It's set in a former jail — or gaol, as the say across the pond — but you thankfully don't need to knock over a pub to get in. The Malmaison Oxford is a high-end hotel featuring 95 rooms and suites that merge contemporary furnishings with the existing bones, while offering free Wi-Fi, rainfall showers, and upscale toiletries that you're welcome to take with you. In addition, there's a quality brasserie serving updated classics, and the Malbar, a sleek bar that serves espresso during the day and craft cocktails at night.