Oxford

[noddyholder]

I am going to oxford next week just overnight but will have all day weds and thurs til about 4. Any suggestions on what to do. Like art design and bars !

Yes I like toast never been in the shop only catalogue! Think we will arrive about 5 tuesday and have drinks and dinner in the hotel Wednesday we will do museums galleries markets etc so should be fine. Where do you recommend for dinner weds pm? Thursday we have a few hours as well. I am not going to be put off

Tons to do in the rain. You will just be forced to have hot chocolate with your G&D's ice cream.

Aaaah this is driving me mad dp now saying shall we stay at another hotel which has a spa because of weather? Its called the macdonald ranolph anyone been? I don't like the look of it as much have to finalise booking by 12!

The Randolph?

Nah. That's where middle aged Americans stay. The Old Bank is much nicer, IMHO.

Nooo, the Randolph is horrible! Please don't!

Snobby and noisy.

Btw, it is grey with a bit of sun, today ... not raining yet, I hope it won't start!

I've confirmed the old bank hate hotels like the randolph think dp thought a steam may compensate for the weather!

The Randolph have a deal listed at the moment
toptowndeals.com/oxford/short-breaks/macdonald-randolph-hotel-and-spa/voucher-1145

luxury 1 night champagne stay for 2 people including Bed, Breakfast and Dinner with champagne and fresh flowers in the room for just £197.50!

HTH

Yes, much better not to stay at the Randolph: for overseas tourists only. Afternoon tea there ain't bad, but you get even better high tea at the Old Parsonage on Banbury Rd.

For your evening meal: the Ashmolean rooftop restaurant fer sure.

oooh maybe not based on what others have said

Oh how funny noddy. I am taking the two dc for two nights at the Old Bank. We are heading there today.

If you see a harassed woman with a teenager clutching a soft toy and a really poncey 9 year old girl....well I won't be offended if you run.

Have a lovely time

I love the Old Parsonage. It is ace.

If you like Chinese food, especially dim sum, I highly recommend the Paddyfields, down towards the station. It's a tiny bit scruffy but the staff are lovely and the range and quality of dim sum is brilliant. Just writing about it is making me hungry!

+1 on Paddyfields. My very favourite thing to do for my birthday is to go there and eat obscene amounts lots of Dim Sum. The only reason I didn't recommend it before is that I have only ever been there at weekends, so not sure if they do Dim Sum during the week?

Ooh pag i will look out for you x

Back and it was fab! Got drenched and walked our legs off! Also got sunburnt! ENjoyed it all but didn't see pagwatch . Hotel was lovely and we had such a rest

You didn't go to the Perch last night did you?

Oh me too Noddy. Did you do all the touristy stuff

We stayed Monday and Tuesday and came home Wednesday. They were so helpful and kind to us - nipped out for supplies that ds2 could tolerate or breakfast.

We walked bloody miles too. Did the Ashmolean which DD loved - I loved the roof cafe too.

Yes did loads of tourist things. Ashmolean colleges galore and saw the Jenny Saville exhibition! Even braved the open top bus in a thunderstorm . Wish i had bumped into you Dp kept saying 'Is your friend here?' She's not bloody real you know

Glad you had a good time, Noddy, and didn't end up bemused by our collective nostalgia. How many of the things on the MN list did you manage to do?

I did most things bar the boat! Went to grand cafe and the covered market.It was just nice to get away and ds didn't trash the house!

I had the same experience without any romance

We did the grand cafe too. Nearly went on a punt but it was too ridiculous. I have my limits...

The staff at hotel were lovely. Did you eat there? We ate in the garden tuesday night

Just bumping to say Ive been in Oxford for the weekend inspired by this thread and we've had an amazing time So many great suggestions and recommendations. Bookbinders especially was great!

Ps. Am reporting the thread to see if it can be moved, far too many good suggestions for it just to go poof!

Just came on here to ask about Oxford but this thread has been really useful.

However - taking 3 DCs aged nearly 3 to 9 so can anyone recommend a good, central place to stay where we can get interconnecting rooms that isn't another soulless chain hotel please?

They will happily visit museums / galleries for a while (will be October so not obviously need to plan some indoor stuff in case it's cold and wet) so everyone's ideas above are great although we probably can't use the cocktail suggestions .