The Porterhouse Grill & Rooms, Oxford

Sitting on a quiet residential road, it's easy to forget you're in the centre of Oxford here, but in the thick of it, you are. The Ashmolean, the New Theatre and countless Oxford University colleges are a short walk away, and the train station is just around the corner for maximum convenience. If you can tear yourself away from the steak downstairs, head over to Jericho for cocktails at Raoul's or wine from the Oxford Wine Café.

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. Book trains to Oxford.

Styled like an old British boozer that wouldn't be out of place in London, The Porterhouse is all deep-blue colours with wooden accents. Blackboards on the walls in the restaurant divulge interesting facts about the beef you're ordering, and a quirky collection of black-and-white photographs from 20th-century London hangs on the walls all over the hotel. It's the perfect blend of modern-day décor with a cosy, slightly vintage, vibe.

Service is superb at this pub with rooms. Staff will make an effort to remember your name and room number, and they'll offer tips on where to go and how to get there. The property isn't manned overnight, but there's an emergency number in case you need help, and you'll never be locked out thanks to a code-operated gate around the back.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Free Wi-Fi

With just seven bedrooms, this is an intimate hotel, and it really does feel homely. The dark-painted walls and slightly warm lighting make the whole place feel extra cosy, and the velvet headboards and cushions add a touch of luxury. Bathrooms all have large showers with rainfall heads and mirrors that light up for make-up application. The coffee machine in the room was a great addition, too.

Room types: Room 1-7

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, somnus king-sized bed, Tassimo coffee machine, bottled water, desk, TV, free Wi-Fi

Steak is the main game here. All the hotel's meat is charcoal grilled, which lends a subtle smoky flavour to each of the different cuts. You'll be handed a menu of what's on offer on the night - it could be a porterhouse, chateaubriand or fillet - and you get to choose from a range of sides and sauces to accompany your pick.

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.