If you’re wondering what to do in Oxford, England, you’ve come to the right place! This epic guide combines all my best tips and tricks for exploring this beautiful city. Whether you see Oxford as a day trip from London or choose to stay and linger longer in the area, here are the best ideas on what to see, do, eat, and explore during your time in Oxford!
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Colleges in Oxford
One of the top attractions in Oxford is the University of Oxford. Many tourists love to visit the famous colleges and explore the intellectual scene while in this city. Whether you are interested in walking in the footsteps of the famous men and women who studied here, exploring the filming locations of your favorite movies, or simply want to see beautiful architecture, there is certainly a college that will fit your needs!
1. Tour Magdalen College
Magdalen College is a popular choice to visit while in Oxford for two primary reasons: it’s one of the most beautiful colleges at Oxford and it was the stomping grounds of C.S. Lewis.
There is a small fee to enter, but it is worth it! The grounds and the Fellow’s Garden are open to the public (particularly lovely in spring when the grounds are filled with daffodils!) This college is also where you will find Addison’s Walk, which is the path C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien famously walked together during their discussions.
2. See Christ Church College
Christ Church College is perhaps the most famous college at Oxford, and for good reason—Harry Potter!
This college is the sight of several filming locations in the Harry Potter films, most notably the scene in the first movie where McGonagall meets the first years on the stairs. The Christ Church dining hall was also the inspiration for the Hogwarts Great Hall, and when you visit the college you can see all these places for yourself!
Besides the Harry Potter draw, Christ Church College is also worth visiting because of its general magnificence. With towering walls, large quadrangles, a beautiful cathedral, and more, you will enjoy your time wandering inside!
There is a fee to enter, but if you are going to visit only one college this would most likely be the one to choose!
3. Visit Keble College
Keble College makes the list of colleges to visit because it is so different from all the others, but just as magnificent!
Rather than stone, Keble College has a patterned brick exterior. The quadrangles are expansive, and the chapel is gorgeous. When you enter the chapel, you will see all the intricate gilt mosaics inside on the walls. It is quite a sight!
Keble College is free to visit, which makes it even more worth at least a quick stop during your time in Oxford!
4. Explore Worcester College
Worcester College is another gorgeous but less-visited college at Oxford, and is free to enter. Part of its great attraction is a gorgeous pond within the grounds where ducks like to swim and play. You can wander on the paths nearby, or enjoy sitting and watch them in the water.
If you need more reason to visit than a relaxing time by a pond, you may be interested to know that this was the college that Richard Adams, of Watership Down fame, attended…and also the college of producer and screenwriter Russell T. Davies of the Doctor Who 2005 revival!
Looking for more recommendations on great colleges to see? Check out the best colleges to visit in Oxford!
Museums in Oxford
Looking for some culture during your time in Oxford? You can’t go wrong with visiting the many free museums across the city! These world-class museums make a good place to explore if you are interested in history, archaeology, etc., as well as a great place to go on a rainy day in Oxford!
1. Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
The Ashmolean Museum contains a wealth of artifacts from around the world, as well as from places of particular interest to Oxford.
You’ll find antiquities including drawings by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and paintings by Pablo Picasso and John Singer Sargent.
There’s music collections including the Messiah Stradivarius, special gems like the Alfred Jewel, the lantern Guy Fawkes carried in the 1605 Gunpowder Plot…and so much more! You will certainly be able to find something to interest and delight you here.
2. Oxford Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History contains many fascinating specimens in its earth and life collections, and all these collections are housed in a beautiful two-story building.
Perhaps the most unique item this museum contains is the only soft-tissue remains of a Dodo bird (which probably influenced Charles Dodgson aka Lewis Carrol in his creation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland).
There is plenty to explore in this museum, and it’s not just for kids—although kids do love the museum as there are plenty of specimens they are allowed to touch and interact with!
3. Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum is attached to the Museum of Natural History, and to enter it you have to walk through the Natural History portion to find the entrance to Pitt Rivers at the back.
This museum is one of the most unique museums I’ve ever been to, and I highly recommend it! It’s set up like you would imagine your Grandfather’s attic would look like if he had been a Victorian explorer and brought back curiosities from around the world.
Carve out a good chunk of time to explore and wander the cases. You’ll find it’s not set up in the most logical way, but instead arranged by types and categories. Expect to find lots of cool, pretty, and sometimes gross artifacts including lamps made out of Pufferfish, musical instruments, and even some shrunken heads!
4. Museum of the History of Science
If you’re interested in old scientific equipment then the Museum of the History of Science would be a great stop during your time in Oxford. You’ll find scientific instruments here from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
This is also the world’s oldest surviving museum that was specifically built for the purpose of being a museum…so it’s a unique place to visit if only for this reason!
What should you see if you only have one day in Oxford? This post helps you figure that out!
Activities to Do in Oxford
Want to know some of the best things to do in Oxford? From seeing concerts to the best outdoor activities, this list will help you decide how to spend your time in Oxford!
1. See a Concert at the Sheldonian Theatre
The Sheldonian Theatre is a beautiful place, and one of the most important buildings in Oxford. It was built by the famous English architect Christopher Wren, and matriculation and graduation ceremonies are always held here for Oxford students.
You can visit it during the day for a small fee (and climb up into the cuppola for excellent views of the city!) but it is also the perfect place to see a concert in the evening. Check out the Sheldonian’s schedule of events to see if there’s a concert that strikes your fancy!
2. Go to an Evensong Service
Evensong is a traditional church service held in the evening, and if you want to experience some of the traditional culture of Oxford you should certainly make time to attend one of these services.
Christ Church has a lovely Evensong (I sang with the Christ Church College for Evensong during my time as a student at the University of Oxford!). But many of the other colleges also hold evensong services, such as Exeter and Balliol.
Check out the colleges’ individual pages for information on what is happening each day and to find out when they hold their services.
3. Take an Oxford Library Tour
If you’re interested in the scholarly side of Oxford, or just love visiting libraries, then you should definitely take an Oxford library tour of the Bodleian Library complex!
There are several tours to choose from that visit different libraries, but I recommend choosing one that allows you to visit some of my favorite libraries from my time studying at Oxford University. This includes Duke Humfrey’s Library (Hogwarts’ library from the Harry Potter films) and the Radcliffe Camera (the most iconic building in Oxford!)
4. Go Punting on the River
Punting is one of the most quintessential activities in Oxford, so if you are visiting you should make sure to include this in your itinerary!
Not sure what punting is or why you should do it? Check out my guide to punting in Oxford. You’ll learn about this fun activity as well as the different places like Magdalen Bridge and the Cherwell Boathouse where you can rent punts in Oxford.
5. Take a walk to Port Meadow
Port Meadow is one of the most beautiful natural places to visit in Oxford. It’s a lovely place to picnic, to walk, and to explore or visit with the resident horses and cows.
It’s a special and lovely place to visit to get away from the city center for a bit, while still being in walking distance and seeing the city spires in the distance!
5. Explore the Covered Market
The Covered Market is the perfect place to go shopping–whether you’re looking for a place to buy groceries, a restaurant to eat at, or a nice place to shop for trinkets and souvenirs.
There are shops of all types—but my favorite is probably The Cake Shop, which often makes cake-sized replicas of famous Oxford buildings like the Sheldonian!
6. Walk to Iffley
If you want to take a little longer of a walk (or a bike ride!) you can go on an expedition to the nearby town of Iffley. It’s a cute town…and if you visit, be sure to stop by the Iffley Church of St Mary.
This church is a nice stop for people interested in medieval church history, including the history of anchorites and anchoresses. Iffley had its very own anchoress named Annora! And it’s an interesting curiosity to visit the site of her cell and tomb.
Looking for more activities? See this list of all the best FREE things to do in Oxford!
Restaurants, Cafés, and Bars in Oxford
Need advice on places to eat or sit and enjoy a cup of coffee? Here are some excellent options, from cafés to pubs to bars.
1. Turl Street Kitchen
Turl Street Kitchen is a classic café in the heart of Oxford that makes excellent breakfast options, light eats, coffee, hot chocolate, and other usual café offerings.
There is a downstairs area that is like a usual restaurant seating area, but you can also take your coffee and drinks upstairs to a lounge area where you can relax more.
2. Vaults & Garden Café
If you’re looking for a café that screams “Oxford,” well, Vaults & Garden is as Oxford as it gets. This café gets its name from its vaulted ceiling because of its position underneath the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
If you’re looking for organic eats, or just a place to sit and enjoy nice scones and tea, then Vaults & Garden is the place for you!
3. Barefoot Oxford
Three words: Best. Cake. Ever.
I’m not kidding. I’d catch a flight back to Oxford any day just for this cake. It’s the best. (Especially their pear lychee cake!)
This bakery is on Walton Street and has a small but nice seating area, where you can enjoy eating cake or other baked treats and drinking tea or coffee. However, if you want you can also take their cake to-go and walk over to the nearby Port Meadow for an outdoor cake picnic!
4. The Varsity Club
The Varsity Club is a bar and restaurant spread across four floors in the heart of Oxford. It hosts a bar and dance floor on the first floor, and a cocktail lounge and restaurant on the third floor.
However, the best attraction of The Varsity Club is the fourth floor rooftop terrace. You’ll have to hike up a ton of stairs to get to the top, but when you do you’ll find yourself on an open terrace right in the middle of the dreaming spires of Oxford!
There are few views of Oxford that are quite so spectacular, and certainly none that are as spectacular and have their own dedicated bar. So add this place to your list if you want to take in the bird’s eye view of Oxford while sipping a delicious cocktail!
5. The Perch
If you’ve wandered around Port Meadow and are ready to sit somewhere and enjoy the atmosphere, then the Perch is a perfect pub to stop at (especially during the summer).
With cute fairy lights and wooden tables in a small grassy courtyard area, this is an adorable place to stop for drinks. They also offer food, but I’ve found it’s a little on the expensive side for what they offer.
6. The Old Tom
The Old Tom is a delightful pub with a Thai menu and sits just across from Old Tom at Christ Church College.
Everything here is excellent, but my favorite dish by far is their red curry! Keep in mind that the front of Old Tom functions as a bar, while if you want to eat here then you should go sit in the back of the pub which is the section for ordering food. There is also an outdoor terrace at the back where you can order either food or drinks as you wish.
7. Eagle & Child
The Eagle & Child is a famous pub to visit for tourists and locals alike, particularly because of its connection to the Inklings and C.S. Lewis.
In what is now the middle room of the pub, you will find memorabilia from C.S. Lewis’ and Tolkiens’ lives as well as some memorabilia from the Inklings club.
But if you’re here to eat, some particular favorite options are their fish & chips, steak & mushroom pie, and most emphatically their sticky toffee pudding!
8. The Turf Tavern
One of the oldest pubs in Oxford, the Turf is a delightful place to stop and eat. Its slightly hidden-away place and its warren of rooms connected by narrow passages makes it an interesting place to visit.
If you’re a fan of Inspector Morse, you’ll definitely want to stop by…as this pub featured in several of Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse novels, and can even be seen in the TV show adaption.
Day Trips from Oxford
1. Blenheim Palace
Just a stone’s throw from Oxford (30 minutes by bus) is Sir Winston Churchill’s ancestral home–Blenheim Palace.
If you’re interested in history, you should go. If you’re interested in seeing elaborate English country homes, you should go. And if you’re interested in finding something to do with your day that will entertain and delight you, you should definitely go.
If you are planning to go, check out my article about Blenheim and how to get discounted admission plus a whole year of admission for the cost of just one day!
2. The Kilns
The Kilns is C.S. Lewis’ home near Oxford. If you are taking a C.S. Lewis tour and visiting Magdalen College, the Eagle & Child, and other Lewis haunts, you should take a slight detour and visit this place too.
You can only visit by prior arrangement, so call ahead of time to make sure it is available to see! You can also wander over to the local church to see his grave and the pew he sat in during services.
3. Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a no-brainer place to visit for any literary fans. With cute Tudor houses and all the Shakespeare-themed things, you will love this English town!
Make sure to wander the shops–including the Birthplace Trust Store–and watch a Shakespearean play while you are here!
4. Ewelme
Ewelme is a small town, but if you want to get out into the countryside near Oxford it is a delightful place to go. And it has a little literary connection, as the son and granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer lived here and his granddaughter is buried in the local church! It makes for a nice little outing and a good place to eat in the local pub.
5. Bath
Bath is a beautiful place and filled with history. Check out the Roman Baths if you want to explore England’s Roman connection, and then wander around to explore all the Jane Austen connections this city has to offer.
Eating in the Pump Room is a treat and you will feel very Austenesque when you do so!
6. Winchester
Winchester is another quintessential English town that is fun for a day trip, but the biggest draw of this city is the medieval Winchester Cathedral. Step inside to be transported back to another time–and then look around at all the tombs and plaques to see some of the history that has been captured in this place. You’ll even find Jane Austen herself buried here!
Want more information on what to see and do in these places? Take a look at the more-detailed information in my article about day trips from Oxford!
Special Oxford Events
Like all cities, Oxford has its special events that can only be found here. If you’re around during any of these, you will for sure want to check them out!
1. May Day in Oxford
On the first of May every year, the whole city of Oxford (and people from all over) flock to Magdalen tower at 6am and celebrate the arrival of spring.
The festivities kick off with the Magdalen College Choir singing the Hymnus Eucharisticus from the top of the tower, and then once they finish, everyone flocks back to the city center to dance and play music and roam the streets.
This is a uniquely Oxford event, and even though you have to wake up at the break of dawn to be a part of it, you will not want to miss it!
2. Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair
The Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair is an annual university event that usually happens sometime in May.
On the day of the fair, colleges from across the university bring their college tortoises and race them against each other to see which one is the fastest! This involves a whole lot of lettuce and a whole lot of cheering!
This is as quirky and unique as Oxford events get, so if you are around Oxford in May you will definitely want to check it out!
Where to Stay in Oxford
While there are plenty of wonderful hotels nearby (including some delightful boutiques!) if you’re looking for a more cost-effective and more true university experience, consider booking a room through University Rooms.
Although this is just student accommodation, so not the height of luxury, it is convenient…and depending on the college you choose, may have some added perks. For instance, if you book a room through Christ Church College, they allow you to book breakfast in their student dining hall. You know, the one Hogwarts’ Great Hall was modeled after. It’s pretty sweet!
Planning to visit? Check out these books you should read before visiting Oxford!
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Great list! I didn’t know it was possible to enter some colleges in Oxford. And I’d love to try the C.S. Lewis tour. Thanks for sharing this Abi!
I’m glad you found it helpful! I think a lot of people miss the fact that you can go in some of the colleges as a tourist, but being in the colleges was one of my favorite parts of living in this city…so I like to share it with people so they can more truly experience Oxford too! 🙂