Hotel Snapshot
Ledgers, vaults, and deposits were used to run the order of business for the Old Bank Hotel, back when silver and gold currencies held locals’ fortunes. Today, the site accepts all major credit cards upon check-in to its high-end accommodations. Situated in the thick of it all on High Street, upon arrival, I was immediately struck by this 43-key boutique hotel’s central location and prime views. Directly across from the hotel’s entrance sits University Church of St. Mary, a doorway into Oxford’s beckoning campus and colleges.
If you’re lucky to book and experience “The Room with The View,” then you’ll be privy to a private terrace that gives expansive views covering Radcliff Camera, the twin towers of Hawksmoor’s Quadrangle, All Souls College, and Carfax Tower. Other street-facing rooms come with a solid view, so you don’t have to break the bank for the suite, should you want a slice of Oxford architecture to frame your experience.
Design & Character
If you’re a history buff who enjoys a hotel with built-in legacy, you’ll appreciate that the Old Bank dates back to the 13th century, when an abbey owned the space. Over the next few hundred years, it changed hands from drapers to mercers and eventually shifted into banking services following the increased demand for lending during the Industrial Revolution. Famed author Lewis Carroll of Alice in Wonderland was one such notable account holder during its history.
With such historic ties and a distinct, classic late-1700s Georgian façade, the interior décor takes a contrasting path and fully embraces a contemporary side, featuring Carrara marble-clad bathrooms, steam demisting mirrors, rain showers, and neutral greys with a pop of red accent for bed linens.
While the written world is held high on a pedestal, so is the art at the Old Bank Hotel. Spanning the ground-floor common areas, hallways, and stairwells, as well as within each room, the owner’s private contemporary collection has been curated for wider appreciation. The vast collection’s many media types lend more of a whimsical, eye-catching allure to the interiors, and it certainly made me do a double-take in spaces I normally would pass on through.
The Rooms
There are seven room types (including the aforementioned “Room with The View”) to choose from, but all come with a warm turn-down service that includes homemade shortbread biscuits for an evening nibble. Most notable despite its antiquated history, the hotel does have air conditioning, which isn’t always a guarantee overseas. Somewhat charming, yet also alarming during high summer temperatures, the AC unit consists of just two buttons: on/off and high/low. The fixture resembled a simple set design detail from a Wes Anderson film.
Food & Drink
For restaurants, you have your choice of a few, starting with the easy-to-access Quod, next to the lobby, which serves a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu, plus afternoon tea. Saddle up to the central wrap-around onyx bar (might I suggest a Pimm’s for your tasting?) or grab a table for lunch on the Italian terrace, a divine corner where you can indulge in Malden Rock oysters and English cheeses, and eavesdrop on academic conversations. Parsonage Grill & Bar is a short ten-minute walk away, offering a choice between al fresco dining and clubby, cosy interiors decked out in dark royal hue palettes. There’s a chicken schnitzel that’s perfectly breaded and begs to be ordered as my number one menu recommendation. Should you want a break from English meats and pies, there’s the Mediterranean-focused Gees a bit farther in North Oxford, housed in a Victorian conservatory. Its pudding menu (that’s dessert in British lingo) is a worthy trip alone.
The Amenities
Many famous authors called Oxford home during their student days, including fantasy greats J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Philip Pullman. Feeling the collegiate and bookish tug, the hotel cultivates an inviting residents’ library that overlooks the Quod’s terrace, where you can peruse books spanning art, literature, politics, the college, and its history. It’s the perfect spot for a cup of tea and to break open a spine during some downtime.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the initial courtesy phone call I received a few days before check-in. A human, not a templated email form, asked me if there was anything they might do to help make my stay better, and prior to arrival, while also confirming my reservation and anticipated time of arrival. It was a surprising touch and detail that has lingered long after my visit and proves, as always, the experience starts before you even set foot through the doors.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
The Old Bank Hotel isn’t a hard sell if you want the most well-appointed hotel for a price that would surely cost at least double in other historic U.K. or European cities. It’s the taste of its crumbly, savory shortbread while staring directly at towering baroque Anglican church views that make this stay worth the price of gold.
Fast Facts
Location: Oxford, England
Rating: 5-star
Room Count: 43 (three suites and 40 bedrooms)
Starting Rate: Rates start at $256
Dining: The Quod is located on the hotel’s entrance level and features an array of artwork plus an Italian terrace where gazpacho and local cheeses should not be skipped when ordering. Parsonage Grill is a half mile away from the Old Bank location and connected to its sister hotel, where alfresco dining is also an appeal, plus its chicken schnitzel for dinner. Gees Restaurant & Bar is another off-site restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a 19th-century Victorian conservatory.
Amenities: Room service, complimentary parking, bikes for borrowing, in-room coffee/tea makers with fresh milk, electric car chargers, one on-site restaurant, and two off-site restaurants.
Our favorite thing about the hotel: It’s a toss-up between the stunning up-close views and the prime location. A close third is the artwork peppering every wall space and corner.
What’s nearby? Practically everything from the main sights of Old Library of the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford’s colleges, Christ Church, Radcliffe Camera, to famous historic bookshops like Blackwell’s and the central market, where you should stroll to have a slew of casual lunch options.
Any personal neighborhood recs? Harry Potter fan or not, I would not skip the Old Library of The Bodleian Libraries, which is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and the second largest in Britain. Sign up for a walking tour to explore the central collegiate neighborhood, immerse yourself in medieval history, and discover where literary icons like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien drew inspiration. You won’t have to deal with separate college entrance queues and tickets, and there’s a vast amount of history to explore that resonates more deeply when told by a local expert.
Closest Airport: London Heathrow (LHR)
