voco Oxford Thames

The hotel, formerly known as the De Vere Oxford Thames (and before that, the Four Pillars Hotel), is set on 12.14ha (30 acres) of parkland and has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages and it was closely linked with the Knights Templar until the order was suppressed n 1324 and the Knights Hospitaller until 1541 when Henry VIII dissolved the order and passed the land onto Cardinal Sir Thomas Wolsey.

Although the hotel dates back to medieval times, it feels modern and the rooms have contemporary decor with a mostly monochrome colour scheme.

The hotel has 104 spacious rooms with standard guest rooms starting at 23m² (247 sq ft) and deluxe rooms as large as 28m² (301 sq ft). Rooms have comfortable beds, a work desk and a sitting area plus a flatscreen television with premium channels, ironing facilities, a trouser press and tea and coffee making facilities. The upper floors are only accessible by stairs as there is no lift in the hotel.

Free Wi-Fi wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.

Some of the rooms have lovely views but others have a fairly uninspiring outlook onto the car park.

The hotel’s River Room restaurant is a step up from many hotel restaurants and is overseen by chef Claudio Costea, who has appeared in the BBC Masterchef programme. The restaurant is open for afternoon tea and dinner and has a seasonal menu with local ingredients.

The Crusaders Bar and Lounge is a medieval space with exposed beams that has a casual dining menu.

There is not a big price difference between the restaurant and bar menus so it is probably best to dine in the fancier restaurant and head to one of the nearby pubs if you just want a drink and a casual meal.

The hotel’s Leaf Spa includes a fitness centre, heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and also provides spa treatments. There are also tennis courts available for guests to use, although this is only open during summer.

The voco Oxford Thames hotel is a delightful place to stay. It is spacious, it has excellent facilities (including a swimming pool and tennis courts) and a top-rated restaurant. Even the location away from the city centre has its positive aspects with a riverside village setting and easy access to the Thames Path into central Oxford. To top all this off, it also has free parking.

The hotel is ideal for couples looking for a romantic retreat and it is surprisingly affordable if you stay during the low season.

The hotel is in Sandford-on-Thames, 6km (3¾ miles) south of Oxford city centre.

Oxford Bus Company’s bus route 3A stops outside the village hall on Henley Road (a five-minute walk from the hotel) and runs every half hour. If it is a sunny day (and you have time to spare) it is a lovely 1½ hour walk into the city centre via the Thames Path.