour), Bristol Temple Meads (40 mintues) and Swansea (2 hours). Book trains to Swindon.

The whole complex has been carefully designed, and its location means it feels nicely removed from the burdens of the outside world. It does feel business-y in places - there are meeting rooms, so this figures - but there's certainly enough character and artiness to appeal to leisure guests.

You'll look in vain for a health club or gym, although the hotel does have two restaurants and a bar, and the large garden is ideal for a post-prandial stroll. Staff are friendly and well drilled, offering advice on local attractions such as the National Trust's nearby Buscot Park. There are some pet-friendly rooms, available for a £20 surcharge.

• Two restaurants
• Bar
• Gardens
• Pet-friendly
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free parking

All 50 rooms have been tastefully furnished, with lots of soft colours and heavy fabrics at play. The majority of guestrooms are in the three-storey extension, and make up in comfort and practicality for what they lack in pizzazz. Nearly all provide baths with overhead showers. The older part of the building has two suites.

Room types: Comfortable, Double or Twin, Family Room, Junior Suite, Deluxe Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, tea and coffee-making facilities, iron and ironing board, TV, free Wi-Fi

There are two restaurants. Magnolia is a smart, relaxed option, open for lunch and dinner. Its British-centric menu isn't perhaps the most adventurous, but the food is of good quality. Restaurant 56 specialises in afternoon teas - it's all made fresh, so you'll need to pre-book.

The Magnolia: Small plates, sandwiches, burgers, pizza. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mains from £14.

Restaurant 56: Traditional setting and garden lounge. Serves afternoon tea. Afternoon tea from £20 per person.