Malmaison Oxford

I decided to spent a night in Oxford on my way from Birmingham to London while visiting from San Diego, California.

The hotel is an easy walk from the train station in Oxford and in the city center. The hotel was build in the old Oxford Castle, and most of the rooms are former prison cells, which is very unique. I have traveled throughout Europe and I have to say this hotel was very modern, upscale.

The reception (check-in desk) is located in what looks like a few of the old prison cells, with low circular ceiling stones, low light. The staff was very friendly. My room was very modern, all the modern items you would expect (flat screen TV, cable, internet) and a wonderful bathroom with very large tub (I actually used it)....

the only draw back was that the bed was not the most comfortable. It was a King size bed but it was really two twin beds pushed together. For such an upscale hotel, the bed comfort did not match. Too firm...

The hotel is in a VERY good location, close to Oxford University, the city center with plenty of shops, restaurants and historical locations. Even with the bed being a bit too firm for my taste, I would recommend staying here if you are visiting Oxford (which by the way, is a great town to check out when visiting England).

Cheers!

Hotel was very attractive from the outside. So an unusual building. Signage for parking was missing and the porter got flustered when three cars arrived at the same time.

Hotel was clean and modern. In the bathroom, Thought the tiles and shower tray looked older than everything else.

Right in the middle of everything in Oxford.
Had dinner in the restaurant and it was very tasty. Service was excellent and the gentleman took care of me very well.

In a two week period I have stayed in three different hotels in and around Oxford. By far this was the nicest and most fun of them all. Not only is it centrally located with a 5 minute walk to the train, food options steps away and 1 minute walk to a great Coffee Shop - The Art Café; the hotel itself is a masterpiece. As a converted prison, with quite the bit of history dating back hundreds of years, they have done a wonderful job in presenting some comfy digs to rest your head, restaurant on grounds to enjoy dinner or sip a drink on patio.

The room I had was a cell room, so they technically converted three prison cells to make up one queen room with bathroom (and tub). It's quite cozy and quiet and I particularly liked the shower (some rain showers do not have enough pressure, however this one was perfect, the provided products lovely - especially the bar of soap )

I enjoyed sitting at the bar one night (being a solo traveler I prefer a seat at a bar rather than a table). The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.

I opted for an after dinner drink to carry with me onto the patio, which had plenty of seating to gaze at the moonlight.

I had one mishap (the iron destroyed a pair of trousers due to something being on the iron), the hotel promptly assisted and offered compensation. While not ideal losing a pair of trousers while traveling they were fair and I felt handled the situation properly.

I would highly recommend this as a place to stay and look forward to my return visit!

I effing love this hotel. LOVE.

Everyone has said it...there is something about staying in a posh hotel that used to be a prison that is...wonderous and weird and all kinds of things, but that is only part of the charm.

The people that work here go above and beyond to make your stay with them amazing. The food is great, service is awesome, beds are HOLY CRAP AMAZING, showers are HOT, hotel is quiet, scenery is gorgeous...I mean, REALLY, I could go on and on.

And the location? I had never been to Oxford, and this could not be a more perfect location. Minutes from the main streets and the Thames. Just perfect.

I would highly recommend this experience to anyone.

Food was very inconsistent.

I had pea and pancetta croquettes - completely tasteless. My wife had a prawn cocktail which tasted as if someone had split a cellar of salt into it.

Wife's main was a very bland half of chicken that looked as unappetising as it tasted.

I had a fillet steak, which was not bad but sadly spoilt by the worst béarnaise sauce I have ever tasted. Fortunately some Dijon mustard saved the day.

The restaurant was so hot - poor (and very friendly) staff were melting - we couldn't face having desert and went back to our room. £115 for 2 very mediocre courses and a 250ml glass of wine each was far from good value for money.

The experience was finished off by a very long wait for breakfast this morning - I had an omelette that was actually quite nice with 2 rashers of the most anaemic looking bacon I've ever encountered.

Won't be returning (to either the hotel or the restaurant).

Good food, service. An Oxford standout. Atmosphere is mildly Disney, but not bothersome.

Decided to take a "punt" on this local hotel.
I received an email to upgrade to a cell suite for an additional (low) fee, obviously this was too good an opportunity to miss.
When we arrived some Americans were having fans taken to their rooms. Now I work with Americans and they are more than keen to demand more than usual, I asked the reception why they needed fans and was told that the cells don't have a/c. In the US, guests in hotels in the middle of a desert would expect near freezing temperatures, maybe they were really hot from shopping?
The hotel uses outside air that's ducted. As a relatively undemanding traveller I suspected that this wouldn't be a big problem and continued with the booking.
To cut a long story short, the cooling in the room is completely inadequate and because the windows don't open you are stuck...
Not only this, but the nearly £30 fee to park my car was a little excessive.

I suspect that the expense of building a hotel in an old prison forced the owners to not install a/c, however, the other non-cell rooms don't have this problem- so I'd suspect that this problem is due to local planning restriction.
The hotel is surrounded by places to eat, bars and is very central to the town center. If you really must visit Oxford, for the novelty of staying in an old prison it's probably worth booking, but I'd recommend coming when it's not peak summer months.

M is for Malmaison, M is for Magnifique!!!!!!! Je suis been on my travels this summer reporting back to fellow yelpinators. Have I found another boombastic joint for y'all??? AFFIRMATIVE!!

Haven't you always wanted to go to prison?? Well you are firmly under arrest, you have the right to remain silent and do as I say. You have been sentenced to 2 nights at the Malmaison Oxford prison/gothic boutique hotel. This is one place where you won't be attempting prison break...

A bold move, tidying up a prison to set up a hotel. Then again Malmaison hotels have never been standard have they? Make sure the tank is full though before you plan your visit. It will set you back no cheaper than at least £105 for a night in the standard jails!!! For those of you with cash to splash, you can go for one of the suites starting at a poultry £275 per night!!

Malmaisontastic, my aim is to tick of each one of the 12 in the country.

very cool place. built in a former prision, some rooms in the prison wing, the correction block (seperate building) all built in with high class amenities and service.
we have been here for the second time - and the only flaw would be that the shower - although it claimed it offers a nuclear hot option - was just barely warm.
of course the price is what you expect from any upscale boutique hotel / but to charge 20 quid for an extra bed for our 4 year old is a bit audacious when the whole room is 190 per night.
overall great place perfect location and crazy pricey.

Snug and cozy by
Oxford castle, I met my
friends for brunch and tea.

I've always wanted to stay at a Malmaison and got a good deal on a room at Malmaison Oxford from hotels.com. The room was very comfortable, with generous toiletries, a nice bed and plenty of space. I ordered room service and had a quite good vegetarian sandwich (although my server didn't bring up mayo/ketchup with my fries, but I couldn't be bothered to call downstairs for it).

The hotel is well situated in the city centre, a 5-minute walk from the Gloucester Green bus depot and a less-than-4-pound cab ride from the train station.