Top Things to Do in Oxford: Discover the University and Local Gems

It’s hard to think of Oxford without conjuring up images of academics in billowing black gowns breezing through honey-colored cloisters, and crowds of starry-eyed students crammed into cavernous lecture theatres.

While Oxford’s prestigious university is the city’s defining feature, venture a little beyond the educational institution’s hallowed grounds to discover intriguing museums, labyrinthine bookstores, and excellent historic pubs where you can relax and unwind. Therefore, Oxford offers much more than austere academia. Here are the top highlights of this golden-hued city filled with modern inspiration.

Wander Historic University Colleges

Oxford University can trace its origins back to the 11th century and developed into a loose association of independent colleges over the next two centuries. Most of these colleges are housed in their original historic buildings scattered throughout the city. Choose a few colleges to visit based on your interests and be inspired by the intellectual heritage of this institution.

Merton College is noteworthy as it is where JRR Tolkien composed much of The Lord of the Rings in its magnificent medieval library. Trinity College features a beautifully restored Baroque chapel, while notable alumni of Lincoln College include Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) as a Rhodes scholar. Furthermore, the more popular colleges among visitors are Magdalen College, famous for its 15th-century tower and cloisters where C.S. Lewis was a fellow; All Souls College, noted for its Gothic towers; and Christ Church college, which served as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies.

Photograph Classic Oxford Landmarks

Undoubtedly, Oxford’s most photographed landmark is the Radcliffe Camera, a dome-topped finely-crafted building built between 1737 and 1749 in grand Palladian style, originally known as Radcliffe Library. It gained the name “camera” (room) in 1860 when it became the reading room of the adjacent Bodleian Library. The only manner for non-members to access its interior is through the extended 1½-hour guided tour of the Bodleian.

Nearby, you’ll find many visitors capturing memories at the iconic Bridge of Sighs, which elegantly joins two parts of Hertford College. Completed in 1914, it is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a replica of its namesake in Venice, although it more closely resembles the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

Tour the Bodleian Library

Prominent figures including five kings, numerous prime ministers, Nobel laureates, and luminaries such as Oscar Wilde, CS Lewis, and JRR Tolkien have frequented the Bodleian Library, a resplendent survivor from the Middle Ages. Enter its central 17th-century quadrangle for a complimentary admiration of the architecture. Adjacent to it, the Weston Library showcases a changing selection of “Bodleian Treasures,” from manuscripts authored by Mary Shelley to the original Magna Carta. These exhibitions are also free to explore.

However, true library enthusiasts may wish to embark on one of the guided tours of the Bodleian. Starting in the ornate medieval Divinity School, the university’s earliest educational room, tours proceed to Convocation House, which hosted Parliament thrice, and the Chancellor’s Court, where Oscar Wilde and Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley faced trials (for debt and the promotion of atheism, respectively).

Indulge Your Love of Bookshops

Following your literary pilgrimage to the Bodleian Library, delve deeper into your passion for books at the many bookshops in Oxford. Adjacent to Weston Library is Blackwell’s, featuring a basement lined with 3.5km (2.1 mi) of shelves. Notably, popular children’s author Robin Stevens once worked here.

Along Broad Street, you’ll find a branch of Waterstones, while in Summertown, Daunt Books has established a presence in Oxford. For secondhand finds, visit the Oxfam bookshop in St John. Jericho, the center for museums in Oxford, is particularly known for the Last Bookshop, offering discounted titles on everything from poetry to psychology and politics, predominantly sourced from academic publishers. Additionally, theologians and philosophers may wish to explore St Philip’s Books on St Aldates, specializing in rare, secondhand, and antique works on Christianity, medieval studies, spirituality, and philosophy.

Treasures and Afternoon Tea at the Ashmolean Museum

As the oldest public museum in Britain, Oxford’s remarkable Ashmolean Museum ranks just behind the British Museum in London regarding size and collection of global treasures. One can easily spend an entire day exploring this magnificent neoclassical structure and its extensive exhibits. Family-friendly pamphlets make select exhibits more engaging for children. Moreover, curators are currently focused on how collections are displayed in the age of postcolonial considerations. For instance, a recent exhibit examined the connections between British tea-drinking customs and the exploitation of enslaved individuals who produced sugar in the West Indies.

The museum’s rooftop restaurant is also a delightful option. Run by the Benugo chain, it specializes in traditional English afternoon tea, including a vegan menu. The establishment features floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto a large terrace with deckchairs on an artificial “lawn” during the summer months, providing beautiful views of Oxford’s picturesque spires.

Enter the Victorian Era in the Pitt Rivers Museum

If wandering an expansive room filled with eccentric artifacts sounds enticing, welcome to the amulets-to-zithers extravaganza that is the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Tucked behind Oxford’s natural history museum and dimly lit to preserve its countless treasures, the museum focuses on an anthropological collection acquired by a Victorian general. It delves into how various cultures have addressed themes like “Smoking and Stimulants” and “Treatment of Dead Enemies.” As you explore its three balcony floors, you may encounter items ranging from Mesopotamian temple receipts to Japanese Noh-theatre masks, or even a warrior’s helmet made from porcupine fish skin.

Hear Christ Church Cathedral Choir at Evensong

Christ Church Cathedral serves as both Christ Church college’s chapel and the city’s cathedral. It has been home to an Anglo-Saxon shrine of St Frideswide, Oxford’s patron saint, since the 8th century. Later, the 12th-century priory church became part of Cardinal Wolsey’s new Cardinal College in 1525, with Henry VIII designating it as a cathedral when he renamed it Christ Church in 1546.

The Cathedral is renowned for its splendid choirs – four in total, each with its unique identity. The Cathedral Choir, deemed “one of the finest choirs on Earth,” has produced award-winning recordings with international orchestras and soloists, as well as the TV themes for The Vicar of Dibley and Mr. Bean.

As a functioning Anglican cathedral, visiting for private prayer or attending a service incurs no charge. The meditative service of Evensong, featuring sublime music and readings, is celebrated at 6pm on most days.

Overnight at Oxford Castle and Prison

Oxford Castle and Prison presents an interesting overview of the city’s remarkable history, especially during guided tours. Little of Oxford Castle remains, having been constructed for William the Conqueror in 1071 and largely destroyed after the English Civil War. However, entertaining theatrical tours led by costumed guides navigate through the surviving sections.

St George’s Tower, the starting point for tours, is the oldest building in Oxford, built to repel Vikings around 1009, one of four towers on the city walls. Tours also lead to the 11th-century crypt of St George’s Chapel and the 18th-century Debtors’ Tower, where visitors learn about the challenging lives and daring escapes of various Victorian inmates.

Additionally, you can choose to stay overnight in the former prison at Malmaison Oxford Castle. Housed in a turreted tower of Oxford’s castle, this contemporary hotel features plush interiors, ambient lighting, and polished service. Each of its 95 stylish rooms occupies three former cells and offers proper bedding (no hard prison cot for you).

Oxford’s Botanic Garden and Arboretum

Founded in 1621, Oxford’s small and serene botanic garden is the oldest of its type in England, celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2021. With over 5000 plant species, it remains a university department, focusing primarily on research rather than public displays. Nevertheless, it offers a lovely retreat beside the River Cherwell, especially during peak tourist seasons. Admission fees apply (except for university staff and students), and pre-booking is strongly encouraged.

Explore greenhouses and open beds that feature displays like “Plants That Changed The World,” which include potatoes, pineapples, and cannabis. At the garden’s southern end, you can find a bench that Lyra and her extraterrestrial lover Will vow to visit annually in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, an Exeter College alumnus.

Punting Under Magdalen Bridge

Directly across the road from the Botanic Gardens, also on the Cherwell, you’ll find Magdalen Bridge where you can go punting from the boathouse. Punting is an iconic Oxford experience; it involves lounging back in a flat-bottomed boat and sipping Pimms (a classic English summer beverage) while watching the city’s stunning architecture glide by.

To achieve that blissful state, you must first master the skill of persuading someone else to do the hard work. The act of propelling a boat along the river by continuously poking a long pole into the muddy bottom is trickier than it appears. If you prefer to relax, consider hiring a professional to guide you on a tour. Most punts accommodate five people, four of whom can recline on cushions while the punter stands at the back.

The Alice in Wonderland Shop

Oxford has numerous connections to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland tales, but this quaint 500-year-old shop on St Aldate’s serves as one of the most tangible links. It operated as a grocery and sweets shop during the time when the real Alice, Alice Liddell (the character’s inspiration), frequented it 150 years ago.

This fabled shop transformed into the “Old Sheep Shop” in the 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass. Upon leaving the shop in the final chapter, Alice exclaims, “Well, this is the very queerest shop I ever saw!” Today, it offers a treasure trove of gifts, souvenirs, and memorabilia, from jigsaws to jewelry, commemorating this beloved character. Even the most devoted Wonderland enthusiast will be satisfied.

As opinions regarding the author have dramatically shifted in recent years, Oxford remains committed to celebrating its connections with Alice. The city holds an annual event in July to commemorate the Liddell family and Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s rowing trip down the Thames, where the story that inspired Alice in Wonderland originated—known as Alice’s Day. Additionally, the “Treacle Well,” referenced during the Mad Hatter’s tea party, is located near the 12th-century Church of St Margaret of Antioch, approximately half a mile west of the Thames in Binsey.

Leave a Memento to Thank JRR Tolkien

At the gated Wolvercote Cemetery, situated 2.5 miles north of Oxford city center, rests John Ronald Reuel (JRR) Tolkien (1892–1973) and his wife, Edith Mary Tolkien, who passed away two years prior. Their gravestone is inscribed with the names Beren (for him) and Lúthien (for her), referencing the epic love story between a mortal man and an elf maiden who sacrificed her immortality to be with him.

Upon entering the main gates, a series of small signs will guide visitors to the grave, often adorned with flowers, plants, and sometimes jewelry. These tokens appear to symbolize gratitude from fans for the writer’s remarkable contributions to literature. There’s also an ongoing campaign aimed at transforming his home into a creative center.

Drink a Pint on the Banks of the River Thames

Oxford is well-known for its excellent pubs, many of which provide delightful river views that complement a lovely afternoon pint. The Perch is a thatched village pub with a sprawling beer garden, tucked away along a picturesque footpath just off the Thames.

The Trout lies beside a charming mill stream on the river—a favorite haunt of both Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis during their time at Oxford University. Additionally, with boats moored along the towpath and rowers passing by, Isis River Farmhouse provides excellent river views and features live music. Closer to the city center, Head of the River offers a great selection of beers and stunning views.

Dissect the History of Science

Housed in a charming 17th-century building that once held the original Ashmolean Museum, this unique museum caters not only to science enthusiasts. Within, you can discover the evolution of scientific inquiry and the devices that facilitated these advancements. Filled with astrolabes, orreries, and early electrical apparatus, the museum is a rich source of historical insight.

Exhibits feature cameras once owned by Lawrence of Arabia and a radio receiver invented by Guglielmo Marconi in 1896. Additionally, a blackboard covered in equations by Einstein from 1931, when he was invited to lecture on relativity, is showcased. A recent addition to the displays—a glass sculpture of a nanoparticle of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine—underscores the pivotal role of Oxford-based scientists in developing this life-saving drug, while thankfully, the sculpture is one million times larger than an actual nanoparticle, making it clearly visible.

Enrich Your Imagination at the Story Museum

A thousand years of Oxford’s storytelling legacy, spanning ancient myths and modern classics of children’s literature, are celebrated at this family-friendly museum. Traverse the extensive complex, delving into Britain’s narrative heritage.

Rooms dedicated to notable authors such as Lewis Carroll, Phillip Pullman, and Wallace and Gromit allow visitors to connect deeply with literary history. Particularly engaging is the Whispering Wood—a crafted forest where each tree has a secret to share. The museum also features an ever-evolving list of storytelling sessions and live performances; be sure to check the website for current details.

Admire Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History

This delightful museum is worth visiting merely to marvel at its bright, glass-roofed Victorian Gothic architecture. The cast-iron columns, intricately carved capitals, and soaring glass ceiling showcase extraordinary exhibits. Among the specimens is a 150-year-old Japanese spider crab.

However, children will be particularly thrilled by the dinosaur displays. A towering T-rex skeleton, ‘Stan,’ ranks as one of the most complete ever found, along with pieces from Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur ever speculated in written records in 1677. Another highlight is the (stuffed) dodo that Lewis Carroll immortalized in Alice in Wonderland, which, revealed in 2018, had sadly been shot in the head rather than having met a peaceful end in captivity, as previously believed.

Visit the Birthplace of Winston Churchill at Blenheim Palace

Located a mere 10-minute drive from Oxford city, yet entirely worthwhile, Blenheim Palace is one of Britain’s grandest stately homes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor, it was constructed between 1705 and 1722. Queen Anne granted the land, and funds to John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, in gratitude for his victory in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim. Remarkably, Sir Winston Churchill was born here in 1874, and Blenheim remains home to the 12th duke.

Inside this majestic structure, you’ll discover an impressive array of statues, tapestries, opulent furniture, priceless china, and large oil paintings framed in elaborate gilt. The palace has also appeared in numerous films, from Harry Potter to James Bond. If you’ve watched the recent Cinderella film starring Camila Cabello, James Corben, and Pierce Brosnan, you might recognize the floor-to-ceiling shelves in the Long Library. Ensure to allocate sufficient time to indulge in a delightful afternoon tea at the Orangery and take a leisurely stroll through the lavish gardens and parkland, which are not to be overlooked.