I stayed in the Blenheim Suite at Hope House on the eve of our wedding and we stayed there together on our wedding night. We just wish we could have stayed longer. We've stayed in many hotels but Hope House is truly unique.

Paul has renovated Hope House to a very high standard - there isn't anything he hasn't thought of; underfloor heating in the bathrooms, bath salts, incense, candles, an array of teas and coffee... the list goes on but I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.

As there are only 3 suites in Hope House, you really feel like it's your house and I looked forward to coming back to it. The bedding was so comfortable and the breakfast had everything you could imagine.

I don't think anyone could find fault with Hope House and would only be very pleasantly surprised. I would recommend it to all my family and friends. Our thanks go to Paul, Georgia and the rest of the team for an amazing start to our married life.

We spent one week at Hope house in early January. As a family returning to England after 19 years, we were apprehensive about our experience and this proved needless. Paul has a way of making you very comfortable. He was watching out for us on the street outside as our flight had been delayed. Problems with the hire car were sorted by him with a quick call. We got the lowdown on the best pubs and where to park in Oxford, tons of laundry was not a problem and all this done very effortlessly along with cooked breakfasts at staggered times as the family went their different ways during the day--and all understated and good value for money. Not to mention the ambience that greeted us and the heavenly bath salts.

...that was my mum's summary. Here's the detail:

BOOKING: I emailed the hotel and Paul phoned me back straight away and I booked over the phone.

GETTING THERE: I drove. It's a reasonably easy drive from London (with SatNav) down the A40/M40 and then a bit trickier round the outskirts of Oxford as there are a few large roundabouts. Then you come into Woodstock, it's a right turn and the parking is at the side of the house. I must admit I am not very good at parking and it's a bit tight so I drove past, turned round and had another go.

RECEPTION: Paul came round the corner to meet us and carry our bags. No check in just straight up to our suite.

ACCOMMODATION: What I didn't realise when booking is that if you look at the photo and divide it into three horizontal sections, then that's the space you are getting in accommodation terms so it is not just a hotel room it is more like an apartment. The Churchill suite is on the top floor and you get; a double room (facing the side road), a twin room (facing the road) with slippers and bathrobes in the wardrobes, a hall with clever automatic lighting, bathroom (with under floor heating) and an enormous sitting room with large Smeg fridge, Sky TV with movies (Sky Premiere films) and a Sky Box (TiVo equivalent) that you can save films to or pause/rewind live TV, as if you were at home.

We arrived at 2pm and opened a very good bottle of champagne from the fridge (good value at £35). There is complimentary still and sparkling water, tea, coffee and biscuits and reasonably priced wine, local chocolates etc.

SURROUNDING AREA: Blenheim Palace was closed (until 11th Feb 2012 - and a thank you to Charlotte for letting me know when I was booking) so I'm afraid we then limited ourselves to looking around the town, trying out The Star pub for dinner (didn't like and I have reviewed it separately) and buying lots of cook stuff for my mum but otherwise doing nothing but relaxing in the suite with lots of heating on.

FOOD: Breakfast was very good and it was great to have it at 9am (all the guests turned up at 9am!) Paul should leave the breakfast to other staff and instead go round the tables for a chat as we would have bought the lovely jams and marmalades made by the 81 year old plus the jam holder and also try to find out where to buy the bed linen as it's the best I've ever come across.
If I am being picky I would like packets of Alpen/weetabix/cornflakes but that's all in the pickiness area I think. Fresh eggs laid by chickens in the garden was a nice touch.

POINTS TO NOTE:
1) The hotel sits on a corner plot facing the main road. There is traffic noise that can be heard at night in the twin room but none in the double room - so important if you are a light sleeper.
2) Mum and I have previously stayed at Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons and I think my tip would be to stay here and get a taxi over for lunch/tour of the garden as the accommodation here is better.

My mum and I had a wonderful relaxing time so thanks to Hope House, Paul and all his staff.

We arrived in a quaint town with a wonderful history and our family of four was greeted by staff and management with a lovely smile and a wealth of information, the rooms were spacious warm and beautifully laid out, the beds were very comfortable, there was a great choice of tasty food for breakfast and we settled in immediately, our stay were all too short. Highly recommended.