Visit to Oxford advice please

[Honeysuckle16]

We’re going to Le Manoir for an event and lunch in September and adding on a long-anticipated visit to Oxford. We’ll only have a day at each location. Any advice on a hotel or good B&B and what we can reasonably do in a day at Oxford?

Stay in the town center if you can. Oxford traffic is not good on the outskirts.
If you like Museums the Ashmoleon is a great museum.
Otherwise do a walking tour of the colleges, hire a punt, walk in Christchurch Meadow.
Or stay outside Oxford and Visit Blenheim Palace and stay in Woodstock. You could easily spend an entire day there

The centre of Oxford really isn't that big and is very easily walkable. The centre itself is not particularly attractive, but the colleges and museums are lovely. I suppose it depends on what you are wanting to see.

The walking tours are good, and a good way of seeng a lot of the city.

I would suggest staying somewhere like Woodstock, where there are regular buses into Oxford (you can also then visit Blenheim Palace). The parking in Oxford centre is pretty poor, so either bus or park and ride it in.

I’ve never stayed but the Randolph is meant to be lovely. I’ve stayed at the Malmaison and I really rated it - very good cocktail bar and the rooms are old prison cells which is rather cool.

You can easily knock off the main tourist things in a day - walk around the centre, covered market, tour of the bodleian and /or one of the colleges, walk round Christchurch Meadows. Other options are the Ashmolean or Christchurch gallery, and I would recommend going up the tower of St Mary's as you get a lovely view into all the college quads. Old Bank Hotel is nice and v central, as is the Randolph, or the Old Parsonage is just a short walk away from the centre of town and closer to Jericho if you fancy a walk around there and up to Port Meadow - that depends on how much you want to try and cram in though!

Walking tour in the morning, then probably one museum in the afternoon (or two small ones). I'd throw Natural History/Pitt Rivers museum into the mix as well (next to University Parks for a stroll afterwards). What sort of things do you enjoy? And what's the budget for hotel?

Le Manoir and the gardens are stunning. Are you staying there overnight or moving to Oxford for the evening to a hotel? Try to work out how much time you really have in Oxford. Lots of great suggestions so far.

Thank you so much for all the suggestions. I’ll look for places in Woodstock to stay and follow the ideas to see Oxford. I really appreciate your advice. Very many thanks.

I live in a small market town about 10 miles from Oxford and 1 mile from Le Manoir. You can definitely hit all the right places in one day staying in the centre.

That said I'd be tempted to do one day/night in the Cotswolds. Beautiful little towns.

The natural history museum is great and is free to get in to.

If you're thinking of staying in Woodstock, can recommend The Bear - slap bang in the middle of the village.

We did a walking tour last week in Oxford - great fun - 2 hours I think.

Woodstock is lovely but is the opposite side of Oxford to Le Manoir. It's is great if you want to do Blenheim etc, but if you want to see Oxford itself I would stay in the city centre (Old Parsonage, Bath Place, Malmaison, Old Bank... Randolph was disappointing and expensive last time I went to eat but it is a great location). Or you could stay nearer Le Manoir: try the Crazy Bear at Stadhampton?

I agree don’t stay in Woodstock if you want to see oxford. Stay at the old parsonage, or the old parsonage. Both have a bit of parking but book that when you book the room. or park in the park and ride. Then walk everywhere. If you like music go to an evensong at new college or Christchurch or Magdalen or look on dailyinfo.com for details of concerts and everything else that is on.

Sorry old bank or old parsonage

Voco in Oxford is a nice chilled base from which to explore the town.

With the caveat that Voco charge you for parking even if you are staying there 😱