Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Oxford, Oxfordshire

Oxford, a city renowned for its prestigious university, dates back to at least the 11th century, becoming the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The self-governing colleges within the city center contribute to its unique character and host notable architectural monuments designed by figures such as Sir Christopher Wren. Throughout the year, you will encounter students adorned in traditional black gowns and can explore significant sites like Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre and the impressive Bodleian Library.

During the warmer months, consider indulging in punting or relaxing among the deer and cattle in the verdant flood meadows along the Cherwell and Thames rivers. Below, we discuss the most noteworthy activities to engage in while in Oxford:

1. Walking Tours

The Visitor Information Centre located on Broad Street offers various guided walking tours. The most sought-after tour showcases the historic colleges of the University of Oxford and departs daily at 11:00, 13:00, and 14:00. Although it does not include Christ Church or New College, participants will have the opportunity to enter the exquisite Perpendicular Gothic Divinity School while learning interesting facts from a knowledgeable guide.

Literature enthusiasts may appreciate that J. R. R. Tolkien spent a significant portion of his career in Oxford, and many Harry Potter film scenes were recorded in the city. The Visitor Information Centre also organizes themed walks that highlight Tolkien’s former residences and lead into New College, where parts served as the setting for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.

2. Ashmolean Museum

Founded over 330 years ago, the Ashmolean Museum is recognized as the first university museum globally and is continually advancing. In 2011, the museum introduced new galleries dedicated to Ancient Egypt and Nubia, and in 2016, a new wing for 19th-century art was opened. The main structure, built in 1845, showcases a Neoclassical design reminiscent of a historical temple.

The museum boasts a wealth of treasures, including paintings by iconic artists such as Picasso, Titian, Rubens, Pissarro, and Cézanne, along with drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Additionally, visitors can find the only “as new” Stradivarius violin in existence, Cromwell’s death mask, papyrus Bible manuscripts, Guy Fawkes’ lantern, the largest Minoan collection outside Crete, the Anglo-Saxon Abingdon Sword, and much more. Ongoing acquisitions ensure that each visit offers a new experience.

3. Bodleian Library

As the main research library of Oxford University, Bodleian Library ranks as the second-largest library in the United Kingdom and is one of the wealthiest and oldest in Europe. The library holds five million books, manuscripts, and maps.

Visitors may embark on a self-guided exploration or participate in one of three detailed tours of the library and its neighboring structures. Notably, the Perpendicular Gothic Divinity School features exceptional fan vaulting from the 15th century.

At any given time, the library showcases up to four exhibitions, frequently highlighting rare illuminated manuscripts. The primary entrance, situated in the Schools Quadrangle, is integrated with the Jacobean Tower of the Five Orders, constructed during the 1610s. Flanking the entrance are columns representing each of the five classical architectural orders.

4. Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum hosts Oxford University’s extensive archaeological and anthropological collections, which originated in 1884 with a donation from British Army officer Augustus Pitt Rivers. This original contribution of 22,000 artifacts has since expanded to over 500,000 items, forming the largest collection of its kind within the UK. Visitors can easily spend half a day captivated by the museum’s glass display cases, which are densely filled with diverse items that change every few months.

Exhibits feature a wide range of artifacts, including Japanese theatre masks, shrunken heads, decorated human skulls, African sculptures, international dolls, weapons, ceramics, ceremonial garments, tarot cards, South American jewelry, Native American robes, and medieval plague masks.

5. Christ Church

Founded by Henry VIII in 1546, Christ Church stands out among Oxford’s colleges as a prime destination, featuring at least six Grade I listed buildings. This college encompasses two of the city’s remarkable monuments, including the Tom Tower, designed by Christopher Wren and completed in 1682, as well as the Romanesque/Gothic cathedral.

Standard admission provides access to the Cathedral, Hall, Hall Staircase, Cloister, and Quads. The cathedral, which was initially constructed in the latter half of the 12th century, predates the college and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Oxford. The chancel ceiling showcases exquisite Gothic star vaulting.

6. Magdalen College

The 46-meter Magdalen Tower has long been a recognizable landmark marking the eastern entrance to the city. Completed in 1509, this square bell tower, adorned with pinnacles and crockets, is one of the oldest architectural features at the college.

Every 1 May at 06:00, the college’s choir performs traditional hymns from the roof—one of many unique and historic rituals upheld by the University. The Cloister, constructed in the late 15th century, has undergone several updates over the years. Take notice of the detailed gargoyles above the first-floor windows and the grand Palladian facade of the New Building, which commenced in 1733. Finish your visit with a leisurely stroll through The Grove, where a herd of fallow deer roams.

7. Sheldonian Theatre

The illustrious English architect Sir Christopher Wren designed the Baroque Sheldonian Theatre, which dates back to the 17th century. This monument is named in honor of Gilbert Sheldon, who served as chancellor of the university during its construction.

The theatre, accommodating 1,000 attendees, has hosted numerous historic events, including the debut performance of Handel’s third oratorio Athalia in 1733. Prominent academic events, such as matriculation and graduation, are conducted here; however, the theatre is generally open for visits during the day.

Visitors can marvel at the exquisite eight-sided cupola and a 17th-century ceiling fresco by Robert Streater. Concerts by the Oxford Philharmonic and performances by various college choirs, along with lectures featuring distinguished intellectuals, artists, and political figures, are also held in the theatre.

8. Hertford Bridge

Known colloquially as the Bridge of Sighs, the Hertford Bridge is a distinguished covered footbridge that spans New College Lane, linking the older and newer quadrangles of Hertford College. The bridge’s moniker is derived from the Bridge of Sighs in Venice; however, it is actually modeled after the Rialto Bridge, another Venetian structure.

The Neo-Baroque bridge, which appears older than it is, was completed in 1914 according to the design of Sir Thomas Graham Jackson.

9. University of Oxford Botanic Garden

As one of the world’s oldest scientific gardens, the University of Oxford Botanic Garden was established in 1621. Covering just 1.8 hectares, it contains 8,000 plant species, representing a significant majority of the higher plant families.

The garden features several attractions, including the Walled Garden, with a meticulously organized layout enclosed by 17th-century stonework, seven glasshouses—including an Insectivorous House—and diverse landscapes such as the Rock Garden, Bog Garden, and Rose Garden, complemented by exquisite floral borders.

The oldest tree, a yew, was planted in the Walled Garden in 1645 by the inaugural curator, Jacob Bobart. The most dignified access to the gardens is through the pedimented Danby Gateway (1633), significant as one of the earliest Baroque structures in Oxford.

10. University Church of St Mary the Virgin

This church, dating back to the 13th century, is central to the history of the University of Oxford. Primarily displaying Gothic architecture in the 15th and 16th-century Perpendicular Style, the original tower remains intact from the church’s inception.

Visitors may climb the tower any day of the week for a rewarding view of the surrounding cityscape. The South Porch of the church is architecturally beautiful and steeped in history, featuring Baroque elements that were controversial among the austere Puritans of the time.

The portal has been noted during historical accounts as contributing to idolatry, particularly cited during the trial of Archbishop William Laud in 1645, at which he faced execution for treason. A closer look at the image of the Virgin reveals bullet holes inflicted by Cromwell’s troops during the Civil War.

11. Oxford University Museum of Natural History

This Victorian museum, which features a stunning Neo-Gothic hall with a glass roof sustained by cast iron columns, houses an extensive collection of natural history specimens. Visitors can view the replicated trail of a megalosaur on the lawn, created from molds of footprints discovered in a nearby limestone quarry in 1997. The museum’s collections are categorized into two primary segments: Earth Collections and Life Collections.

The Earth Collections encompass minerals, paleontology, and geology, while the Life Collections feature entomological and zoological specimens amassed by renowned naturalists such as Justin Pierre Marie Macquart, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Charles Darwin. Among the exhibits is the world’s most complete specimen of a dodo, showcasing a head and a foot.

12. New College

New College provides an exclusive opportunity to explore its premises, welcoming visitors from 11:00 to 17:00; however, it is advisable to verify visiting times in advance. While on a self-guided tour, you will discover the cloisters, hall, chapel, and formal gardens. The buildings, predominantly in the Perpendicular Gothic style, were primarily constructed in the latter part of the 14th century.

The hall features wooden paneling that dates back to the early 16th century, while the marble flooring originates from the 1720s. Notable features include 62 stunning misericords (carvings on the undersides of the seats) in the choir stalls of the chapel, crafted in the 14th century. Additionally, the college maintains a piece of Oxford’s city wall, a remnant since its foundation in 1379.

13. Christ Church Meadow

Located just south of the college bearing its name, Christ Church Meadow is a peaceful green space situated in the heart of the city. The area is home to grazing English longhorn cows, bordered by the Thames to the west and south, with the River Cherwell to the east. By the water, boathouses are present, and the Christ Church Regatta occurs in November.

Gazing northward reveals the Romanesque spire of Christ Church alongside the historic Merton College Chapel from the 13th century. This meadow has historical significance, having witnessed pivotal moments such as the first shot in the Third Siege of Oxford (1646) during the English Civil War, in addition to James Sadler launching some of England’s earliest balloon flights from this site in 1784.

14. Punting

Punting is a quintessential summer activity in Oxford that entails propelling a small, flat-bottomed boat (known as a punt) using a pole in shallow waters. The punt features a square-cut bow and a pole with a metallic tip, or shoe, equipped with blunt spikes to assist in gripping the riverbed during propulsion.

This activity predominantly takes place on the River Cherwell, meandering past several colleges, the Botanic Gardens, and Christ Church Meadow on the eastern side of the city. For those seeking a more adventurous experience, the River Thames at Port Meadow offers additional opportunities.

A typical punt accommodates up to five passengers and is rented by the hour, with most rental services providing a brief training session to ensure a safe experience.

15. Thames Path

If your stay in Oxford extends beyond a couple of days, consider venturing into the surrounding countryside via the Thames Path, a National Trail situated along England’s most prominent river. This promenade invites exploration through serene meadows, historic stone bridges, pastoral landscapes, and along traditional locks that have made the river navigable since the 18th century.

Never far from a local pub, you may also encounter competitive rowers gliding by on the river’s outskirts. The Thames Path initiates at the river’s source in Gloucestershire and traces the serpentine route of the river for 184 miles until arriving at the Thames Barrier in Greenwich.