Oxford—the city of dreaming spires! There is so much to see and do in this beautiful city—from visiting the university that educated so many great minds, to enjoying the culture, to exploring the places where so many movies have been filmed. There is something here for everyone.
But you may be wondering: what are some free things to do in Oxford? (Because who doesn’t love free things?) Read on to learn about 23 of the best things to do in Oxford for free!
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Visit Oxford Colleges
The world-renowned University of Oxford is one of the biggest draws of Oxford, with its myriad of colleges scattered across the city. While some require a fee to enter, there are several big-name colleges that still allow visitors to enter their hallowed halls for free! Here are some of the best free colleges to visit at Oxford.
1. All Souls College
One of the wealthiest and most exclusive colleges at Oxford, All Souls is a beautiful place and a treat to see. This college was founded in 1438 by Henry VI of England and Henry Chichele, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
All Souls College has a gorgeous library, which is not usually open to the public, but visiting the college chapel and quadrangles is free from 2-4pm on weekdays and Sundays.
2. Exeter College
Exeter College is located on Turl Street and is the fourth oldest college of Oxford University. It was founded in 1314 by Walter de Stapledon, the Bishop of Exeter, and was originally intended to educate clergymen.
The Exeter Chapel is gorgeous, with stained-glass windows wrapped around the walls, beautiful stone columns, and intricate carved wooden seats. The alumni of this college include J.R.R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman—both fantastic authors whose books have close ties to Oxford. So if you’re interested in the authors or literary works of Oxford this is a must-see college!
Exeter is free to enter daily from 2-5pm.
[su_button url=”https://happygoabi.com/essential-books-to-read-before-visiting-oxford/” target=”blank” style=”soft” background=”#e1b1c8″ size=”5″]Check out great Oxford-inspired books by authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman![/su_button]3. Keble College
Keble is one of the larger colleges at Oxford and is distinctive among the colleges for its neo-gothic brick buildings. It was designed by William Butterfield and built in 1870.
While the brick design has always been controversial, it makes for a strikingly different college that is impressive to see. The chapel is particularly interesting, as the walls inside follow the same brick pattern as outside but with elaborate mosaics, arches, and patterned tiled floors.
If you’re looking for a unique Oxford college experience, this is the place to go. Keble college is free to enter daily from 2-5pm.
4. St John’s College
This college takes the title for wealthiest college at Oxford, and has beautiful quadrangles and a lovely chapel as well. It was founded in 1555, though it’s origins are actually in another college that was founded in 1437.
This college is free to visit from 1-5pm (or until dusk).
5. Worcester College
Worcester College was founded in 1714, and is a special place to visit because of its extensive grounds. Uniquely, it has a large pond that is lovely to sit by and watch the ducks as they swim. The chapel is also rather stunning with its gilt ceilings and intricate paintings and floor mosaics.
Worcester alumni include author Richard Adams, of Watership Down fame, and producer and screenwriter Russell T. Davies of the Doctor Who 2005 revival.
It is free to enter Worcester College daily from 2-4pm.
Wander through Oxford’s Museums
Oxford’s museums are world-class and full of unique curiosities, so if you’re looking for free things to do in Oxford these should definitely be on your list!
6. Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
The Ashmolean Museum is a spectacular display of antiquities throughout the ages, from drawings by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael to paintings by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Titian, John Singer Sargent, and more.
There are also special gems like the Alfred Jewel or the Messiah Stradivarius by the master luthier Antonio Stradivari. And the Ashmolean even has an Arab ceremonial dress owned by Lawrence of Arabia, a death mask of Oliver Cromwell, and the lantern that Guy Fawkes carried in 1605 during the Gunpowder Plot!
No matter your interest, the Ashmolean’s collections are sure to have something that will fascinate you!
7. Museum of Natural History
This museum displays many of the University of Oxford’s natural history specimens, including earth and life collections. It’s a fun museum to visit for all ages, but if you’re looking for things in Oxford that kids will also enjoy then this should be at the top of your list!
The Museum of Natural History holds many unique items, including the only soft-tissue remains of a dodo bird. Charles Dodgson, known by his pen-name Lewis Carroll, was likely influenced by the museum’s dodo bird paraphernalia in the creation of his masterpiece Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
8. Museum of the History of Science
If you’re into astrolabes and old scientific equipment, this is the place to go! The museum of the History of Science holds a leading collection of scientific instruments from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
This is also the world’s oldest surviving museum built for the purpose of being a museum, so it’s a unique place to visit for this reason alone!
9. Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum is a collection of curiosities and is about as unique a museum as you’ll find anywhere. Rather than neatly organized collections, items are scattered throughout different cases….sometimes grouped by theme like “musical instruments” or “death” and sometimes without any clear grouping at all. It’s like the attic of an old British Victorian explorer.
Access to the Pitt Rivers Museum is through the Museum of Natural History, so make sure to take time to see both of these spectacular museums. There are three floors to the Pitt Rivers, so you may be lost in the cases for hours!
Explore Oxford’s Town Center
A day out in Oxford wouldn’t be complete without seeing the iconic Oxford sights in the town center!
10. Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs, also known as the Hertford Bridge, is one of the most iconic architectural features in Oxford. This bridge links the old and new quadrangles of Hertford college, which means that students of Hertford are allowed to walk inside it. But it is much prettier from the outside than it is from the inside!
This is an impressive bridge and is at the heart of town, so keep your eyes open as you walk around the city and you will be sure to see it.
11. Radcliffe Square
Radcliffe Square is in the central part of town and is surrounded by all sorts of historical buildings. You’ll see the exteriors of several beautiful Oxford Libraries here, like the Radcliffe Camera and Old Bodleian Library. You’ll also be able to see the University Church of St. Mary with its tall spire and several of the gorgeous colleges all around the square. This is a must-see during your time in Oxford!
12. The Covered Market
The Covered Market is located near High Street and is a fun place to see local crafts and businesses. There are a lot of different places to explore, from butcher shops to produce shops to jewelry and stationary stores.
There’s also a cake shop that is my favorite place to window shop here, because they make the most detailed cakes (including replicas of famous Oxford buildings!)
This is the perfect place to spend some time wandering and exploring all the interesting things Oxford businesses have to offer!
13. Weston Library
The Weston Library is a more modern addition to the Bodleian library group, and is worth looking inside. From the lobby you can look up and see part of the library collection that is housed in a glass room on the second floor.
The Weston Library also contains an exhibition room where they regularly change the exhibit so you can see rare and exciting parts of the Bodleian’s collection. The items on display are ones that the public would never get to see otherwise, so it is special that they display them here! Check out the exhibition schedule to see what is happening when you will be in Oxford.
See Oxford’s Parks and Outdoor Spaces
Even though the city of Oxford teems with buildings, there are still many beautiful outdoor spaces where you can experience nature. Here are some of the best!
14. Oxford University Parks
University Parks is a gorgeous area of land open to the public, with plenty of places to wander on trails, watch ducks and geese in the ponds, and play sports on the grass.
Oxford’s city center can feel somewhat enclosed with all the stone walls and stone buildings, especially when you don’t have access to all the colleges and quads, so University Parks is a good place to take a break from the city.
15. Christ Church Meadow
Christ Church Meadow is another lovely place to get a glimpse of nature. It has beautiful paths that lead you around the meadow, and from the far end you can look back to see the spires of Christ Church and the other colleges blending into the meadow.
16. Walk Along the Thames
Taking a walk along the Thames is a must-do in Oxford, and a good place to start your walk is by heading to the back of Christ Church Meadow. From here you will see ducks, geese, and swans as well as river boats and occasionally punts making their way down the Thames.
This is also an excellent place to spend some time watching college rowers practice for the many rowing races they participate in throughout the year.
17. South Park
South Park is near the edge of the city, but it is a wonderful place to go for a picnic or for sunset to watch the sun disappear over the dreaming spires of Oxford!
18. Iffley Village
Iffley is a small village just a short ways away from Oxford, and makes a delightful place to go for a stroll. One of the bigger attractions of this village is its cute Romanesque church called St. Mary the Virgin. This church has a cell built into it that was originally made for an anchoress named Annora…which makes it a fascinating historical building to see.
19. Port Meadow
Port meadow is a gorgeous ancient grazing land where horses and cows still graze today. With the glorious greens and blues of the meadow, it is a favorite walking place for Oxford residents and tourists alike.
You can walk near the cows and horses to say hello to them or simply enjoy the scenery, but either way it is a lovely place to go for a walk and see the spires of Oxford in the distance.
20. Godstow Abbey
This ruined Abbey near Port Meadow is a fun place to visit. Construction on the abbey began around 1133 and it originally housed an order of Benedictine nuns, although it later changed hands and then fell into disrepair.
There are so many ruins throughout the UK that many of them are simply left in fields and you can wander through and explore on your own. This is a curious place to see, and if you’ve seen Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again you may even recognize the abbey from the background of the outdoor graduation scene!
Attend Oxford Activities and Events
There are a myriad of activities and events that happen throughout the year in Oxford, but here are some of the most interesting free activities to put on your calendar!
21. Evensong at Christ Church
Evensong—a traditional Anglican service sung in the evening—happens regularly across churches and chapels in Oxford. These services are open to the public, so if this sounds intriguing you can choose a service and a place to attend.
If you’re looking for a good place to go, I recommend attending evensong at Christ Church (in fact, I used to sing evensong in Christ Church during my time at the University of Oxford!) Check out the service schedule to discover what days Choral Evensong will be held in this cathedral.
22. Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair
The Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair is an annual university event that you will not want to miss! It happens on Sunday of Week 6 during Trinity term (which means it is usually sometime in May).
On the day of the fair, colleges across the university bring their tortoises to Corpus Christi (yes, many of the colleges have pet tortoises and official Tortoise Keepers). During the fair, the tortoises are raced to see which one will be the first to reach the lettuce at the center of the racing circle.
This is a quirky and unique Oxford event, so if you are around Oxford in May you will definitely want to check it out!
23. May Day Celebrations
On the first of May every year, thousands of people flock to Magdalen Tower at 6am to celebrate the arrival of spring. The Magdalen College Choir sings the Hymnus Eucharisticus from the top of the tower while the crowds gather below to hear their every note.
After the singing concludes, the crowds make their way back to the center of town to continue the celebrations. Musicians play and Morris dancers roam the streets in groups to show off their skill. These May Day celebrations are a uniquely Oxford event and are definitely worth waking up at the break of dawn to see!
If you only have one day in Oxford and are wondering what you must do and see, check out this one day itinerary to help you decide!
Looking for a place to stay in Oxford? Check out these great options!
- The Old Bank – Best views of Oxford
- Macdonald Randolph Hotel – Elegance in the city center
- Malmaison Oxford – Unique stay (converted Victorian prison)
- Old Parsonage Hotel – Boutique/luxury stay near the city center
- Rewley House – Budget-friendly stay
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