Oxford

[Ginfa]

After much deliberation going to Oxford with my mum and 12 year old daughter for a few days. So far olans are escape room, ashmolean, botanic gardens and seeing evensong. Does anyone have any other reccomendations? Was wondering about places to eat and perhaps a boat trip? My daughter is veggie

Definitely do a boat trip. There’s loads of pubs and restaurants. The Turf does a great plant based burger. If you want a special tea there’s the Randolph Hotel across from the Ashmolean.

I live near Oxford, You do know that it gets crowded I hope. Are you staying in the city or close by?
Check on days and times for evensong first and plan around that.

We recently had a very nice family meal at The Trout in Godstow.

We are staying close by and will probably get the bus in. We love quite near cambrisfe so I know it can get busy in the summer!

We went to Oxford a few years ago, we did the small Castle tour and an open top bus ride. So many places to eat, I don’t think you will have any trouble finding places to eat.

Botley Road to the west of the station is closed and will be for another 12 months.
Buses to Kidlington are quite good.

Pitt Rivers museum is a treasure-trove! (Especially if anyone is a fan of "His Dark Materials.") Maybe worth doing one of the short tours of the Bodleian library? (They come in varying lengths, or used to...)

Also, pottering around the Covered Market. Plenty of places to eat there.

Pitt Rivers Museum of Ethnography. Best museum in the world 😁.

Someone beat me to it!

I'd recommend climbing St Mary's tower - doesn't take long and you get a great view down into all the central colleges. If you're near Cambridge I wouldn't bother with punting as it's arguably less pretty in Oxford than going down the backs, but a trip on Salter's Steamers could be fun.

Food wise you won't struggle for vegetarian options though most of the restaurants in town are crappy chain places - the covered market is a bit more interesting (recommend Sartorelli's for pizza and iScream for gelato) or the Trout and the Perch are nice riverside pubs. The Trout does a good veggie roast on a Sunday if that's your thing, though you'll need to book a table in advance. Or if you don't mind heading a little way out of town there are loads of options down Cowley Road - Cafe Coco, Kazbar and Arbequina are only a short walk from the Botanical Gardens and all have nice veggie things on the menu.

Jericho is a nice neighbourhood to explore and has a veggie pub (though I’ve not visited for a few years). Other than Pitt Rivers and Ashmoleum (both excellent) and a boat trip, probably worth looking around one of the older colleges. You don’t see much of the actual library on the Bodleian tour.

The Gardeners Arms is the veggie pub but there are doubtless lots of options in the city.

Make sure you go to G&D for ice cream at least once!

Chutneys in the centre is excellent for vegetarians, if you like curry. It has a good lunch deal menu.

Personally I don’t think you see much from a boat trip, as unlike Cambridge the colleges are mostly away from the river. You can hire your own punt just under Magdalen bridge, which is fun, but you can’t really use it for sightseeing like in Cambridge.

Pitt Rivers and Natural history museums are great, though the Natural history gets horribly hot in the sun because of the glass roof.

University parks and Christchurch meadow are nice for a stroll.

Knoops for hot chocolate is a must!

A walking tour of places of interest (we’ve done a couple and Viatour were best).
Natural History Museum
Sheldonian Theatre
Christ Church meadow and deer park
As others have mentioned, Open Top bus tour
Choir/evensong Wednesdays in Christ Church College Chapel (even if you are not religious)
No1 Ship Street (town centre) is a quirky building, does a set price lunch with veggie option

@Ginfa You must visit some colleges. Not only do they have lovely old buildings, they have lovely chapels too. I’d suggest St Johns, Trinity and Christchurch (has the Alice in Wonderland characters in windows in the dining hall - see if you can find them) Also the dining room is a Harry Potter filming location, as are other buildings in Oxford. I think the Bodleian Library is always worth a visit. It’s just “Oxford university” in a nutshell. Walking around is also beautiful. I have a walking guide to Oxford and it’s worth it. See if Amazon has one. St Marty’s is near the Bodleian and look at All Souls College opposite the Bodleian. Just stunning buildings.

Cafes are everywhere. Rather than tea at the Randolph, lunch on the roof at the Ashmolean is much nicer! Gees is a super restaurant. Try Quod for dinner. There’s also the Art Cafe and Society Cafe. Cherwell boathouse if you want a punt and lunch but it’s not central.

@Ginfa Both these books are great. They give you a great insight into things you might miss . Very much worth buying.

Cherwell Boathouse is a walk away, but it's a gorgeous spot by the river for a meal.

I live near Oxford in a market town. It's a wonderful place.

There is also an outdoor Lido for a swim if you want a change but don't forget you are also right near the Cotswolds if you fancy driving to one of those lovely towns or the Cotswolds water park for some paddle boarding.

Boat trips are good idea - to Iffley Lock and back. Or a punt. You can hire them with an experienced punter or have a go yourselves.

Your DD might want to do a Harry Potter walking tour and/or visit a few of the more gorgeous colleges.

There are a few towers to climb which give great views. St Mary's or Carfax.

The Pitt Rivers museum is great if it is open, behind the Natural History Museum - with drawers you can open full of witches' trophies and strange musical instruments.

There are often loads of concerts, open air theatre (if the rain holds off).

You can;t move for places to eat. From lots of chain restaurants on the roof of the Westgate shopping centre with views over the spires to snacks in the covered market, fancy 'Alce in Wonderland' themed cream teas and dinners at The Ivy and the Randolph. You could have lunch at the Turf Tavern - medieval and hobbit-sized site of many many film locations, including Harry Potter.

If it's fine, take your swimsuits for the lido at Hinksey or for wild swimming just off Port Meadow. (Two nice pubs there too for pizzas or lunch)

No1 Ship Street is incredible. 2 course set lunch is only £16.50 and it is superb. Quite adult flavours.

I spent the entire time floating around the university wishing I’d been cleverer 🤣

it’s is absolutely dreamy, the only way I can describe it especially in summer when it’s relatively quiet.

Hotels are notoriously expensive in Oxford - we stayed at student halls called st teddy’s- it felt like a bargain at £90/night- strongly recommend if anybody is trying to do the same.

Some shops to check out: Scriptum is an amazing stationery shop, and there’s an absolutely huge Blackwells bookshop in Broad Street.

Oh and Vaults & Garden is another good cafe.

Things to do:
Port meadow: wild cow and horses (The Perch is a pretty pub right in the middle)
Oxford University Press (book free tour online from their website)
College tours: Christ Church or Magdalen
Divinity School

Food:
Vaults and Gardens (a little cafe in an old church by (Radcliffe Camera)
Covered market has many restaurants
Bbuona for pizza
Handlebar Cafe (brunch)
Hamblin's (Bakery in the covered market)
Barefoot Bakery (two locations- cinnamon bun is iconic!)