As a student at Oxford University in the late 1980s, the Randolph seemed like the physical embodiment of the class divide that afflicted poor kids like me who came from state schools from the much wealthier students who took the affluence and grandeur of the city's finest hotel entirely in ... Read review
The Macdonald Randolph Hotel is in the heart of Oxford, opposite the Ashmolean Museum. The ... more
restaurant has 2 AA Rosettes and fine city views.The Randolph Hotel is known for excellent service and traditional values. The en suite bedrooms are luxurious, c...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Oxford's leading hotel The AA Five star 2 Rosette Randolph Hotel is situated in the ... more
heart of the city opposite the world famous Ashmolean Museum Built in 1864 and recently refurbished the hotel offers each guest the highest level of comfort and...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
oxfords Leading Hotel The Randolph Is Situated In The Heart Of The City Making It An ... more
Ideal Base For Shopping And Discovering The Historic City Of Oxford. Built In 1864 And Recently Refurbished The Hotel Offers Each Guest The Highest Level Of Comfo...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
oxfords Leading Hotel The Randolph Is Situated In The Heart Of The City Making It An ... more
Ideal Base For Shopping And Discovering The Historic City Of Oxford. Built In 1864 And Recently Refurbished The Hotel Offers Each Guest The Highest Level Of Comfo...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Advantages: It's spectacular and surprisingly quiet and the best location in the city Disadvantages: Parking, high prices.
As a student at Oxford University in the late 1980s, the Randolph seemed like the physical embodiment of the class divide that afflicted poor kids like me who came from state schools from the much wealthier students who took the affluence and grandeur of the city's finest hotel entirely in their stride. I'd never been in such a grand hotel and the closest thing to a grand building in my home city was the local branch of Lloyds Bank.
... ...and take us out to the Randolph for rather staid Sunday lunches in the spectacular high ceilinged dining room where we'd sit and watch the world cycle by through the tall windows. By contrast my parents would visit bringing a bag full of fish and chips or a Chinese take-away. I can't really say that we enjoyed the Randolph that much more than a take-away and at least nobody had to stand on ceremony with my folks.
As a student at Oxford University in the late 1980s, the Randolph seemed like the physical embodiment of the class divide that afflicted poor kids like me who came from state schools from the much wealthier students who took the affluence and grandeur of the city's finest hotel entirely in their stride. I'd never been in such a grand hotel and the closest thing to a grand building in my home city was the local branch of Lloyds Bank.
My flat mates' parents would arrive each term and take us out to the Randolph for rather staid Sunday lunches in the spectacular high ceilinged dining room where we'd sit and watch the world cycle by through the tall windows. By contrast my parents would visit bringing a bag full of fish and chips or a Chinese take-away. I can't really say that we enjoyed the Randolph that much more than a take-away and at least nobody had to stand on ceremony with my folks.
It seems strange from the 2009 perspective that in the 1980s the accountancy and management consulting firms were fighting tooth and claw for Oxford graduates, trying to out-do one another in putting on lavish receptions to try to persuade future graduates to choose their firm ahead of any other. If they wanted to impress, then they hired a ballroom or large conference suite at the Randolph and we'd turn up with no intention of following such a career but in the full knowledge that we'd listen to 45 minutes of presentation about accountancy then fill up on free booze and snacks.
Despite representing a world I didn't think I could ever share, I loved the Randolph on sight, with a visceral affection and longing that surpassed even the fanciest of the university's grand buildings. The Randolph was really something special.
At that time there were no other top notch hotels in the centre of Oxford and visitors had to choose between the glories of the Randolph or a B&B on the Iffley, Cowley, Woodstock or Banbury Roads. The Randolph stood alone in its magnificence but has more recently been joined by arrivistes such as The Bank and the Malmaison, the latter housed in the old Oxford Prison. A few years ago my husband and I wanted to attend a ceramics exhibition in the city and I was lucky enough to get a really outstanding bargain deal at the Randolph. For only a few pounds more than a grotty B&B, I could finally get to stay in my dream hotel.
I love high Victorian architecture and the Randolph is a fine example. It was built in 1864 at a time when no architect could resist sticking just one more bit of ostentatious ornamentation onto every door, window, staircase or ceiling. It stands on a corner plot on St Giles, with the Martyrs' Memorial to one side and the awesome Ashmolean Museum directly opposite.
From the moment you step through the rather small and understated entrance with its canopy to protect you from the rain and the doorman to greet you, you know that you're in for a treat of Victorian design. If you've arrived by car, you could be in for a nightmare though unless you took care to pre-book your parking space at a whopping £25 per 24 hours. The garage is small and you don't get to park yourself as they need to squeeze in as many as possible. The nearest public parking is equally shocking in price but less secure and somehow it doesn't seem right to stay in the best hotel in town and park your car on the city's outskirts in the Park and Ride; it's just not 'appropriate' to take the bus to the Randolph!
We checked in at the reception, admiring the high ceilings and the gorgeous staircase. I'd prepaid so only needed to leave my credit card details in case of extras. I'd booked one of the cheapest rooms which was on an inner corridor so there were no wonderful views but it was extraordinarily quiet so much so that we didn't even wake up until 10.30 in the morning because the inside location and the deep carpets in the corridors meant we got total silence. The room wasn't very big but wasn't cramped either. The furnishings were quietly understated and of good quality. There was a double bed, side tables, a television and tea/coffee tray and an easy chair. The bathroom was small but spotlessly clean and well equipped. I don't think we had a minibar because I remember putting the bottle of champagne we'd brought with us on the windowsill to keep cool whilst we headed out to explore.
We didn't eat in the Randolph on this occasion. Since I'd spent too much on the room (even at a bargain rate) we popped out to eat in local bars and cafes instead, but I can certainly recommend lunch in the restaurant as a real treat. Sunday lunch is a set price and whilst it's not cheap, it's worth a little extra for the grandeur of the setting. There are two bars, one with a lovely open fireplace. There's a spa and a small gym (really small) but generally you don't go to the Randolph to exercise!
For those with special needs, I'd suggest that the Randolph isn't the most accessible of hotels. They do have some wheelchair accessible rooms but the age and design of this grand old hotel wouldn't be compatible with it being really easy to get around. Guests with dogs can take them for a small daily supplement and kids are well catered for with welcome packs, cots and high-chairs and a babysitting service.
In terms of what to see, the Randolph is perfectly placed in the city centre really close to the main shopping streets and many of the colleges. You really couldn't pick a better location from which to explore the city.
Advantages: wonderful hotel Disadvantages: expensive
We have just returned from a wonderful night staying at the Randolph Hotel (part of the McDonald group) in Oxford. It was the hotel where my husband's work was holding its post Christmas event and we decided to treat ourselves to an overnight stay in the hotel. It was a lovely occasion and I came home feeling thoroughly spoilt.
The Randolph is an old hotel in the centre of Oxford. It was actually built in 1864 and although it has been recently refurbished ... ...I was surprised to see when I looked at the websites that it has 151 en-suite rooms because it really does not feel that big. Having said that though, we had to go along a couple of rambling corridors on the third floor to get to our room, and it did feel like a bit of a warren so I guess there were lots of areas of the hotel I was not aware of.
The room had all the facilities you would expect in a five star hotel. It wasn't huge but was spacious ...
kingfisher111 11.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford
...beauty and elegance is The Macdonald Randolph Hotel, or more simply, The Randolph.
Built in 1864 by the architect William Wilkinson, the Victorian Gothic hotel stands dignified on a street of Georgian facade, opposite the world famous Ashmolean Museum. A skip and a jolly hop (or 200m if you're stoically set on metric) from city centre, it is one of the most central hotels. It is this distinctive architectural history and location that marks The ... ...attended university at Oxford, there was never quite a good enough reason to obliterate my bank account (and the possibility of any future loan-related banter with the HSBC) on a night's stay in The Randolph. However, my parents were kind-hearted people who cared to visit me ever so often, and given their peculiar penchant for all things antediluvian and historic, would choose hotels such as The Randolph as their temporary domicile. And so I quite ...
bellahuang86 18.10.2007 (24.10.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford
Advantages: Friendly staff, lovely rooms, good service Disadvantages: Quite expensive and dining isn't the best
Myself and my boyfriend stayed at this hotel in April this year and we were very happy with our stay. The staff were friendly from the moment we stepped through the doors and the hotel itself is not only in a perfect location for seeing the city, but is also lovely in a very old school way. This is not a moder hotel and you will see a lot of plush red carpets and oak furnishings.
We stayed for two nights, ordering breakfast on both mornings and ... ...evening at a cost of £260 for the first night and £210 for the second. For what it was breakfast was quite pricey (be aware that there is a £7 tray charge for room service) and we weren't given much. A full english breakfast consisted of one flat mushroom, one small sausage and slice of bacon and a tomato. There was an awful lot of plate to be seen. However, the selection itself is pretty good and you can order anything from kippers to museli. We ...
leafy81 08.11.2007 (22.11.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford
...on the 5* service that Macdonald hotels are supposed to offer.
Then at 11.10 we got a phone call from reception saying check out was at 11.00 and they wouldn't allow us to check out any later without an extra charge of £20.00. Then we were disgusted to find that they had charged £25.00 for car parking and then the receptionist charged us another £2.00 for using AMEX..... 5* hotel ???
My advice would be to stay away. First impressions are good and ...
gaetana 06.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford
Product Information for "Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford" »
Product details
Rating
3 Stars
Rooms
109
Type
Hotel
Address
Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2LN
City
Oxford
Country
England
County
Oxfordshire
Manufacturer's product description
Macdonald Randolph Hotel is a four star hotel that has often been featured on screen. (TV's Inspector Morse was a regular!) The Randolph stands proud in the heart of Oxford where history entwines with bustling modern life. A dramatic arched doorway leads into a world of genteel sophistication, offering the leisurely pace of a bygone era with the modern conveniences of today. The Randolph Hotel was built in 1864, and mixes history with modern convenience. The hotel stands proud in the heart of Oxford where history entwines with bustling modern life. Its windows overlook the world famous Ashmolean Museum and a few steps away you\\\'ll find contemporary theatre and the city\\\'s thriving shopping centre. Such a cosmopolitan location is ideal for combining business with pleasure. The Randolph Hotel is renowned for impeccable service and superb restaurants and bars, the Morse Bar being a popular meeting place often featured on screen (Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins were there for Shadowlands and TV\\\'s Inspector Morse was a regular).
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