Visiting Oxford - what to see and how to do it?

[whojamaflip]

Some of you may remember my thread last month asking for help with a visit to London with my dd and her German exchange student. You came up trumps and we had a wonderful day in the capital.

Anyway we now have a Spanish student staying with us and she would like to visit Oxford.

I'm ashamed to say that despite living less than an hour away I have never been and so I have no idea where to start.

Is it best to do a walking tour if the university and library or would we be best to see it by bus?

Is the castle tour worth it and are there any hidden gems we should see?

I'm actually quite excited myself to see the city and many thanks for any tips or suggestions!

No don't do the bus. Oxford is not very bit and the nicest parts are the small lanes that a bus can't reach. A walking tour could be good. Depending on interests, there are Harry Pottered themed tours. Again, depending on age and interest I can also recommend Uncomfortable Oxford tours.

Make sure you don't miss the Bodleian and Radcliffe Camera. You get a good view from the top of the Sheldonian. The Ashmolean, Natural History and Pitt River Museums are all excellent and free. The Castle is quite interesting but I probably wouldn't prioritise it. Blackwells Book Shop is amazing. Walking through Christchurch meadows down to the river is nice. Punting if the weather is good.

Off Broad Street where Blackwells is, are some very pretty colleges, such as Exeter, Jesus and Lincoln (probably just 2 or 3 are enough to get the general idea!)

Pitt Rivers Museum.
Best museum in the world, ever. 🤣.
The covered market is worth a look round too.

Covered market for a potter and some food

Sorry should have said the girls are 14.

Just googled Pitt Rivers and the Ashmoleum and they look amazing Thankyou. So they are on the list!

I think we would like to see at least one college - is there one which stands out? Or are they all as special as each other?

Also is it best to go up by train (direct line from here) or would we be better to use the park and ride?

How will you be getting into Oxford?

I would suggest walking down St Aldates into Christ church meadow, following the path around the backs of the colleges which back into Merton field and going down Rose Lane back to the High Street. Both Magdalen and Christ Church are very grand (Christ Church has some Harry Potter locations if you're into that sort of thing).

Go back along the High Street and turn down Catte Street which will take you to the Radcliffe Camera, Brasenose college and the Bodleian Library. Carry on along Catte Street to Broad Street for Blackwells and more colleges. Trinity has lovely gardens.

That will see the majority of the scenic university libraries and colleges. You might then want to go to a museum or shopping etc. Shopping is in the city centre, the museums are all a bit more of a walk away.

Walking tour of the central colleges

If weather is nice, picnic in the Botanical Gardens and punting! If weather is not so nice, lunch at the covered market - lots of fun places to eat.

Climb St Mary's church tower
Go to Evensong at Magdalen (or Christ Church, or New College) on a day when the boys' choir is singing- walk around the cloister and enjoy a short service and an extraordinary ancient tradition. Very interesting for atheists (and probably for people of all religions). It is at 6 pm, and check the schedule to make sure the Magdalen College Boys Choir will be singing. (You don't have to pay entrance fee for the college if you are going to go to a service.)

The University walking tours are really good and they take you into at least one college. The guides are students themselves. We took a European teen guest last summer and they thoroughly enjoyed it. It included a few Harry Potter locations too.

Most colleges allow visitors but I would pre book as the more popular ones do sell out. Ditto the Bodlian.

Undercover market is great for all sorts of food.

I was there last weekend. We did a Morse / Lewis / Endeavour themed walking tour - the 2 hours flew by, great fun and got to see lots!

Also went to Evensong at Christchurch which was really lovely.

one more mile , brilliant itinerary .

Pitt Rivers the most interesting museum IMHO. Botanic Gardens has Lyra’s bench if DD a Dark Materials fan ?
The Grand Café on the High is beautiful with delicious cakes , also love the Vaults restaurant in the crypt by St Mary the Virgin .
I’m visiting next week with a friend , can’t wait , love Oxford !

If it’s a nice sunny day suggest taking a punt along the river from Magdalen college. Some of the smaller colleges like Teddy Hall may let you in to look round for free most of the larger colleges charge £5-10pp.

Meant to add, the Paper Boat café on Folly Bridge is excellent and very friendly , lovely little garden at the back looking over the river ( Thames not Isis though ! ).

I did a self guided tour of Balliol last summer with a couple of overseas visitors and it was interesting and pretty. And free!!

g.co/kgs/5oiP9b4 I also liked this beautiful little stationery shop and while it's a chain, the Wagamama has Oxford mathematics discoveries across its windows.

Blackwells and Waterstone's are great places to go if it rains.

The Town Hall is gorgeous and has posh loos!

Some Harry Potter scenes were shot at Christ College - they may like this as it is very recognisable.

The train station is close to the castle, about a 10 minute walk. Another 10 to 15 min to the Pitt Rivers. If you drive, there are a few P & Rs. It depends which road you're entering on. Driving is awful in Oxford, lots of jams so P & R is a must. Train and taxi if you need one might be best. Driving will be cheaper!

There is a really lovely Alice in Wonderland shop opposite Christchurch college which is worth a look. Alice is supposed to have fallen down a rabbit hole in Christchurch Meadows. G&Ds is a few doors from the shop and has great snacks and ice creams

Christchurch meadows are currently flooded so beware if you're visiting soon.

It's a long time since I lived there or visited but in my day there were numerous Blackwells book shops. The main one is 5 floors but the one that is arts based is worth a look.

Oxford is a very walkable place and a bit of a wander will let you find nice bits.

If it is a nice dry day then a walk in Christchurch meadow is lovely, if it is warm enough take a picnic.

The old fire station might be interesting, it was a cafe/bar but is now an arts centre.

The prison is worth a visit, very interesting