At the beginning of the year I took a trip to the Cotswolds for the first time. My first stay of the trip was in the heart of Woodstock on the outskirts of the Cotswolds, near Oxford. The Marlborough Arms is a 14th Century Coaching Inn that oozes character and is right in the centre of Woodstock.
The hotel was easy to spot and ideally located was Blenheim Palace, opposite. An outstanding World Heritage Palace with huge gardens over hundreds of acres. Throughout the year you are able to take a stroll around the beautiful gardens and explore inside the palace. The grounds were free to access, however you have to pay to get into the gardens and palace. In the summer it would be beautiful for picnics, but I expect extremely busy.
If that’s not for you then why not try shopping at Bicester Village a short drive away and another top spot to visit for some designer bargains and great places to eat.
The Marlborough Arms
This luxury bed and breakfast has recently undergone a refurbishment by the owners and whilst keeping with the original beams and character of the building, it has been transformed into a luxury place to stay, we didn’t want to leave.
When we first arrived we pulled up to the car park at the back of the hotel. The hotel had a lovely patio area where you can sit outside in the summer enjoying the evening sun with a glass of something gorgeous.
Inside the foyer area was so welcoming and as expected in a coaching inn it featured a crackling log fire and a stunning area to enjoy some warmth and catch up on some reading with the latest magazines left out for guests. We had a lovely chat with the lady who was on reception that evening she had so much to tell us about the history of the building, all so interesting. The lounge area had a most welcoming bar area, perfect for pre-dinner drinks, we enjoyed a couple of cocktails, before venturing into the local area for dinner, we didn’t stay out long, we were eager to get back to make the most of our gorgeous suite.
Amazing Service
We were made to feel extremely comfortable and welcome by the reception staff and enjoyed talking with her about the town and the extensive history of the hotel. She showed us the oldest relics of the building while we enjoyed a glass of wine.
We spoke about the owners who the staff seemed very fond of and enjoyed working for them, it was clear as our stay continued that the staff were happy and this made a really lasting impression and ensured a great atmosphere.
Our stay
We stayed in room 10, The Sienna Room. Located on the top floor where we had the entire a floor to ourselves. There really was no reason to leave if we didn’t want to. The suite had two plump and comfortable sofas, a spacious lounge area with a fire and a large tv. The suite had a king-size bed and was one of the most luxurious and comfortable beds I have EVER slept in. We really did have the best nights sleep. The room was full of character with the ceiling beams and small windows. Don’t worry they had blinds to block out the daylight if you want a lie-in. The room was fully equipped with a modern coffee maker and tea making facilities too!
We were super impressed by the suite but then we were shown our bathroom. It was just as big as our suite. The bathroom was to die for! A huge cast iron bath set in the middle of the luxurious bathroom with a modern power shower in the corner too. The room was modern and stylish with black and white tiled flooring, it felt likes a place fit for a queen! We both enjoyed a long bath before getting ready for dinner, this was the perfect way to truly relax.
Breakfast on order
Although we were in a bed and breakfast it felt like our own luxury floor in a hotel. After a fab night’s sleep, we headed down for breakfast and once again the fire was lit and was lovely! The breakfast room was absolutely beautiful with old pictures and history covering all the walls in a brightly lit room. It was the perfect breakfast room. There was fresh tea and coffee and helped ourselves to fresh fruit and croissants at the buffet table.
We had a late breakfast but even so, we were not rushed. The receptionist also offered us a late checkout. We snapped that up with an extra hour in bed before checking out.
The Marlborough Arms was definitely one the most comfortable stays I’ve had in the UK. The location is hard to beat!
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Ooo what a lovely place to stay! I’ve got to admit, I’m a sucker for the little touches and I love the coffee / tea maker in the room. I’d love a trip here next year when the pandemic is hopefully over ? xx