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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Weekend away for DH's birthday. London/Oxford/somewhere else. Help me!

16 replies

bristols · 01/02/2011 21:08

It's DH's birthday at the end of the month and I'd like to organise a night in a hotel for us to celebrate. We have two DSes aged 3 and 4 and my parents living with us at the moment so something a bit sexy romantic is in order.

We live in south Essex so London is easy by train and Oxford only an hour or so away but I'm not too bothered about location as long as we don't spend ages travelling.

I've had a look at lastminute.com but there is just so much choice it overwhelms me a bit!

Any suggestions will be gratefully received. Thanks!

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 02/02/2011 13:06

One Aldwych
The Haymarket Hotel

I've stayed at both reasonably recently, very good indeed.

In Oxford The Old Bank looks nice but I haven't stayed there. If money is no object then Le Manoir.

freshmint · 02/02/2011 13:09

the old bank is really nice, I know someone who stays there a lot. got a very good but quite noisy brasserie/bar type restaurant in the old banking hall underneath which is great for cocktails and a bite.

the old parsonage is also lovely, particularly in the winter when it is all cosy and roaring fires. great restaurant too (that I ate in last night)
(both in oxford sorry)

I'd be very pleased with either for a birthday weekend and you have lots to do in oxford as well (good exhibitions at the ashmolean at the moment, playhouse is having a good season etc)

wearymum200 · 03/02/2011 21:25

Another vote for the Old Parsonage in Oxford

pirateparty · 03/02/2011 21:36

I was really disappointed by the Old Parsonage. Don't get me wrong - it's nice, but it's not amazing and is v expensive. Good location and but not worth the money IMO.

Not been to the Old Bank, but agree it looks nice and it is well placed for sight seeing and walking home from a resturant etc.

If you like Malmaison the one in Oxford is right in the middle of a lovely bar and restaurant complex, which is quite new and very nice. Not sure whether it's noisy at night, but as it's in the old prison I'm guessing the walls are pretty thick!

If money isn't an issue and you have transport then second the Manoir - I've never heard anyone say anything negative about it. They even say it's worth the extortionate amount of money it costs, but I've not been myself. I'll be very Envy if you go there!

I would avoid the Randolph. Have a look on tripadvisor too.

Original poster
bristols · 03/02/2011 22:03

Thanks everyone. Off to do some online research. Wonder whether I could stretch to Le Manoir.... Grin

OP posts:
fivegomadindorset · 03/02/2011 22:07

I stayed at The Old Bank and loved it, the restaurant was great fun and the food lovely and reasonably priced, very handy for central Oxford.

ascouser · 03/02/2011 22:07

Winchester ? I had a dirty very nice weekend there back in my young free and not to single days

Original poster
bristols · 04/02/2011 20:50

The Old Bank is fully booked Sad

OP posts:
posey · 04/02/2011 20:57

Oh shame, I was just going to suggest Old Bank too. Stayed there for my 40th, the first night away with just ds in many many years.

comixminx · 04/02/2011 21:00

You could stay in a b&b in Oxford and save up the accommodation money to go & eat at Le Manoir? Truly amazing it is - we went last year for a lunch and it's quite unforgettable.

mackereltaitai · 04/02/2011 21:10

Oxfordy stuff

The Tower House is a personal fave hotel. Almost painfully central. Not particularly luxurious, but nostalgic and retro. Reminds me of my grandmother's house (in a good way).

www.dailyinfo.co.uk gives you all the city listings.

Old Parsonage for tea.

Modern Art Oxford bar for an extremely quiet mellow early evening drink - see if you can find an evening gallery talk to go with it as otherwise the galleries are closed in the evening

Edamame for at least one meal

The Ashmolean at some point - tbh the ordinary galleries are usually better than the exhibitions - bizarrely the Coins Gallery is one of the best - also look at the Japanese exhibits

comixminx · 04/02/2011 22:53

How interesting, taitai, more than 20 years I've been in Oxford and never heard about the Tower House! Thanks for the tip.

Lots of people rate Edamame but I'm not keen. For my money, the Red Star noodle bar on Cowley Road is just as good food-wise, if not better for the dishes I like. I second the rest of your recommendations though. There's also always the Pitt Rivers Museum for really impressive anthropology stuff but presumably you wouldn't come to Oxford and just spend time in museums?

mackereltaitai · 04/02/2011 23:21

Well yes I probably would Grin that's what I do wherever I go - what a wild life I've led!

comixminx · 05/02/2011 00:08

Well, in that case it was you meaning one meaning the OP, really - I too might well go somewhere and spend all day in various museums & galleries... Am assuming that it might not be the OP's idea of a romantic weekend a deux!

mackereltaitai · 05/02/2011 13:50

Oh, another great restaurant though not the cheapest - Sojos on Hythe Bridge Street. Great Chinese food, a bit more expensive than average.

Original poster
bristols · 14/02/2011 20:52

Sorry I haven't been here for a while. Thank you for the advice, it's great. So good to have suggestions of things to do in the daytime too (rather than just staying in bed.......)

OP posts:
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