The Porterhouse Grill & Rooms, Oxford

A walks along the Thames, just a couple of streets away, will take you north to the greenery of Port Meadow.

It's a leisurely 15-minute stroll into Oxford city centre, where you'll find the covered market, university colleges and beautiful historic sights.
By car: around 1 hour 30 minutes from Bristol, 1 hour 45 minutes from London and 3 hours from Manchester.
By train: direct trains from London and Birmingham (over 1 hour), and Manchester Piccadilly (under 3 hours) to Oxford. The hotel is a 5-minute walk away. thetrainline.com

With its cool, contemporary décor - think dark walls and sexy velvet cushions - this hotel is perfect for couples seeking a quiet bolthole or business travellers in need of a little space to work. The cosy booth seating in the bar is a lovely romantic spot for a date night dinner.

We loved the complimentary fruit and cold milk in the communal fridge outside the bedrooms, which meant we could make a morning coffee before the staff even arrived.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Terrace
• Free Wi-Fi

We stayed in room two which was a spacious haven with its own writing desk. Dyson air conditioners and electric heaters were provided so we could create maximum comfort - a welcome facility!

Room 1-7
Facilities include: somnus king-sized bed, ensuite bathroom with toiletries, Tassimo coffee machine, bottled water, desk, TV, free Wi-Fi

We ordered the 35-day aged côte de boeuf - a triumph in flavourful steak cooked to perfection. The side salad and buttered greens were almost as moreish as the steak itself.

The Porterhouse: elegant steakhouse, specialising in dry aged steaks. Cuts include côte de boeuf, chateaubriand and t-bone. Open daily for brunch, lunch and dinner.