Ethos Hotel is located in a residential area about a 15-minute walk to Oxford's city center. We enjoyed the quieter surroundings and the historic neighborhood, which also was a short walk from the Thames River and its long walking paths.
The hotel is located in three historic buildings from 1888 that have been renovated. The caffe is in the center building and also serves as the reception area. We found the staff to be very friendly, accommodating and responsive.
The breakfast, included in our stay, was comprehensive and varied; snacks were available in the caffe, which had long hours and also served the local neighborhood: a fact that we enjoyed. We felt more integrated in the town and less "touristy."
One word of caution, the original buildings are old, do not have elevators, and the staircases are narrow. Large and/or heavy suitcases can be a challenge; but we felt that the location and hotel were worth the small inconveniences of staying in an historic and "vintage" space.