Wedding Ideas’ Amber-Rose Hurst checks into Oxford institution The Randolph by Graduate Hotels, the ultimate minimoon hub that offers as much history and character as it does luxury and spectacular hospitality.

The Randolph, Oxford Review: A Dreamy Minimoon in the City of Towers

Famed for its cobbled streets, independent boutiques and bookshops, and the centuries-old colleges that form the city’s backbone, Oxford is a haven of ancient British history and culture.

Venture a little further from the main shopping area of ​​Oxford City Center and you’ll find one of the city’s most historic landmarks, where over the decades the ‘City of Dreaming Towers’ has evolved into a melting pot of old and new so famous for.

Discover below why the Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels is the ultimate 5-star Minimoon destination for lovers of British culture and fine hospitality.

Location

Taking his royal place of honor on the corner of Beaumont Street and Magdalen Street, The Randolph is a giant in size and notoriety; Coming from Oxford myself, I was already aware of the hotel’s longstanding reputation as one of the best in the city.

A stone’s throw from the bustling Corn Market shopping street and the famous Oxford Playhouse, The Randolph also overlooks the grand columned facade of The Ashmolean, Britain’s first public museum owned by the University of Oxford.

In fact, you are never more than a few minutes walk from Oxford’s main attractions, with the Covered Market, Pitt Rivers Museum, Bodleian Library, Christ Church and Carfax Tower and more just a short hop from the hotel’s main attraction Location.

First impressions

Beneath the large Union Jack flags guarding the main entrance, we were greeted by two who opened the doors to us as if we were visiting royalty – what a way to make us feel special!

As we stepped through the entrance, we were greeted with a bold interior of patterned upholstery covering the wide, soaring staircase, dark wood, and stunning cathedral-style arched windows.

The 19th-century Gothic Victorian building was designed by William Wilkinson, whose name can also be found on many buildings in the affluent North Oxford area, and was built to house many notable figures, from heads of state and royalty to authors and artists. In fact, The Randolph, Oxford has hosted some of the most prominent names in science and literature, including Oscar Wilde.

Throughout the property, you’ll find the interior design is a subtle tribute to the hotel’s famous past guests and residents of the city. You will find endless references to Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland which was written at Oxford (the Alice Restaurant most obviously) as well as the Hogwarts-esque flags and fun keycards designed to resemble notable Oxford graduates like ours, who was Stephen Hawkings, who studied in 1959-1962 in Oxford studied.

Beneath huge handcrafted college signs hanging high above the front desk, a barrage of front-of-house staff eagerly await new arrivals, each one greeting me with a friendly smile, and a very polite staff member promptly checks me on In.

As grand and stately as the foyer may appear, there is a sense of homeliness and warmth in the space that immediately gives you a comfortable, cozy and joyful feeling to start your stay and take a peek into the room that is your Oxford -Minimoon will host…

Room at The Randolph, Oxford

We push open the heavy bedroom door and encounter an eccentric clash of typically English patterns. A maximalist’s dream interior. Look closely and the blue and white wallpaper features Oxford native birds and plants for a lovely personal touch.

The king-size bed suits this room perfectly with its luxuriously soft crisp white linens. We snuggle up almost instantly to gauge comfort—it passes the test with flying colors thanks to the premium plush Serta mattress.

The Alice in Wonderland The theme has easily carried over into the bedroom by adding an Alice and a white table lamp in the shape of a white rabbit on either side of the bed.

If like us you forget to pack your toiletries, don’t worry, the white-tiled bathroom is well and truly stocked with luxurious spa-worthy Malin + Goetz products.

We gaze out the window in awe at the magical spiers dominating the Oxford skyline. No wonder the city is called the “City of Dreaming Towers”. Right outside our window we see the Martyr’s Memorial, which stands magnificently in the middle of St. Giles. A truly romantic sight even in the moody and gray English weather, from which the tapering, church-like roofs of the colleges contrast dramatically.

If you choose a room with a view when booking, you will be blessed with a view of either the Martyr’s Memorial or the Ashmolean Museum. Whichever room you choose, you are guaranteed a beautifully eccentric space filled with custom art and design inspired by local history and university icons.

Dining at The Randolph, Oxford

Alice is the hotel’s main restaurant and offers unique interpretations of classic British dishes in a glamorous setting. Modern works of art with almost abstract depictions of Alice in Wonderland Characters adorn the restaurant’s walls, which are lit by magnificent crystal chandeliers hanging above bubblegum pink booths.

Illustrator John Broadley designed the menu throughout the hotel. Inspired by the famous British cartoonist Osbert Lancaster, a resident of the hotel who made his living from painting, the illustrations bring together The Alice’s menu, the city of Oxford and ideas from the story Alice in Wonderland.

At the beginning we are served a plate of warm sourdough bread with a side of smoked whipped butter. This is probably the nicest bread we’ve both ever eaten! We could have liked a few more slices and were more than happy with our choice for dinner.

To start I chose the Burrata and Roast Heritage Squash which was beautifully fresh and unique with crumbles on top of chopped hazelnut. Other appetizers include parmesan tart, beef tartare and smoked eel.

Choose from a delicious and varied selection of main courses such as the sharing steak, grilled harissa aubergine, roast Goosnargh chicken and Cornish plaice. Kudos to the kitchen for preparing beautifully presented plates.

We feel that we are in safe hands with our waiter and entrust him and the bar staff with selecting a cocktail for each of us. We are presented with the Down the Rabbit Hole, a tequila-heavy dram with a powerful kick, and the Through The Looking Glass, a pretty and fruity gin-based option.

Breakfast is a more informal affair, with a relaxed buffet arrangement arranged behind The Alice’s bar. There’s a flavorful selection of warm pastries and toast in the continental section, and a savory offering of maple bacon, hash browns, sausage, eggs and more in the adjacent room.

If you prefer to order something from the kitchen, you have the option to order from a menu. Choose from dishes such as poached eggs on toast, porridge with milk and your choice of toppings or a vegan breakfast.

how to book

The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LN. Book on graduate hotels.com.

Weddings at The Randolph, Oxford

For your special day and all related celebrations, the Randolph Hotel offers the perfect location to make your wedding, civil partnership or celebration unforgettable. From intimate vows to extravagant receptions, the Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels is an unparalleled wedding venue.