Location: Oxford
Top Things to do in Oxford
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Top 10 Free Things to do in Oxford, England
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. St Edmund Hall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
St Edmund Hall offers a Medieval hall if you go on the tour of the grounds, it was one of several colleges we saw only from the outside with more stunning architecture.
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. 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.
4. All Souls College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Founded by Henry VI and Henry Chichele in 1438, the college today serves primarily as an academic research institution at the University of Oxford.
Reviewed By TexasAly - Mount Pleasant, United States
Highly recommend spending an afternoon exploring the parts that are open to the public. It is an amazing place to visit knowing that it is and has housed some of the greatest minds in the world.
5. 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.
6. Hertford College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Founded in 1282 by Elias de Hertford, this Oxford College has educated many leading figures in British life over the centuries including John Donne, the 17th-century poet, Thomas Hobbs, political philosopher, and Jonathan Swift, famous satirist.
Reviewed By JeffTheChairman - Exeter, United Kingdom
Protected by the amazing Bridge of Sighs Hertford College was an undoubted highlight of our visit to Oxford Some stunning buildings and amazing architecture
7. St John's College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Founded in 1555 and named after St. John the Baptist, patron saint of tailors, this Oxford college is best known for its Canterbury Quad with its impressive classical architecture.
Reviewed By stephencamburn - Chinon, France
I am a graduate alumnus of St. John's College Oxford and although I came down from Oxford with a doctorate as long ago as 1982, I have remained very much in contact with the college. St John's is one of the most beautiful colleges in the University of Oxford which is studded with buildings of great architectural beauty and historical significance. St. John's has recently recovered from major building works to provide the college with a beautiful and greatly needed new library to augment the oold library that was founded by a previous President of the college, Archbishop Laud who lost his head on Tower Hill in the early seventeenth century. Like all Oxford colleges, St. John's is only open to the public at certain times of the day in term-time and you should always check on these hours in advance. As you step into the college (and it is easy to trip over the step in the wooden door, so be careful) what you see is the oldest part of college, dating back to the sixteenth century, certain parts of it even going back to the late middle ages. Walk straight ahead under an arch into Canternbury Quad, one of the most beautiful seveteenth century architectural environments in England. It is laid out in the Italian style of Inigo Jones with sprung arches and bronze statues of King Charles I and his Queen by Hubert Le Seuer over each porch. Continue walking straight into the garden which was originally laid out by 'Capability' Brown in the eighteenth century and currently recovering from the redevelopment necessary for the new library. Retrace your steps and from the Front Quad enter the porch which leads to the Chapel on your right and the Dining-Hall on your left. The Chapel should be open and is worth seeing as a jewel-box of seventeenth century ecclesiastical art from the eagle pulpit to the statuary and ancient inscriptions on the walls. The organ has recently been restored and if you are lucky the organ scholar might be playing the organ during your visit. From the Chapel, the passage way will take you into North Quad which is mainly nineteenth century in construction but with the seventeenth century classical building of the dons' senior common room on your right. Further along the quad on the right are modern 1960s buildings called the Bee-Hive (because that's what they resesmble) which were cutting-edge in their time but no longer to all tastes. In the far corner of the North Quad there is a short passage leading out onto the Sir Thomas White Building which is now nearly forty-five years old and a good example of modern architecture adapting well to the needs of modern undergraduates and research scholars. I lived there very happily, once upon a time!
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. War Memorial Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
This peaceful garden was created in 1925 in tribute to all residents of Oxford and the University who lost their lives during World War I.
Reviewed By panda762 - Colchester, United Kingdom
Stunned and delighted to come across such a beautiful memorial garden in the centre of Oxford, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded shops. An absolutely gorgeous space to simply take a few minutes to reflect as you wander through.
10. 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.
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