A Stunning Stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry

When heading on a little staycation, it can be easy to pick the most centrally located Premier Inn and Bob’s your uncle. If you’re looking for something with a little more appeal, look further afield.

DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry is a lovely rural and rustic property, situated around 20 – 25 minutes by car from bustling Oxford City Centre. There is plenty to do at the property itself, but you’re still the perfect proximity to the city if you wanted to head in for a day of shopping and sightseeing.

The hotel is also just a short 10 minute drive to the Crazy Bear Hotel which is locally famed for offering dining experiences with a difference. This would make a nice evening out.

Checking in:

Check in is fast, efficient and friendly, and you’re gifted one of the most delicious warm cookies, which is a nice added touch. The hotel is pretty huge and maze-like, but once you’ve found your floor, rooms are modern, spacious and pretty. Countryside-style décor is the feature, and each room has a TV. Our room also had a bath which was ideal to sink into after a long day exploring.

The Spa:

Swiftly after check in, we ditched our bags and headed down to the spa which is nestled in the hotel itself. Two friendly therapists took us off to our separate rooms and we enjoyed 60 minutes of treatments. For myself, I decided on a mix of upper body deep tissue and an express facial. Both were incredibly professional, relaxing and enjoyable and the team used ELEMIS® skincare products which were lovely. There are a full range of massages, facials and beauty treatments to choose from to ensure you leave the hotel feeling your very best self.

After our treatments, we had time to relax in the beautiful conservatory style building that housed a swimming pool, a sauna, and an experience shower. There was also a fully equipped gym which was spacious and remained busy during our whole stay. Feeling suitably chilled out; we headed back to the room to begin getting ready for dinner.

The hotel itself is plotted on 17 acres of grounds so there is plenty to explore before dinner, but we opted to sit in the stunning garden in the sunshine, under the pergola, and enjoyed a lovely chilled glass of wine.

The Restaurant:

The restaurant at the hotel is called Spires, and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Everything is freshly prepared and the team use locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible. The dining room is cute and intimate, and we were really impressed with the menu which offered a wide and varied choice that changes seasonally.

To start we opted for a fresh Chilli Calamari which was beautifully fragrant and well presented. In fact, the range of seafood on the menu, as a whole, was very impressive given the rural location of the hotel. There is a full menu of wines to complement the dishes too, and the friendly servers are on-hand to make recommendations based on what you order.

For mains there was a range of classics, and I couldn’t resist a traditional Gammon, Egg, Pineapple and Chips, which was everything I wanted and more. Beautifully seasoned, with crispy fat chips. It was super delicious. Pleased with our previous fish dish, we also went for a Seabass Gnocchi which was served in an onion, garlic-based cream and was very fresh and filling.

The chef really spoiled us by sending over three, very decadent desserts. We had a Toffee Torte, a White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookie Dough and some fresh Cinnamon Doughnuts. After dinner, and suitably stuffed, we retired to our plush bed to enjoy a quiet, secluded and restful night’s sleep.

Other amenities:

Breakfast is included with the stay and is also served in Spires, buffet style. The bar in the hotel is fairly large, with many cosy nooks to sit and read or enjoy a nice tipple. We’d highly recommend ordering one of their delicious and fluffy doorstop sandwiches if you get peckish during your stay also. We tried the Egg Mayonnaise after a tiring swim in the pool which restored us back to high energy.

We loved our stay at DoubleTree Hilton Oxford Belfry, and left with fun and happy memories, as well as totally relaxed following our epic spa experience. It’s a great place to stay to explore Oxford and the beautiful surrounding areas.

Find out more > www.hilton.com/en/hotels/oxfbedi-doubletree-oxford-belfry/