Egrove Park University of Oxford

The room was clean, the view was great, and the staff were helpful during my one-night stay. But I was uncomfortable when lots of ladybirds appeared in the room at night, flying around everywhere. I was also disappointed by breakfast, especially the eggs and hash browns, which weren't good.

I had a lovely, peaceful view from my navy room, and the grounds were lovely and quiet. The place is easy to get to, too. Breakfast was great, with cute little boxes in the fridge offering plenty of choices for eating on the run. Tea and coffee facilities were there as well. I stayed for two nights and really liked it.

The food was exceptionally good, especially breakfast, and every staff member I met was friendly and helpful. My bed was comfortable, with a firm mattress and soft topper, and the foam pillow was fine. The bedrooms I saw were quite large for a university venue. The grounds cover about 35 acres of lovely parkland, and it's a wonderful place for courses and education. It's also close enough to Oxford to work well as a training venue. For a short break, it offers good value if you can manage with a cramped bathroom. The bathroom in my room was dark, tiny, and tired. Road noise is a drawback, especially on walks around the boundary between the Southern bypass and the A34. On a hot day, you may also hear traffic through open doors and windows. I noticed this particularly in the Annex study area. The bedroom blinds also let in the morning sun: the enclosed Venetian blind didn't block it, and the pull-down blinds left a gap down the middle. On the first morning, my shower only gave a warm trickle or cold water. I mentioned it at reception, and it was dealt with quickly. By evening it was working reasonably well. Keep those limitations in mind when booking, though overall it's a good option for Oxford access and training.

A brilliant venue, with really helpful staff, private parking, and a great location linked to Said business school.