THE THAMES VALLEY & THE CHILTERNS - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 224

where there's a modern decor, or outside in the beer garden. Upstairs is another area
for drinking. Live music (mostly alternative rock or folk) is featured Friday and Sat-
urday, when a £5 to £9 cover is charged. Open Monday through Friday noon to
midnight, Saturday and Sunday 10am to midnight.
Thirst, 7-8 Park End St. ( & 01865/242044; www.thirstbar.com), is a popular
student hangout with a lounge bar and a small garden. Resident DJs rule the night.
Open Friday through Wednesday 6:30pm to 2am, Thursday 8pm to 2am.
Where to Stay
EXPENSIVE
Macdonald Randolph Hotel Open since 1864, the venerable Randolph is an
Oxford landmark with elegant guest rooms furnished in a conservative English style.
Fans of Inspector Morse should check out the Morse Bar (the hotel makes a lot of
the associations), while the lounges, though modernized, are cavernous enough for
dozens of separate and intimate conversational groupings. Some rooms are quite
large; others are a bit cramped, and overall the hotel is a little overpriced: You are
paying primarily for the location and the rich history.
Beaumont St., Oxford OX1 2LN. www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/Randolph. & 0844/879-9132. Fax:
01865/791678. 151 units. £230-£280 double; £528-£607 suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Limited parking £27 or
public parking £30 for 24 hr. Amenities: Restaurant; 2 bars; babysitting; concierge; room service; spa.
In room: TV, CD player, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (£9.99 per day).
Malmaison Oxford Castle This place was formerly for inmates detained
at Her Majesty's pleasure, and many aspects of prison life, including barred windows,
have been retained. Guest rooms, in a converted Victorian building, are actually
remodeled “cells” that flank two sides of a large central atrium, a space that rises three
stories and is crisscrossed by narrow walkways. The former inmates never had it so
good—great beds, mood lighting, power showers, satellite TV, and serious wines. In
spite of its origins, this is a stylish and comfortable place to stay.
3 Oxford Castle, Oxford OXI 1AY. www.malmaison.com. & 01865/268400. 94 units. £185-£245 double;
£275-£345 suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking (pre-booking required) £20. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; exer-
cise room; room service. In room: TV/DVD, CD player, minibar, Wi-Fi (free).
Old Bank Hotel The first hotel created in the center of Oxford in 135 years,
the Old Bank opened in 1999 and immediately surpassed the traditional favorite, the
Randolph (see above), in both style and amenities. Located on Oxford's main street
and surrounded by some of its oldest colleges and sights, the building dates back to
the 18th century and was indeed once a bank. The hotel currently features a collec-
tion of 20th-century British art handpicked by the owners. Bedrooms are comfortably
and elegantly appointed, many opening onto views. A combination of velvet and
shantung silk-trimmed linen bedcovers gives the guest rooms added style.
92-94 High St., Oxford OX1 4BN. www.oldbank-hotel.co.uk. & 01865/799599. Fax [phone]
units. £230-£350 double. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 7. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; babysitting;
room service. In room: A/C, TV, CD player, hair dryer, Internet (free).
Old Parsonage Hotel This extensively renovated hotel, near St. Giles Church
and Keble College, looks like an extension of one of the ancient colleges. Originally a
13th-century hospital, it was restored in the 1660s. In 1991, it was completely reno-
vated and made into a first-rate hotel. This intimate old property is filled with hidden
charms, such as tiny gardens in the courtyard and on the roof terrace. In this tranquil

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