Wow - what fun traveling experiences can be. It lasted 135 days and visited 29 countries while going...
Wow - what fun traveling experiences can be. It lasted 135 days and visited 29 countries while going horsriding in Mongolia, up the great wall or into the Krelim. Hoping to loads of reviews shortly, also on dooyoo under the same name - Mark x
Member since:19.11.2006
Reviews:42
Members who trust:15
Why did I go -
As an oxfordshire resident I have heard nothing but excellent reviews of the recently refurbished jail that is now the Malmasion Hotel so I decided to treat myself and my partner to an overnight stay. The hotel was recently voted one of the quirkest hotels in the world only just behind the Ice Hotel!
This is the kind of Hotel that you can take your partner to for a special occasion and make the evening special.
The hotel -
After turning off from new road into the castle complex the hotel stand's out with its old exterior to the building. When you enter reception you can instantly tell that you are in a classy place
The hotel was magnificant. After checking into reception, with the friendly staff only to happy to help, we arrived in the main wing of the former prision. Although the hotel is impressivley renovated, it still retains the feel of an old prision. we then excitedly made our way into the room. This had a extra comfty king bed, a massive bathroom, a free mini bottle of wine waiting for us and free internet
The decor in the room again added to the jail theme. I stayed in the D wing which again give me that feeling of been locked up. When you approach your door it is a big oak door which has some features from a jail, like the peep hole looking glass (obviously this doesnt actually work from the outside!).
The stair well's in the middle of the wing are also the orginal ones that the prisoners used to walk down. This was the prison that was used in the hit TV series "bad girls"
Facilities -
We also ate in the resturant in the complex and the food was also in line with the standards of the room - simply high class. The resturant is in the basment of the complex. On the second floor is a private champagne bar that is open to only residents of the hotel and contains an old style billiards table.
For the best prices for rooms it is probably best calling Malmasion directly (the Number is on the Malmasion's website) as this gave me a reduction on the room of £40. I couldnt find a better deal anywhere on the internet.
The hotel also offers a gym at the rear of the complex.
The hotel is ideally situated in the city centre on the award winning castle complex and therefore gives easy access loads of exploring around the Universities of Oxford. You can visit ChirstChurch college, which has a massive public grounds outside it which is well worth a stroll round. Or you can visit Magdelan college with its deer park enclosed at the rear.
There are many famous free museum's that are arguably the best outside of London. The Natural History museum gives a whole range of animal bone structure's and is very enteraining for children. While the Pitt rivers museum which is attached to the back of the Museum is truly unique which its collection of history from Africa and South America and has a weird collection of shrunken heads
One of the Oxford things to do is to have a punt down the river whilst having a glass of wine. There are the normal touristy things to do like the Oxford bus tour which is increibly interesting. There are usually guides on board but if you choose to listen to the onboard commentary the childrens verison is done by Timmy Mallet.
Conclusion -
Malmasion's marketing campaign for the Oxford hotel is to get locked up for a night and I would like them to lock me up everynight if possible! I can't wait to go back.
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