The price to park at the hotel is ridiculous. At £34 per night I'm glad we only stayed for one especially when the rooms are so expensive to begin with. I have a disability so I find using public transport difficult while carrying luggage. Therefore I rely heavily on my car and need to park at my destination. The lift wasn't working which again was slightly inconvenient but we were offered a room on the ground floor so it wasn't a major issue. One last thing... I know it's not the responsibility of the staff to remind guests but I think it could be asked at check in if the guests have paid the ZEZ charge (if applicable). I only realised when we got home when a friend asked how much I was charged that I'd even heard of the ZEZ. It's not a huge amount to pay in the first instance but it is if you don't realise and get fined.

This was our second time staying here, the 1st time being over a decade ago and it was just as good as it was back then. It's a beautiful hotel/prison/castle with lots of interesting history. The rooms/cells are quirky and a little creepy but spacious and comfortable. The staff are friendly and efficient, they have a wealth of helpful local knowledge and are always on hand to help. Cocktails were lovely, breakfast was tasty and plentiful. We ordered room service late at night which was really enjoyable and arrived in our room super quick.

Stayed in May 2024

Should not have disconnected buildings. Breakfast mediocre.k

Staff good and great location.

Stayed in May 2024

The room did not have aircon, which we thought it had, and was very hot. We were both awake in the night and room service did bring as a fan, but we did not have a great night sleep. Otherwise the room was comfortable. Great experience but we would likely stay at a more cost effective hotel with Aircon next time.

Location is amazing and we stayed in one of the original cell rooms, which was fantastic.

Stayed in May 2024

Even with the upgrade, it really is very expensive for what it is e.g. no fridge in the room, only one comfy chair. Room was somewhat stuffy & we couldn’t find a way to cool it down. Obviously, you can’t open a window!

Great location, unique architecture, lovely bar & outside seating area. Comfy bed, great free-standing bath, plentiful hot water. Staff were very friendly, helpful & efficient. Without asking, we had been given a room upgrade (to a Club Cell!)

Stayed in May 2024

No air conditioning. Some staff rude.

Close to the Centre

Stayed in May 2024

There is no air conditioner in the room, quite hot.

Stayed in May 2024

Just tiny things could be better. The counter at check-in is really low. Especially when there is some background noise, it is difficult to hear the staff. You must lean on the table and the position is quite uncomfortable. Please provide a chair for the customer at the check-in/out. There was a rat in the garden where we has evening drinks.

We liked the rooms and the location was perfect for us visiting Nuffield College. Breakfast was OK, but we missed cheese. The staff was helpful and friendly (but not always knowledgeable).

Stayed in May 2024

Good breakfast and very good location close to the town centre.

Stayed in May 2024

The FIRST MORNING THER WAS NO FRUIT LEFT IN THE MIXED SALAD. THE FRIED EGGS ON THE FULL BREAKFAST WAS POOR TO SAY THE LEAST. THE SAUSAGE WAS OVERCOOKED AND DRY. THE SECOND DAY SMOKED AND SCRAMBLED EGGS WAS SHOCKINGLY POOR.

The Staff

Stayed in May 2024

Location and atmosphere

Stayed in May 2024

Don't expect that you can book and sleep in the real prison cell.

There is a parking in front of the hotel, but you need to pre book it. Part of the hotel is a prison that has been renovated and you can even find an old cell. Restaurant is good. They do some special offers on stakes and we get 2 cocktails for free, so that was one of the cheapest dinner for this trip. Rooms are big and nice. Bed was a king size and sleeping was amazing.

Stayed in May 2024

Whilst the prison cells are nice & probably a one off I do you feel they are overpriced

Beautiful Hotel with great location to the city centre

Stayed in May 2024

Rooms could use a little renovation but nothing too severe.

Great experience and worth the money, you can feel the history inside. The cell block rooms are really great.

Stayed in May 2024

Costly compared to other locations.

Location, Parking available, good pillows.

Stayed in May 2024

There was only one working lift and the one which was working sounded as if it was on its last leg.

Property was clean, we were in A wing so nice to be in a cell.

Stayed in May 2024

The carpet was a bit tired in the new block in the corridors. I think a wood flooring might be nicer to go with the brick walls. I like a warm croissant for breakfast

Children enjoyed seeing the mound from the bedroom and people climbing up it. Right next to the castle which had an entertaining tour guide. So close to the centre of town and Westgate. You can park right outside. The food was great.

Stayed in May 2024

The room rate for a Friday and Saturday was a bit high, but Oxford does seem to have quite high room rates in general. A small fridge in the room would have been good and would have made the room rate more appropriate.

Superb location, minutes walk away from the main High street. Close to bars, restaurants and shops and University buildings. Very friendly and helpful staff at entrance and reception. Lovely Mateos on reception welcomed us upon arrival and was very helpful and informative. We were able to have access to our room a bit earlier too. Room was a good size and clean, good quality tea and coffee in the room. We needed to get access our room early afternoon the second day of our stay and Mateos arranged for our room to be serviced during the morning. Great historical building to stay in and lovely view of the castle tower from our room.

Stayed in May 2024

Bit small - no fridge

Comfortable, plus good restaurant

Stayed in May 2024

There are two very small, very slow elevators of which one was out of service during our stay. There are stairs (the hotel only seems to have four floors that I can remember) but they aren't very well signposted and they're located at the end of the wing so all the guests used the one elevator which sometimes meant long waiting times for my mother who was in a wheelchair.

It's a very novel place to stay and the location is really convenient for the centre of Oxford. The staff were very helpful and even managed to get us a room a little earlier than the advertised check-in time.

Stayed in April 2024

Rooms were a bit dusty and there was a dripping gutter outside the window which woke us up early with the rain

Lovely hotel with lots of history in a beautiful building

Stayed in May 2024

Unfriendly welcome at reception wanting signatures on folded paper so you had to physically turn over paper to see what you were signing.

Location and very clean

Stayed in May 2024

Rain shower great but no handheld shower so until the water warms up you get splashed by cold water!

Very unique, close to Westgate shopping mall and restaurants. Bedroom was lovely and quiet. Nice large shower with enclosure.

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing but there was only one lift working which made waiting longer than should be ! And little bits of maintenance needed in places. Car parking charge !

Qwerky and great location

Stayed in April 2024

the price is expensive but was a unique experience

location is perfect room are amazing

Stayed in March 2024