Location: Oxford
Top Things to do in Oxford
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10 Things to do in Oxford That You Shouldn't Miss
In the "city of dreaming spires," academia takes center stage. Gaze out at Oxford's world-famous university from the top of Carfax Tower before heading into the city's pedestrian-friendly streets. Follow your nose to the Covered Market for the makings of a picnic to enjoy at Headington Hill Park. Mix the historic and modern with visits to the 12th-century village church of Iffley and trendy Cowley's ethnic shops and music venues.
Restaurants in Oxford
1. The Oxford Artisan Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 248 reviews
The Oxford Artisan Distillery welcomes visitors to its distillery, in the heart of Oxford, for a behind-the-scenes experience where you can discover our approach to craft distilling using sustainably farmed populations of heritage grain and bespoke hand-built copper stills. You’ll see what goes into our spirits and truly understand what grain to glass craft distillery is all about. In addition we have a distillery shop open to the public daily for no charge.
Reviewed By SharonH262 - Wantage, United Kingdom
What a lovely surprise to find we have such an amazing distillery in Oxford. Was bought this as my Mother’s Day present from my youngest son, hubby came to. We got the bus from central oxford to within a 3 minute walk. Easy, no hassle and at the top of South Park looking across beautiful views of Oxford. We could have been collected by minibus free of charge if we wanted. Greeted by Edward and Ruth who made us one of our first of many G&T’s all made at TOAD Great tour, nice to see how it all started and where it’s going, funny, witty and the 2 hours passed by too quickly Taken back into Oxford by minibus with lots of goodies we tasted throughout the tour. Not just gin but vodka and whiskey ???? Would definitely go back again ????
2. University of Oxford
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,610 reviews
Starting as early as 1096 with some form of teaching, Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world.
Reviewed By Onleaveagain - Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
The university is formed from almost forty individual colleges. The grandest buildings are located in the colleges which are the oldest. The majority of buildings are built in sandstone with ornate door and window surrounds, towers and huge pillars. Access to several colleges can be gained for a small fee. Oxford is known as the ‘city of dreaming spires’ and just looking around the skyline it is easy to see why.
3. Christ Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,479 reviews
Reviewed By PeteD60 - Ware, United Kingdom
This was an Tuesday afternoon visit in November – highlights – the Dining Hall – Custodian Sue was very informative and helpful – the tables were laid against a background of history with its Founder Cardinal Wolsey and after his fall Henry 8 and Elizabeth 1 looking down on the diners alongside portraits of Deans - past and present – different dining times for the students – early smart casual – later more formal with gowns – a different world – and then out into the quadrangle dominated by the Wren designed tower and then into the cathedral with its choir stalls running through the centre – guides on hand to provide additional information to the free guide – it is a visit of history and tradition in spades – well worth a visit – thank you
4. Magdalen College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 708 reviews
Please visit magd.ox.ac.uk
Reviewed By Suzyed144
Lovely college to walk around, allow a good 90 minutes and finish off with a nice snack in theold kitchen bar, in the summer the seats outside can be viewed from Magdalen bridge.
5. Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,850 reviews
The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Our world famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. The Museum is open every day, 10am–5pm. Admission is free.
Reviewed By alisonccooper - London, United Kingdom
The artefacts in the Ashmolean have survived the rise and fall of several Empires, and the museum has adapted to change, moving from its original venue to the current site a decade ago. Undeterred by the corona virus pandemic it has reopened its doors. Climbing the stairs from the buried urns of Ancient Egypt and Greece towards modern European Art, the spotlight trail mobile phone download takes the visit right up to the present day. Lower visitor numbers mean it is quiet and still with ample opportunity to get up close to the objects. Staff maintain a discreet distance and the status provide plenty of company.
6. Bodleian Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,263 reviews
The world-famous Bodleian Libraries is a must-see cultural destination in the heart of Oxford. It founded by Sir Thomas Bodley and officially opened in 1602. Since then the Bodleian libraries has grown to be the largest academic library system in the UK. In its reading rooms generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages, amongst them monarchs, Nobel Prize winners, British Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. At the site, you can explore historic spaces that you might recognise from popular films and TV series such as Harry Potter and A Discovery of Witches. We also offer free, inspiring exhibitions featuring the libraries’ rich collections, two unique gift shops and a lovely café.
Reviewed By SCagray - Santa Cruz, United States
This was a wonderful way to experience the library! We took the 90 minute tour which including going inside Radcliff Camera, highly recommend!! Our guide was very knowledgeable and she was witty as week. We thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much more than we would have without the tour.
7. Christ Church Meadow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,066 reviews
This scenic park offers a delightful two-mile walk through meadows and along river banks, offering picturesque views and ideal spots for picnics, sitting or just relaxing.
Reviewed By KatrienS955 - Ghent, Belgium
The entrance to the meadow was extremely crowded, and also near the buildings of Christ Church there were several tour groups, and it was overwhelmingly crowded, with long lines to get in. However, as soon as we turned into the tree lined walk to the river, we left the crowds behind, and thus had a lovely walk along the river and the meadows, with some great views over Magdalen college tower and the Christ Church buildings in a distance. Passed several punters, and more kajaks.
8. Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,362 reviews
The Museum of Natural History houses the University's scientific collections of geological and zoological specimens. The Museum itself is a Grade 1 listed building, renowned for its spectacular neo-Gothic architecture. Among its most famous features are the Oxfordshire dinosaurs, the dodo, and the swifts in the tower.
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
The exterior is stunning the interior is fabulous like a movie designed museum, the T-Rex is there to greet you when you enter and the interior design is just spectacular, a sheer joy to visit and look at the exhibits, make sure you make a donation.
9. Pitt Rivers Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,827 reviews
The Pitt Rivers Museum is one of Oxford’s most popular attractions, famous for its period atmosphere and outstanding collections from many cultures around the world, past and present.
Reviewed By livbundy89 - Truro, United Kingdom
I have a confession...I came here just to see the shrunken heads. While it would have been worth the walk just for that (a staff member was giving a talk on them just as we got here!) we actually thought the entire museum was wonderful. There is so much to see, and it is all tightly packed in like some kind of Indiana Jones treasure trove. The items on display really fire up the imagination and a sense of appreciation for the beauty of other cultures. We were only in Oxford for the day so couldn't spend more than an hour here, but we could have easily spent half a day walking around and really taking it all in. Highly recommend.
10. Oxford Castle & Prison
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,679 reviews
Oxford Castle & Prison explores the 1000-years of Oxford's History. Led by one of our costumed characters, the rich history of the castle with a prison at its heart will be revealed to you. Climb St. George's Tower and take in the stunning views before descending into the atmospheric crypt, along the 18th century prison wing and into archaic man-made mound.
Reviewed By PeteD60 - Ware, United Kingdom
We arrived just in time to join a tour – very fortuitous – Oliver treated us to an hour long description of the Castle from 1071 to 1996 during which time it was a castle for Matilda – an early centre of learning – a stronghold for Charles 1 – and finally a prison for 300 years until its closure in 1996 and in part conversion to a hotel Oliver included detailed insights into the stories behind the history with pen pictures of particular characters – female poisoners, a man who left his ears in the stocks and a young girl of 7 who was confined for a week before being sent for schooling….. The tour is very active with 101 steps to the top of the tower which provides views of immediate City and the countryside beyond – and then down into the crypt and back up to the cells and through a final exhibition area before departing through the shop Time just flew by – learnt things like why is a prison officer referred to a screw – not telling as you need to visit to hear the story – and Geoffrey of Monmouth who wrote an early history of the Kings of Britain (1138) including King Arthur which is available to read in print and electronically – well worth a visit - thank you
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