The Best Things to do in Oxford
Are you looking for the best things to do in Oxford UK? Then you have come to the right spot! In this blog post I will tell you exactly why you should visit this incredible little city.
Why should you visit Oxford?
Oxford is a small university city with much to offer. Despite only having a population of about 200,000, over 10 million tourists visit a year! It is known as one of the best places to visit in England and makes for a great day trip from London. From the moment you first step into Oxford, you will notice its incredible gothic architecture and many colleges with medieval roof lines. The city is known for having one of the world’s top research universities. You will find some of the world’s most famous colleges and universities, including Oxford University.
The city is also a popular movie location. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you are bound to fall head over heels in love with this city. Some of the best places to visit in Oxford have been used in the Harry Potter movies. On top of this, it has also been used as a movie location for famous movies such as X-men: First World Class, Saving Private Ryan, 102 Dalmatians, Howards End, and more. The city is steeped in history with its old university buildings, predominantly Gothic architecture, and cobbled stone streets. It is easy to see why so many movies have been filmed in this charming, ancient city.
On top of the famous movie locations and breathtaking architecture, the city also offers many other Oxford attractions. Some things to see in Oxford include fascinating historic sites, museums, charming bookshops, and cosy coffee shops. If you want to know precisely what the best things to do in Oxford UK are and what they offer, keep reading. In the next part of this blog post, I will go through all this!
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The best things to do in Oxford UK
1. Visit Christ Church College
If you are one of those Harry Potter fans that kept reading, this is one of the Oxford attractions you must visit. Christ Church College is one of the oldest and largest of Oxford’s colleges and served as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies. These are just a few reasons why visiting Christ Church College is one of the top things to do in Oxford.
One of this college’s most famous Harry Potter locations is the Bodley Staircase. The Bodley Staircase is used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when Professor McGonagall welcomes the new students. This is just one of the many locations related to Harry Potter in Christ Church.
If you want to take a historical tour of Oxford that includes the city and Christ Church, you can book this fantastic Oxford Walking tour. However, if you are more interested in the Harry Potter locations than anything else, this tour would be a better choice for you.
2. Go on a Harry Potter tour of Oxford
One of the top things to do in Oxford is to go on a Harry Potter tour of the city. Christ Church College is just one of the things to see in Oxford for Harry Potter locations, yet there are many more to explore in the city. If you are a fan of the books and movies, you will love going on the tours listed below.
- Oxford: Harry Potter Film Locations Tour with Oxford Alumni
- Oxford: Christ Church Harry Potter Film Locations Tour
- Oxford: Harry Potter Walking Tour Including New College
Book the best Oxford Harry Potter tour here.
3. Snap a photo of the iconic Bridge of Sighs of Oxford
The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous Oxford attractions and makes for a stunning photograph. Make sure you get up close and really taking in the beautiful detail of this bridge. Snapping a photo of this bridge is one of the best things to do in Oxford UK for photographers!
If you have followed me for a while, you will probably notice that this is not the first time I have mentioned a “Bridge of Sighs.” This is because there are several bridges named this, another one of them being in Cambridge. Both of these got their names from the Bridge of Sighs in Venice! Can you see the resemblance?
4. Admire the view at St. Mary’s Church Tower
One of the best things to see in Oxford is the view from St. Mary’s Church Tower. You must go to this iconic spot if you love pretty sights, gothic architecture, and a bird’s eye view. It arguably has the best view of the city and is another one of the top things to do in Oxford for photographers. From the St. Mary’s Church tower, you will see a bird’s eye view of the iconic Radcliffe Camera, Oxford University, and more. This is possibly one of the best city views I have ever seen, so do not miss out! You can buy a ticket at the entrance, which only costs £5.
5. Shop at Covered Market
Exploring the Covered Market is one of the best things to do in Oxford UK to experience a more local side of the city. The stalls and covered market range from boutiques selling art to grocers. It is a warehouse-style market open on Sundays. One of the best places I visited in Covered market is the charming artisan coffee shop Columbia Coffee Roasters. They source, roast, and brew their own beans, and I highly recommend stopping for a coffee here when exploring the market.
6. Explore the many beautiful colleges and universities
One of the best things to do in Oxford UK is to explore the many incredible colleges and universities. While there are a few you will not be able to visit, you will still be able to see the beautiful outside. Most of the time, you can also have a cheeky look through the gates to admire the beautiful schools (Just be respectful!).
Some of the best colleges to explore include Christ Church College, Magdalen College, All Souls College, New College, and many more! I will be doing a complete guide to the colleges in Oxford soon, including which you can visit, when, and how, so make sure you subscribe to my newsletter to see when it is posted!
7. Go punting on the Thames
If you are one of the lucky ones that have made it to Oxford on a warm, sunny day, punting is one the top things to do in Oxford on days like these. Bring a picnic, some beers, and bubbles, hire a boat and enjoy the river views of all the Oxford attractions. Remember that punting is much more complicated than it looks, so you must be up for a challenge. Fortunately, for those who just want to enjoy the ride, there are several options for hiring someone to do the punting for you!
If you want to do a self-guided punting tour, you can find more information on bookings here. It usually costs around £30 an hour.
If you want to hire someone to do the punting for you, you can find more information here. Chauffeured punts usually cost around £35 for 30 minutes.
This is one of the best Punting River Trip Tours (with an optional Walking Tour).
8. See the iconic Radcliffe Camera
First built in the 1700s, Radcliffe Camera is one of the oldest round libraries in England. Radcliffe Square is one of the most photogenic spots in Oxford, and for a good reason. Its grand buildings and incredible architecture will surely take your breath away. This building is the Big Ben of Oxford; you cannot miss it! Going up the Mary Church Tower, as previously mentioned, you will get a fantastic bird’s eye view of the building. It makes for some incredible photo opportunities! One of the only ways to get a look inside the Radcliffe Camera building is by joining one of the fantastic tours of Bodleian Library. One of my favourites is Oxford: University and City Walking Tour with Alumni Guide (Click here to book).
Make sure you book in advance as it sells out quickly! I recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance.
9. Tour the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library is one of Europe’s oldest and best libraries, making it one of the top things to do in Oxford. It has over 13 million printed items and is one of the unmissable Oxford attractions. There are many tours, but the best is the 1-hour tour, including Duke Humrey’s Library. The tour goes to the Divinity School, the Chancellor’s Court, the Convocation House, and the tour’s highlight, Duke Humfrey’s Library. This library is an atmospheric reading room lined with medieval books and is known as the Hogwarts Library in the Harry Potter films. If you love atmospheric places oozing with history and the smell of old books, this is one of the best things to do in Oxford UK.
Book the best tour of the Bodleian Library here.
10. Have a coffee break at the Independent Café
If you are a bit tired from exploring all of the things to see in Oxford and need a coffee and cake break, the Independent Café is the perfect spot to do this! It is located next to Christ Church College, which offers a great view. They have delicious cakes and pastries, along with great coffee and tea. Watch the world go by while enjoying something sweet and delicious!
11. Visit the museums in Oxford
One of the best things to do in Oxford UK is to visit some fantastic museums. If you only have time for one Oxford museum, I recommend going with the most popular choice; The Ashmolean. It is the University of Oxford’s Museum of Art and Archaeology and was first founded in 1683. The collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art. A few other museums you should consider visiting in Oxford are:
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History
- Pitt Rivers Museum
- The Story Museum
- Museum of Oxford
- History of Science Museum
12. Explore the bookshops in Oxford
While there are many fantastic Oxford attractions, one of the top things to do in Oxford for book lovers is simply to explore the many charming bookshops. A few of the best bookshops in Oxford include Black Well’s Bookshop, Oxfam Bookshop, and Arcadia. There are many more to explore, and I will cover all of the best bookshops in Oxford in a separate blog post very soon! If you do not want to miss it when it gets posted, subscribe to my email list!
13. Visit Blenheim Palace
If you have more than a few days to spend in Oxford and have run out of Oxford attractions to visit, consider visiting the famous Blenheim Palace outside of the city! It is a massive country house and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Today it is home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and is used for festivals and events. Inside the Palace, you will find film locations from the TV series The Royals and the Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix film. If you want the absolute best experience, I highly recommend taking this incredible tour of Blenheim Palace, which also takes you to the famous Downton Abbey Village and the wider Cotswolds area. You can book tickets online here.
Book Admission Ticket for your visit to Blenheim Palace here.
