Oxford on a crisp, sunny winter’s day is a pretty perfect place to be – the golden buildings glow, mist rises from the meadows, around every corner there’s a picture perfect scene.

Architecture, history, culture – no wonder tourists flock to this university city.

The guided tours will take you to the famous must-sees, the beautiful colleges, the Bodleian, the Radcliffe Camera, the Ashmolean.

On my list of compelling reasons to visit I’m adding one that’s not quite so well-known – it’s the bathroom of the Vicarage suite at the Vanbrugh House Hotel.

This luxury boutique hotel offers 22 bedrooms, each with its own style, in an elegant historic building with all the modern touches you could wish for.

It’s perfectly placed for exploring all that Oxford has to offer, right in the heart of the city, but once I’d seen the room there was a real danger I wouldn’t be prised away from it to take in the sights.

I thought the bedroom was impressive, with its four poster bed, gorgeous sofa, and wood panelled walls. When I discovered the French doors opened on to the room’s own private walled terrace garden I was even more impressed.

Then I saw the bathroom. In the centre stood two rolltop baths, side by side, and a huge glass cubicle with a rainfall shower. A TV you could watch while in the tub, adjustable lighting, underfloor heating, thick fluffy towels, even a table to rest a glass of bubbly on – it was bathroom nirvana.

But I had a job to do and a review to write so I couldn’t laze around in the suite all day. I have a strong work ethic after all. So I got up and went for breakfast.

If you’re going on a self-guided walking tour, then you need a hearty start and the hotel ensured that, with a choice of full English, vegetarian, continental and many more options.

The hotel takes its name from Sir John Vanbrugh, who designed Blenheim Palace and is thought to be responsible for the stone frontage of Vanbrugh House.

I don’t think the Dukes of Marlborough would have received better service than I did – maps, advice on restaurants, sightseeing, even the offer of an umbrella if it rained – the friendly staff seem to anticipate guests’ every need.

Using a route suggested by the hotel, following in the footsteps of CS Lewis, with plenty of diversions, in my short visit I still managed to see the Bodleian, numerous colleges, the Ashmolean, the Modern Art museum, the Bridge of Sighs, Blackwells bookshop, the Sheldonian, and admire the views across Christ Church Meadow and the Cherwell.

If you want to see inside the colleges, most open to the public at certain times so plan your visit accordingly. Magdalen, Christ Church, Merton – there are 38 in all making up Oxford University so you’re spoilt for choice.

It’s not often that in a single day you get to see a mummified baby crocodile from an Egyptian tomb, 500-year-old books, paintings by Renoir, tapestries by William Morris and pop art by Andy Warhol, as well as some of the most beautiful places imaginable in which to study for a degree.

Not only was that challenge perfectly achievable, but so was another I set myself – to prove it’s entirely possible to write an article about the sights of Oxford without once mentioning the TV series Morse.

Well, until that sentence.

Damn.

Factfile

Midweek stays start from £119 B&B, while two-night weekend stays (Friday and Saturday night) start from £299 B&B. Both rates include VAT.
Rooms come with minibar with complimentary soft drink, snack and fresh milk, in-room safe, iron, ironing board, media hub for connection to MP3 player, tablet or laptop, en suite rainfall shower room and complimentary wifi.
There is no parking at the hotel but Seacourt park and ride, the nearest, is a cheap parking option.
Website:www.vanbrughhousehotel.co.uk
Phone: 01865 244622
Email:info@vanbrughhousehotel.co.uk
Address: 20-24 St Michael’s Street, Oxford OX1 2EB