Vanbrugh House Hotel

The Vanbrugh House Hotel is situated in a traditional beige-stone Oxford townhouse with roots in the 18th century. It's a Grade II Listed property, meaning it's of special historic/architectural interest, and has been running as a hotel since late 2012. The lobby is small but decor is charming, modern, and sophisticated with paneled walls, brightly patterned swoop armchairs, and a coordinating pink pendant drum light. The small restaurant features rich wood tables and chairs, a stone floor, and chic wallpapered accent walls. There's no elevator; a staircase with richly patterned carpeting leads up to each floor. Walls throughout feature sepia-tone prints and black-and-white photographs of Oxford scenery. Outside, the charming stone-tile terrace has wicker and wood furnishings set against a beautifully aged stone wall. With stylish, individually decorated rooms and an excellent location, this is a hotspot for leisure travelers and tourists, many of whom are couples.

The Vanbrugh House Hotel is situated on a quiet side street in the heart of historic Oxford. While the street is busy with pedestrians, road traffic is fairly quiet. Right around the corner, guests will find a plethora of restaurants, shops, and bars. Main attractions are in easy walking distance, like the 18th-century Covered Market (three-minute walk), The Ashmolean Museum (five-minute walk), and Tom Tower (seven-minute walk). Guests can also walk to Oxford University in 10 minutes and Trinity College in five minutes. The Oxford railway station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, with London about an hour away by train. Heathrow Airport is an hour's drive. There are no on-site parking facilities, and parking in the area can be challenging. 

Rooms at Vanbrugh are individually styled and feature modern amenities and subdued, tasteful, contemporary decor. In a Small Double, neutral wall-to-wall carpeting meets gray walls, while hand-crafted white wood furniture adds subtle, country charm and pairs well with rich brown accents. Specific decor varies from room to room -- some with more eclectic, Arts and Crafts, or Georgian touches -- but the color palette repeats. Upgraded rooms may have more elegant decor, like wood-paneled walls, a fireplace, or a gray-upholstered chaise lounge. The Four Poster Suite is a real standout with its own garden terrace, elegant button-tufted couch, and stunning bathroom with roll-top tub. Bathrooms throughout are modern and tend to feature beige and blue tiling and generous wet-room-style showers with clear doors and luxurious rainfall showerheads. Bathrobes and White Company products are provided.Rooms include modern amenities like flat-screen TVs with satellite service, MP3 docking stations, and free Wi-Fi. Mini-fridges are stocked with free snacks, soft drinks, and milk for coffee, while coffee and tea service includes free cookies. Wardrobes include ironing facilities, fans, safes, and full-size umbrellas. Rooms range in size from Small Singles to Doubles, Twins, and Suites. The biggest issue? No air-conditioning, and guests occasionally complain of noise, especially in street-facing rooms. Interior noise from hallways and the stairwell can also be an issue for some rooms. Past guests suggest that light sleepers should request quieter rooms facing the terrace. 

As a small boutique property, Vanbrugh House doesn't have much in the way of on-site features. But it does have a small, well-liked restaurant and bar that offer well-priced, seasonal British fare for breakfast and lunch (dinner is not offered). Guests tend to be satisfied with the breakfast buffet, which includes cereal, meat, cheese, pastries, and juice along with hot options like omelets and Eggs Benedict. But breakfast is not necessarily included in the room rate. Room service is available for breakfast and lunch. The hotel has a stylish lounge/reception and an outdoor sitting area, but few other common areas. There are no fitness or business facilities, and there's no on-site parking. Wi-Fi is free and guests tend to find staff helpful.