What to see with a day and night in Oxford

[shadylane]

My 15 year old daughter and I want to walk around Oxford, visit some of the colleges/libraries that are open on Sundays, not rush about too much and yet see enough to learn about the city. I hear the Pitt Rivers museum is excellent so we’d like to go there too. If anyone knows the layout very well we’d appreciate some tips- or should we just book a tour?

I would definitely book a tour towards the beginning of your stay - it's really insightful to get the lay of the land and you learn loads too. You can then pick where you want to go back to, as you'll get a load of recommendations.

Yeah there are some lovely tours! What time of year OP?

Thanks- that’s good advice to get lay of the land on the tour. Booking it for January- a
saturday into Sunday so which tours do you think would suit best?

If either of you are Harry Potter fans, I took my sister for this one footprints-tours.com/oxford/tours/oxford-walking-tours/oxford-harry-potter-tour/ and it was incredible (a little pricy though!) ~ we saw lots of non-HP stuff too and it includes entrance fees for a few buildings.

I've also done this one - same company - it's not really 'free' as you're supposed to tip at the end, but it covers quite a bit and is a good intro! footprints-tours.com/oxford/oxford-walking-tours/2-hour-free-oxford-walking-tour/

The Pitt Rivers museum is fascinating and it's definitely worth going. The Ashmolean is also excellent but much bigger. If you want a quick visit then the Pitt Rivers is the better choice.

It's been a while since I've lived there now so will defer to the others for specific tour recommendations. I enjoyed the ghost tour I did! The city is small so you really do see a lot on a walking tour. Most of them will include things like The Divinity School, Sheldonian, Bridge of Sighs etc. I think the only way to get into the Bodleian is on a specific tour, which is best booked in advance if that's your scene.

Visiting a college is a lovely thing to do, but don't feel like it *has to be ChristChurch. It's really rather expensive to go in there these days and several of the others are just as lovely, though don't have the same grandeur and Harry Potter connections. I have a soft spot for Magdalen (you could visit for free at 6pm for evensong during term time, so might be worth looking into. Even if you're not religious it's a nice experience). I can't remember the rest individually but this page seems to off a good overview.

The Story Museum and Alice's shop were also nice to pop into when I was there.

If either of you are bookish the Blackwells shop is HUGE. It's a nice shop to meander, especially if the weather isn't ideal. People talk about the covered market for food a lot. I didn't explore it much if I'm honest but so many suggestions can't be all wrong.

Otherwise....

• Visit the Eagle and Child (favourite of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) for a drink (they do hot drinks too, it's near to the Ashmolean)
• Lunch at the Turf Tavern (where Bill Clinton did not inhale)
• Enjoy a wonder around at dusk when the lights come on and wandering the cobbled streets with the high stone walls makes you feel like you've gone back in time. Especially if there's a fog, it's very Dickensian.
• Look on Daily Info (an Oxford specific site) to see if there are any comedy/open mic/theatre/music shows on which take your fancy. There are often choirs/performances within the college chapels which means you get to see some of the college as part of your ticket
• Have a coffee at The Missing Bean on Turl Street (they also used to do delicious pastries/brunches)
• Dinner or lunch at The Rickety Press or Rusty Bicycle depending on where you are nearest
• If you like Thai food and can get a table then Olis Thai is amazing. At one point their waiting list for dinner was years long though.
• Isis Farmhouse (a pub on the river which you have to either walk, cycle or punt/sail to)
• If you're driving in/out and can detour through Headington then there's a famous house with a shark coming out of the roof which I'm sure a 15 year old would find amusing!

Ashmolean Museum is really worth visiting, an awful lot to see so you can pick sections you're most interested in, has cafe and is free.

Even if you can't enter, it's worth looking at some of the college grounds and the architecture.

@okayhescereal gives some great tips - just to update though, the Eagle and Child unfortunately closed down during covid and hasn't reopened - the Lamb and Flag across the road is a good alternative though sadly without the same literary associations!

Oli's Thai is now a deli but they do still sell takeaway thai food, if you are out that way I would definitely recommend it.

All my normal suggestions have already been given! (Definitely the Pitt Rivers.)

If either of you likes books and you visit Blackwell's, make absolutely sure that you find the basement ("The Norrington Room") which isn't immediately obvious.

I'll also put in a word for the History of Science Museum which is free, very central, and worth an hour or two.

Oh no that's so sad!!

Nice news about OT though, have more chance of actually getting in there if it's a deli rather than a restaurant you have to book into 3 years before you want to go 😂

Go to choral evensong at Christ Church on the Sunday evening, 6.05. See if there’s anything on at the Holywell Music Rooms or the Sheldonian.

(I’m sorry to hear the Eagle and Child has closed, although it’s the only Oxford pub in all our student years that more than one person in our group had their wallet stolen in, including now-DH.)

The covered market has lots of little eating places and independent shops. I had a day in Oxford last weekend and we ate at the Permit Rooms, lovely food and cocktails.

Blenheim Palace is a lovely place to visit.

Just a heads up to check the term dates for when the students come back (normally mid Jan). I'd recommend avoiding the weekend then students are all arriving as it'll be manic. Lots of the colleges make you move out of your room at the end of every term so you're basically moving back in again (with all your stuff) at the start of every term.

I second the advice of going to evensong with the choristers- Magdalen is also wonderful, if you are there during term time. Climbing St Mary's church is worth doing- wonderful, beautiful, interesting view... see how many sundials on college quad walls you can spot from there.

Can you still go up to the top of Carfax tower?

wow thanks so much for all these wonderful tips!

Better than Carfax tower is to go up the spire of the Uni church of St Mary the Virgin. It has fabulous views of the Radcliffe Camera and Bodlian.

Definitely go to the Pitt Rivers museum! It is fascinating (as is the Natural History museum it's attached to.) You can see both in a couple of hours whereas the Ashmolean is much bigger..... although still fabulous.

The Covered Market is great for a walk around and there are plenty of places to eat and drink in there. Or on the rooftop of the Westgate Shopping Centre there are plenty of restaurants too.

There's so much to see you may run out of time but Junkyard golf is so much fun (indoor mini golf in a sort of club environment.... they have three different courses including one where you can go down a slide. I think a teenager would love it.)