Oxford
Why we love Oxford
Just an hour by train from London and you’re in the city of dreaming spires. And Oxford is crammed with them. A seat of scholars for 800 years, it houses Britain’s oldest university, botanical gardens, and pubs. It has more quadrangles, Gothic spires and listed buildings than you can shake a gown at. Add cobbled lanes, canals and the odd punt along its rivers and it becomes a real heart-breaker.
Although bursting with museums, libraries and galleries, there’s more to this gem than its beauty and towering intellect. Harry Potter fans can spot film locations, shoppers will love its nearby bargains, foodies will drool over its lip-smacking choice. And if that isn’t enough, it sits on the doorstep to the Chilterns, the Cotswolds and the baroque country pile of Blenheim Palace.
Every book ever written at Bodleian Library
Take a guided tour of the country’s second largest library, which holds a copy of every single book ever published in England since 1662.
Vintage chic
An Aladdin’s cave of treasures, Unicorn is a centre of Oxford’s quirky vintage scene. It’s rammed to the rafters with vintage clothes, accessories and shoes from 1950s tea dresses to sequinned waistcoats.
Blenheim Palace
Britain’s greatest palace is in the Cotswolds – the magnificent Blenheim Palace and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. One of the most popular attractions in the Cotswolds, you can take an upstairs or downstairs tour and wander around its famous maze.
Gloucester Green Market
In the heart of Oxford, this eclectic open-air market takes place every day from Wednesday to Saturday – combining locally-made produce with street food from all over the world. Look out for clothes, crafts, second-hand curios, and cuisine from authentic Indian curries, Ethiopian stews, traditional British pies and much more.
Oxford River Cruises
No trip to Oxford is complete without a cruise on the River Thames, which passes through the city on its journey to London and beyond. Take your pick from sightseeing trips, sunset cocktail voyages, and gourmet sailings galore – featuring afternoon tea, decadent lunches and picnic hampers. With its electric-powered boats, Oxford River Cruises is a sustainable choice too.
Oxford
Oxford is known as the 'City of Dreaming Spires' in honour of the architecture of Britain’s oldest university - explore the city on a university and pub walking tour while spotting film locations for Harry Potter
Be enchanted by myths, legends and ghostly tales at the ruins of Oxford Castle and Prison, or explore the landscaped gardens and birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace.
Discover antiquities in Britain’s oldest museum, the Ashmolean, and rare collections in the Bodleian Libraries.
Bring a picnic and board a boat for a relaxing ride along the River Cherwell, or try out punting for a different way to see the city.
Fun fact
Fun fact
Oxford University alumni from around the world have won an incredible 167 Olympic medals to date, in addition to several honours including the Nobel Prize for literature, peace, and economics.
Did you know?
Did you know?
Dating back to 1320, The Bodleian Library at Oxford University is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and holds a copy of every book published in England since 1662.
The Oxford Dictionary was created as a result of Oxford’s documentation of the English language, which started in 1857.
The 900-year-old crypt beneath Oxford Castle and Prison is reputed to be one of the most haunted locations in Oxford.
Oxford has produced more published authors per square mile than anywhere else worldwide, including The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien and Alice in Wonderland novelist Lewis Carroll.
- Founded in 1621, Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum is the oldest botanic garden in Britain and home to more than 5,000 different plant species from around the world.
Things to do in Oxford
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Featured things to do
One of the city’s most beautiful spots
Located just opposite Magdalen College, you can dart in here and escape the bustle of the High Street and hide among the newly sprouting trees and blooms.
Learn more about Magdalen College
Take a punt
Hop onto a relaxing punt down the River Cherwell. Discover the inspiration behind Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland, and enjoy a picnic aboard this hand-crafted beauty.
Learn more about punting in Oxford
Head into history
For those who dare - check out tours of the castle and 900-year crypt. Learn about the ghost of Matilda, Henry I’s daughter, or a headless King Charles I.
Learn more about Oxford Castle
Merry mission
Calling all young explorers: the Ashmolean has a mission for you! The museum’s Winter Adventure Trail brings its storied collection to life – and even big kids are bound to learn something new.
Learn more about Christmas at the AshmoleanPlaces to stay in Oxford
City Centre
Be among the oldest university in the English speaking world, checkout the architecture, the bookshops and cool bars, and The Malmaison - a former Victorian prison that you can stay in.
Summertown
An affluent part of Oxford with red-brick Victorian houses and tree-lined streets. It’s peaceful nature, and you’re budget will go further here. Explore the canal network here.
Cowley
Is diverse, full of life and has lots of diverse restaurants and bars, and is the home of Oxford’s street art. It’s close to Magdalen College and the Oxford Botanic Gardens are here too. It also has a summertime carnival.
Jerico
For literary types and lovers of small pastel painted houses and independent cafes, this is your place. Situated in the north, you’ll find some cracking restaurants and cocktail bars. Both the Ashmolean Museum and the Museum of Natural History are here.
Explore nearby
Getting to Oxford
Oxford is located in South East England, in the county of Oxfordshire. Heathrow is the closest international airport to Oxford and is 45 miles (72 kilometres) away, a journey which takes just over an hour by car. The train from Heathrow to Oxford takes up to two and a half hours via central London. Oxford is approximately 60 miles (97 kilometres) from London. The average train time from Central London to Oxford is 1 one hour.
Travelling by coach from London to Oxford takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. From London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, you can hop on The Airline coach service, which runs 24 hours a day. National Express services from Stansted Airport also serve Oxford, taking just under two hours.
Getting around
Oxford is easily accessible from every corner of Britain, with London to Oxford train services taking around 60 minutes from London Paddington. Experience Oxfordshire has a range of maps and guides to help you plan your visit to Oxford. Enjoy a Bus Tour of Oxford.
By punt
Hire punts, pedalos and rowing boats to explore Oxford’s River Cherwell.
By foot
Oxford’s main attractions are best explored by foot, a walk from the train station to the city centre is just 15 minutes. Head into nature outside the city with a host of walking routes on offer.
By bus
The Oxford Bus Company provides frequent and affordable travel across the city, as well as Stagecoach which also operates routes to the stately home at Blenheim Palace. Five Park and Ride locations exist to keep the city centre car free.
By bike
If ever a city was made for cycling, it would be here. Oxford is home to several dockless bike hire operators, where you can access cycles via a free downloadable app by scanning a QR code. Bainton Bikes also provides cycle hire and self-guided tours. You can access a cycle route planner too.
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Want to know more?
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