Malmaison Hotel Oxford is an exciting hotel in the centre of this academic city. Formerly Oxford Prison, the building has undergone extensive renovation and is the first prison in the UK to be converted to a hotel. The prison itself is a grade I listed building and is largely unaltered; the cells, basement and many of the fixtures and fittings have been preserved, resulting in a hotel with a unique and eccentric character. There is believed to have been a prison on the Oxford Castle site since approximately 1166, and in 1236 the Chancellor of the University was authorised to use the Castle Gaol for imprisoning rebellious scholars. The intrinsic link between the prison and the University colleges was one of benefaction: in 1850 Christ Church donated 5lbs of meat each week and Oriel supplied six loaves of bread to the prison every fortnight. Today’s prison was the result of major rebuilding in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A correctional house, internal courtyards and new wings were added, and the site became surrounded by a castellated wall. The prison finally closed in 1996. When the Malmaison Hotel Oxford opened in November 2005 it became one of the city’s most luxurious and quirky hotels.

The Malmaison Oxford Prison Hotel is situated next to the historic castle in the St Ebbe’s area of the city. The location is ideal for accessing the attractions, shops, restaurants and colleges. The train and bus stations are within easy walking distance. A redeveloped area of Oxford, there are a number of new restaurants and bars around the Malmaison, including the Living Room, Tootsies, La Tasca, Prezzo, Carluccio's and HA! HA!. There is limited car parking on site, but a full valet car parking service is available to take the stress out of parking in one of the UK’s most car-unfriendly cities.

There are 95 rooms at the Oxford Malmaison, with a choice of room styles. Many of the rooms are converted prison cells, with three cells per room having been knocked into a surprisingly spacious bedroom and bathroom. Other rooms are more conventional in layout, with the deluxe rooms and suites set out in the former Governor’s House. Malmaison’s hard-earned reputation has been won as much by its food and drink as for its great bedrooms, and Malmaison Oxford is no different. The Brasserie and Bar are set out in the basement, and while the main room is spacious and open, there is provision of several smaller intimate rooms, ideal for private dining. Gruel and stale bread are not on the menu!

Malmaison Oxford Hotel
3 New Road
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 1LD
United Kingdom

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• Number of bedrooms: 95
• Number of conference rooms: 6
• Restaurants and bars: Brasserie and Bar
• Internet access: Complimentary wireless throughout for first 30 minutes
• Car parking: Limited chargeable onsite parking
• Nearest rail: Oxford train station, 5 minute walk