Vanbrugh House Hotel

Vanbrugh House Hotel

"How did it strike you on arrival?A character-rich hotel, filled with nice touches opposite the Oxford Union. Spread over two buildings dating from the 17th- and 18th-centuries, with parts of the façade designed by Sir John Vanbrugh (architect of Blenheim Palace) and a staircase by Nicholas Hawksmoor, inside it's unfussy, with exposed stone walls, grey-painted wood-panelling and smart chaises lounges. It feels good to be here. What’s the crowd like?A lot of smart visitors to Oxford seem to be staying here, older but not exclusively. It's a romantic spot and there seem to be regulars too: academics over for conferences at the university as well as the obvious tourists. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.There are 22 rooms, and though the standard doubles are fine it's worth paying a little extra for one of the five "superior rooms." They're bigger with an extra nice touch of having the bathroom hidden behind wood panelling. The Queen size bed feels huge, there's plenty of light, sumptuous extra seating and an overall elegant Georgian style feel. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?In spades. Egyptian cotton sheets, light fluffy pillows and extra blankets do the trick. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?The free mini-bar is pretty nice with chocolates, soft drinks and posh crisps. There's tea from the posh Tea-Pigs brand, and fresh milk, not those little sachets you get that taste so off. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.The invigorating shower totally wins me over, the bathrobes and slippers are definitely ones you want to pack in your suitcase and take home with you, while the toiletries from The White Company and other smart brands are good enough that you don't need to bring your own. Room service: Worth it?24-hour room-service is a great perk at the Vanbrugh, and an unexpected one. A filling pesto pasta for under £10 is a delight. Anything else we should have asked about?Location. It's all about location here which is as central as it gets in Oxford, but the best thing is the that despite that the hotel is surprisingly quiet. A bonus. Bottom line: Why will we love the Vanbrugh House?It's a true original." - Ramsay Short