On Christmas Day, I won a competition on Instagram for a family stay at the Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House hotel. I booked our stay the weekend of Ash’s birthday and was really looking forward to it, as it’s not very often we get to go away for the weekend.
The hotel
This historic hotel is full of charm and
character, surrounded by three acres of private gardens. A hidden gem, it’s
easily within reach of the city centre, but away from the bustle. The hotel
consists of three buildings, each with its own story, unique décor and a slice
of history.
What I loved: Oxford as a city has a rich heritage and this is reflected in the styling. There’s a clear theme and this creates a warm and welcoming environment, as well as a sense of intrigue.
The location
The hotel is located in the village of Iffley and
as such, there isn’t too much to do – although you can visit Iffley meadows or
walk along the Thames path, for scenic views. However, it’s only 10 minutes
from Oxford city centre, which comes with a wealth of attractions and things to
do and see – like the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean museum. For children, The
Story Museum sounds incredible, and it was somewhere we had hoped to visit (but
for Alife’s misbehaviour). It’s also not too far from Blenheim Palace.
Arriving by car? There’s plenty of free parking at the hotel, but you may need to walk a bit to reach the entrance (it’s downhill though).
Other modes of transport? The nearest train stations are Oxford (10 minutes) and Radley (15 minutes).
The décor
As mentioned, there’s a huge nod to Oxford’s heritage
and the décor is inspired by the Oxford brogue and Oxford shirt. I loved this,
as it gave the hotel a stylish feel. Even in the bedrooms, wooden brogues hung
on the wall and became coat pegs. There’s a lot of dark woof panelling, mixed
fabrics and low lighting, which gives a homely and cosy feel. The cosy vibes
are accentuated by the numerous seating areas and lounges.
What I loved: it was so easy to relax, with lots of public spaces. I loved the seating in front of the fire, by the entrance to the bar. There were even shelves with books and games to borrow – perfect for after dinner (or during the day if you were staying on site).
The facilities
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lounge
- Garden
- Terrace
- Free Wi-Fi
Frank’s Restaurant is where you’ll find the buffet
breakfast – which was really extensive for a hotel of its size, I was very
impressed. The restaurant also serves a mixture of British and European cuisine
with a modern twist for lunch and dinner. We had dinner on our first night and
kids eat for free (not sure if that is ongoing or just while we were there).
The food was lovely, but our evening experience was massively let down by the
service, which I flagged at the time. All I’ll say is, we were left 25 minutes
to order drinks…
As a result, we didn’t visit the bar and ended up
spending the night in the room – so I can’t comment too much on that. There’s
also a terrace bar, where you can easy al fresco in the warmer months.
The room
We had a Privilege Family room, which was a really
good size. We had a double bed, and the boys had bunk beds – complete with cute
cartoon bedsheets (Marvel and Spidey & his Amazing Friends) – although there
was also plenty of room for us to set up the travel cot. The room’s facilities
were fantastic with a Nespresso machine (and several pods) in addition to a
kettle, with tea, coffee and hot chocolate (and biscuits). We even had a mini
fridge with complimentary bottled water. The en suite bathroom was a good size,
with toiletries and a heated towel rack.
Room types: Compact Single, Compact Double, Classic Double, Privilege Double, Privilege Family
Standard amenities: toiletries, hairdryer, tea and coffee-making facilities, mini fridge, TV, free Wi-Fi
The verdict
Hawkwell House gets a 7/10 from me. I’d love to
give it more, because I loved the décor, our room, the beautiful public spaces
and the food – but the service really did bring down the overall experience. It’s
a shame as it’s a lovely hotel and a great option for families, or if you’re
visiting Oxford.
Love, Lucy xx
*Just to add a disclaimer: I wasn’t asked to create content or review my stay. Thoughts and images are my own.
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Love, Lucy xx