Oxford is a tourist destination - there is lots to do, and the internet holds a wealth of information. We've placed some favourites here that we use when we have a free afternoon or friends/family visiting.
1. Walking tour of Oxford
a. There are plenty of paid walking tour options with a guide. Some links below that I've used before
https://footprints-tours.com/oxford
b. A self-guided route map can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/5452tnxy
i. Start: Broad Street / Weston Library
ii. Broad Street & University buildings
Walk along Broad Street past the Sheldonian Theatre and the historic university buildings.
iii. The Bridge of Sighs
Turn into Catte Street/New College Lane. Walk underneath the bridge and duck through the narrow lane on the left to find the hidden Turf Tavern.
iv. Bodleian Library & Old Schools Quadrangle
Come back towards Catte Street and wander into the Old Schools Quadrangle. This is one of the architectural highlights of central Oxford.
v. Radcliffe Camera & Radcliffe Square
Walk around the whole square rather than just taking the standard photo. The Camera is a working library; normally you can't simply wander inside—it is accessible through specific Bodleian tours.
vi. University Church → High Street
Walk past St Mary the Virgin, then briefly along the High Street. This gives you one of Oxford's quintessential streetscapes.
vii. Merton Street
Turn towards Merton College and walk along Merton Street. It's quieter than the main tourist streets and gives you a good feel for old Oxford.
viii. Christ Church & St Aldate's
Continue towards Christ Church, taking in the main entrance and views towards Tom Tower.
ix. Covered Market
Walk back up St Aldate's and through the city centre to the Covered Market. Good place for coffee, cake or something quick to eat.
x. Turl Street → Broad Street
Finish by walking up Turl Street, passing several colleges, and return to Broad Street.
2. Museums:
Pitt Rivers museum – located behind the Natural History Museum (entrance from inside the NHM). The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford is an extraordinary collection of archaeological and anthropological objects from cultures around the world. Its atmospheric Victorian galleries are densely packed with everything from masks, weapons and musical instruments to textiles, tools and ritual objects. Rather than arranging objects by place or period, the museum famously groups them by type and purpose, encouraging visitors to compare how different cultures have approached similar aspects of human life.
The Ashmolean Museum is located on Beaumont Street near the centre of town. The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology and the oldest public museum in Britain. Its remarkable collections span thousands of years, from ancient Egyptian and classical treasures to European paintings, drawings and decorative arts. Highlights include works by Raphael, Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites, alongside fascinating objects from ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and Asia.
Another popular tourist destination is the Museum of Science History, whose claim to fame is a chalkboard with equations written by Einstein himself during a lecture at Oxford. Across the street from the Museum is the Weston Library, whose rotating exhibits showcase some of the Bodleian Library's finest works.
3. Colleges
While St. Anne’s college contains all architectural styles since the 1800s, those of you looking for the more quintessential Oxford experience may enjoy wondering around an older college or two. Many are open during the afternoon and free to enter– simply enquire at the porter’s lodge if you can take a look around.
A very popular college to look around due to its connections with Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland is Christchurch, although it is not free. Information here https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/visit/tickets-and-information though note that the hall will close at 4pm on the 30th of Sept.
4. Blenheim Palace
If you are looking to get out of Oxford, Blenheim Palace is a magnificent Baroque country house near Oxford, built in the early 18th century and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it combines grand state rooms and historic collections with sweeping parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Visitors can explore the palace, formal gardens and extensive grounds while discovering the stories of the Dukes of Marlborough and the Churchill family. https://www.blenheimpalace.com/.
Easiest way to get there: Either use the bus stop across the Woodstock road and slightly south from St. Anne’s to catch the S3 bus or use the bus stop on Banbury road at the back of St. Anne’s to catch the S7. Check for bus times to decide which stop to use. Departures roughly every 30min, and takes 30 minutes to reach the palace. Exit the bus at the Blenheim Palace stop in Woodstock. Use code GREEN20 for 20% off palace entry (just need to show bus ticket on arrival) if you book online.
5. Walks and pubs near Port Meadow
A favourite way to spend an evening is a stroll in Port Meadow. From St. Anne’s cross the Woodstock Rd onto St. Bennets road and continue walking on Walton Well Road. The road will cross over the canal, castle mill stream, and the railway and then you will find yourself in Port Meadow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3nErI4mo0I
If you carry on walking straight you will come to the River Thames. There are bridges that you can use to cross over and find yourself on the western towpath. The bridge leads you to the Medley which is an outdoor bar and pizzeria. A few minutes walk further north will take you to the Perch pub. The short option is to take a stop here, and then return the way you came. Alternatively, continuing north on the tow path for another 20 minutes will bring you to the ruins of the Godstow nunnery. The Trout pub is nearby on the banks of the river as are the The Wolvercote, The White Hart and The Plough in the village of Wolvercote. To return to Oxford from Wolvercote you can use the bus 6 or walk down the canal towpath if still light. It is 1.7 miles from the The Plough to the Walton Well road bridge along the canal.
We suggest checking opening times/days for any of the pubs listed before you set out as menus and food service times can change at this time of year.
Sunset in Oxford on the 30th of September is 6.45pm