Planning 2 days sightseeing in Oxford soon. Any advice?

[OxfordTrip]

I'm planning a solo visit to Oxford soon and would really value some input from MNers please. I'm checking in at the Premier Inn, Cowley mid afternoon on Wednesday 1st March and checking out on Saturday 4th March, which will give me 2 full days to look around (plus a bit on Saturday if I want). I'm driving up but plan to use the bus to get to the city centre.

Places I definitely want to see are:
Museum of natural history
Pitt Rivers museum
Ashmolean museum
Oxford castle and prison
Covered market
Gloucester Green outdoor street market

I'm not particularly into shopping in high street chains but love independent shops (not too expensive though!).

Guided tours can be great so I'm looking into those
I love architecture

The plan for food is to go to the nearby M&S food hall and Tesco to get breakfast and dinner things to eat in my room, but will have lunch out. Can anyone recommend a small quiet cafe please? I eat anything as long as it's decent quality.

Does this all sound doable?
Thanks

Your list sounds great. Personally, I'd also head to Jericho area for a different Oxford feel: especially as you like architecture. It's not grand, but feels like a hug to me. And there are independent bars, cafes and shops there. Pierre Victoire on little clarendon Street always used to an incredibly good value fixed price lunch menu and the food is delicious.

Perhaps plan some college visits if you like architecture? I'd avoid Christ Church: entry is expensive and you get to see very little of the college.

Wow, depending on your museum-tolerance, the Ashmolean alone could be a whole day. The History of Science Museum is free, central, and often overlooked (a hidden gem for an hour or so).

You might enjoy a tour of the Bodleian Library (several lengths are available)?

You'll be completely spoiled for architecture; either a guided tour, or buy a "Walks in Oxford" book in advance.

I wouldn't get too excited about Gloucester Green or the castle/prison. Museums on your list are definitely worth it. Ashmolean is massive though and you may want to do only part or go more than once.

it would be a shame to come to Oxford and not do any of the colleges. There is a walking tour that runs regularly from outside Trinity College on Broad Street, and probably other places. Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre also very much worth seeing.

If you like books Blackwells is a must: the huge downstairs Norrington Room is excellent.

For lunch: several good places in the covered market; see what you fancy when you're there (they open & close a lot too).

Also recommend Edamame (Japanese) on Holywell Street and the vegetarian cafe down an alleyway near the Ashmolean.
Edamame link
Vegetarian cafe (organic deli) link

Oh, and you have to pop into Blackwell's Bookshop and head downstairs to the Norrington Room even if you don't buy anything! It's the biggest single room in a bookshop anywhere, and definitely worth the five minute detour from Broad Street (longer if you start browsing...)

@HappyHolidai Jinx!

There isn't much to see at the castle I don't think, so you could do that and the covered market in a morning and there are plenty of independent eateries in the covered market. Climbing Carfax tower (near covered market high Street entrance) will give good city views, if you like heights. You could them go into one of the colleges on high Street, such as Queens, Oriel or even Exam Schools if it is open. The architecture inside is wasted on nervous students doing finals!

Ashmolean is a good chunk of time, all day if you really want to linger, but doable in half.

Natural history and pittrivers is probably a morning (love both though, imo better than the ashmolean). I'd go on a weekday as both get busy with children on weekends. Then go over yo Jericho for lunch and a wander there

And Cowley Road is great for independent eateries too, so perhaps consider a packed lunch on day and eating out in Cowley Road one evening?

You absolutely must eat here: https://zaatarbake.co.uk/. I still dream about the food, and the atmosphere is so relaxed and warm. We took our own bottle of wine, too

Oh and agree with pp if you like sushi, Edamame is amazing.

And a tour of the bodlian is a great idea. Or the Radcliffe camera if it is open to visitors while you are there.

History of Science is a great little overlooked museum next tothe sheldonian theatre

I absolutely loved the tour of the Bodleian library. Also a tiny restaurant not far from there called Edamame for the best ramen I’ve ever eaten. I was heartbroken the last time I went there and found it was closed. I was so looking forward to it. 😆

Oh I’ve just seen a PP has beaten me to it!

See if there are any concerts on at the Sheldonian while you are there. It's a beautiful building.

We did a ghost tour - sounds really naff but was actually good fun and lots of history.
we then had a ghostly experience (actually) at the turf tavern! Which is a great place to visit.

The Turf is a fun place indeed for a drink! (Food isn't great value though.)

You can get a quick peek inside Christ Church plus a free concert by going to one of the cathedral services if that's your cup of tea.

I see that PP all have very similar ideas to each other, we should put together the MN itinerary for Oxford (including Edamame).

If you only want to see the cathedral you can go into Christ Church for free, go to the main entrance (under Tom Tower) and tell the custodian in the bowler hat that you're going to the cathedral, they will let you in (don't go on the grass) if you happen to look at the rest of the hall on the way to/from the cathedral then oh well.

I’d also recommend the Botanic gardens (paid entry) and a walk around Christchurch Meadows next to the river (free). For quiet cafes, I wouldn’t recommend Edamame as even though the food is great, it’s a
always v busy and there’s generally a queue. The covered market has lots of eating options as does around Gloucester Green. There’s a great (and not too expensive) noodle place called Ramen Kulture on St Giles which is just up the road from the Ashmolean. There’s also a good Caribbean takeaway near where you’re staying called Comies Carribean Grill which is not expensive and has huge portions.

Wow, thanks everyone for all your help and great ideas! 😃😎I'm making a list and will check out all your suggestions, then must make a plan otherwise time just fritters away and stuff gets missed doesn't it. So much to see!

A nice cafe is Opera, if you don't min walking away from the centres, through Jericho (or down Little Clarendon Street. It's on Walton Street (I think that's the name - the main road that leads to jericho).

Another nice, more central cafe is the university church cafe behind the Radclfee camera. Has a garden if it is fine. Bit busy but nice food. There are also loads of cafes in the covered market, and decent chains in the Westgate Shopping Centre.

If you like independent shops, try Scriptorum on Turl Street for stationery and around the corner (forget street name, but it's the side of the covered market,) there's a lovely kitchenware shop with brushes and lots of pretty things. Both shops very expensive though.

I'd book a Bodleian library tour/Duke Humphgrey's library tour if they do them.
Definitely look around some colleges. The prettiest are Worcester and New. Magdalen has access to a lovely walk through the deer park. Free colleges worth a look include Exeter (site of most Morse, Endeavour and Lewis scenes) Climb the wall in the Fellow's garden for an iconic photo of Radcliffe Square. Brasenose is beautiful too and imo Corpus Christi is very cute and tiny.

On a fine day the Botanical gardens are lovely and a meditative stroll through Christchurch meadow is a must. If it's warm, have your picnic there.

Oxford is my favourite city to wander about in. Its so pretty and the museums are fabulous. My favourite is Pitt Rivers. Agree re botanical gardens being worth a visit too.