What to See & Do in Oxford, England, the City of Dreaming Spires
Oxford is home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world and has produced some of the greatest scientists, politicians, Nobel laureates, and writers that have literally changed the world. It could also tell you the history of England since Anglo-Saxon times through its architecture alone.
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A visit to Oxford is often a day trip from London. In fact, that was my original thinking until I realized just how much there is to see and do here. We ended up spending two nights, and still felt we missed out on so much. I under estimated it.
This post will cover everything we learned during our visit including where to stay, what to see, planning your tickets for the things that always sell out, and top restaurant recommendations.
Where we stayed
Oxford is a fairly compact place that can be walked. Afterall, over 26,000 students live here and most of them get around on foot or bike. After we parked our car at the hotel, we didn’t need it again until we left for the airport. Staying at a hotel near the center of town was key. However, if you need to stay further out, Oxford does have public transportation. I just don’t recommend driving around due to traffic congestion and limited (and expensive) parking.
We stayed at The Randolph Hotel, a Hilton property located directly across the street from the Ashmolean Museum and in close proximity to all of the university buildings. We loved our room and the on-site restaurant, The Alice. Great stay!
Above photos: The Randolph Hotel
Check rates & availability for The Randolph Hotel below:
Top things to see & do
The order in which we tackled our “must see” list had more to do with ticket time slots than common sense. I will share what we did in the order in which we did it, but you may want to re-arrange the order for your own itinerary.
Martyrs’ Memorial
13 Magdalen Street | Website
Martyrs’ Memorial is a Gothic monument commemorating three protestant priests who were burned at the stake in 1555-6 for not converting to the Catholic faith under Queen Mary I. Not the most pleasant thought to start out our sightseeing, but the first one in our path from the hotel. The actual event took place on Broad Street where there is a cobblestone cross in the road marking the exact spot, but the monument was placed on Magdalen Street (near St Giles Street) for practical reasons.
Above photos: Martyrs’ Memorial
St Michael at the North Gate
Cornmarket Street | Website
The tower of St Michael at the North Gate is the oldest surviving stone building in Oxford. It once formed part of the city wall. Although the wall is long gone, the tower from 1040 still stands and is now part of the 19th-century church of St Michael. Visitors can climb to the top of the tower for views of Oxford, the original clock mechanism, and the prison that held the Oxford Martyrs before their trial. The church is free to enter.
Above photos: St Michael at the North Gate
Carfax Tower
Queen Street | Website
Carfax Tower is a landmark bell tower that was once part of the 12th-century St Martin’s Church that was demolished to make way for new roads. Visitors who climb the 99 steps to reach the top of the tower are rewarded with panoramic views of the city.
Many consider Carfax Tower as the center of Oxford. Its name is derived from Latin and French words that translate to “crossroads,” in this case the intersection of four of the main roads in the center of the city. An adult ticket is £4.00. Alternatively, you can purchase a ticket for the Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus Tour, which includes Carfax Tower and several other Oxford attractions.
Above photos: Carfax Tower
The Covered Market
Market Street | Website
The Oxford Covered Market is a historic marketplace with permanent vendor stalls selling a wide rage of merchandise, from food to fashion. The building dates to the 1770s when it was initially a market for butchers and farmers. The floor print expanded over time, as did the variety of sellers.
There a multiple entrances and exits to the market on High Street and Market Street. Once you are inside it is a lot bigger than it appears from the street because much of the market is hidden from view by other buildings. It is a great place to grab lunch on-the-go or find a locally made souvenir.
Above photos: Oxford Covered Market
Evensong at Magdalen College
Oxford Choral Evensong is a daily church service held in college chapels and cathedrals across the Oxford campus. The services are under an hour in length and feature choral music, scripture readings, and prayer. Many visitors to Oxford attend one of the services as part of their immersion in the Oxford experience.
The services begin late-afternoon or early evening, but most often at 6:00 pm while students are in Full Term. Magdalen College is renowned for its Evensong services because of its beautiful chapel and highly regarded choir of boys and men. They also hold organ recitals where international guests demonstrate the newly installed Eule organ.
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
High Street | Website
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is one of the oldest university buildings, as opposed to a college building. It was built around 1320 as a centralized gathering place for special occasions and services. It also housed the first university library — which was later moved to the Duke Humphrey’s Library.
Above photos: The University Church of St Mary the Virgin (left and center); View from the tower (right)
The Tower is the oldest part of the church. Visitors can access the tower and climb the 127-step medieval turret staircase to the top for really spectacular views of the Radcliffe Camera and the historic center of Oxford. From here, it is easy to see how Oxford became known as the City of Dreaming Spires. There are several towers in Oxford that can be climbed, but if you only have time for one, St. Mary’s is the best imho. I also recommend climbing the tower in the morning, when it tends to be less crowded. An adult ticket for the Tower Visit is £6.00 and can be purchased in-person. The church is free to enter.
Above photo: The University Church of St Mary the Virgin
If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis’s fantasy novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, be sure to pass through St Mary Passage next to the church. The single lamppost said to have inspired the one in the novel that guides the children into Narnia is here, along with a wooden door carved with a lion that looks like Aslan.
Above photos: St Mary Passage
Radcliffe Camera
Radcliffe Square | Website
The Radcliffe Camera is perhaps the most iconic building of Oxford University. The circular, 18th-century building houses the History Faculty Library, the main lending library for Medieval and Modern History, as well the History of Art and History of Science & Medicine.
Sadly, the Radcliffe Camera and its gorgeous dome is closed to the public. However, seeing it from the outside to admire the baroque architecture is still worth a moment of your time as you pass through Radcliffe Square or view it from the top of St Mary’s tower.
Above photo: Radcliffe Camera
Ashmolean Museum
Beaumont Street | Website
The Ashmolean Museum is Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology. It was founded in 1683 when Elias Ashmole donated his cabinet of curiosities, but the current museum building dates to the 19th-century. The range of its fine art and archeological collections is really impressive — there is truly something for everyone! We spent the most time exploring the galleries of Ancient Egypt before going up to the 4th floor restaurant for lunch. Admission to the Ashmolean is free and well worth the visit. It is also a great rainy day activity!
Above photo: The Ashmolean Museum
Alice’s Shop
83 St Aldate’s | Website
Alice’s Shop is a real-life shop that once-upon-a-time was visited by a little girl named Alice Liddell, the 10-year old daughter of the dean of Christ Church College. During the same time period, Lewis Carroll was a mathematics lecturer at Christ Church. Lewis met Alice on a boat trip and entertained her with stories that eventually turned into his children’s classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass .
Back then, the shop was a Victorian grocery and sweetshop. Today, the shop has taken on its heritage and is a full-on souvenir and memorabilia store for all things related to Alice in Wonderland. It is a fun place to look around or find a souvenir, especially if you are a fan of this beloved story.
Above photos: Alice’s Shop
Christ Church College
Christ Church College is one of 38 colleges of Oxford University. It was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII and serves as both a joint foundation of the university and the cathedral of the Oxford diocese. In addition to its architecturally significant buildings, Christ Church has also inspired replicas and served as a film set for Harry Potter, which catapulted its popularity with visitors.
Above photos: Christ Church College
Not all of the colleges at Oxford are open to the public. Some of the other choices for visitors include Magdalen College, New College, Balliol, Merton, Worcester, and St. John’s College. Each college has its own opening hours and ticketing. So, it is important to research ahead. Timed-entry slots for Christ Church College frequently sell out. More info below under Tickets & Timing.
Above photos: Christ Church College
Above photo: Christ Church Cathedral
Hertford Bridge
The Herford Bridge, sometimes referred to as the Bridge of Sighs, is a beautiful second-story bridge that joins the Old and New Quadrangles of Hertford College. The bridge is accessible for students of Hertford College to walk across, but closed to the public. And that’s okay — it is really best admired from New College Lane below.
Above photo: Herford Bridge
The Divinity School
The Divinity School dates to the 15th-century and is one of the most striking and oldest purpose-built rooms of Oxford University. It got its name from the theology and divinity classes that were taught here, but the room was also used for oral examinations.
This exquisite masterpiece of Gothic architecture demonstrates the connection between Church and State though detailed carvings in the ceiling. It may also be recognizable to Harry Potter fans as Hogwarts Infirmary.
Above photo: Divinity School
The Divinity School is connected to the Bodleian Library, but wasn’t ever part of the library. To see the Divinity School, you will need to purchase a ticket for a guided tour, as visitors are not able to freely access this room outside of a tour. More info below under Tickets & Timing.
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Libraries are a group of 26 libraries across the University of Oxford campus. However, when one says, Bodleian Library they are almost certainly referring to Duke Humfrey’s Library, the oldest reading room in Oxford. Named after Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, the library started out with his donated collection of 281 books.
Above photos: Duke Humfrey’s Library, Bodleian Library
The library is located on the second floor above the Divinity School and Convocation House. Hence, the University offers guided tours of all three rooms as a single 60-minute tour. The tour is restrictive in the sense that you are not permitted to freely roam around these areas. Each stop on the tour, including Duke Humfrey’s Library, is a single viewpoint with a bit of narration. It is very interesting and worth while — even though it really left me feeling like I wanted to see more.
Above photos: Duke Humfrey’s Library, Bodleian Library
Convocation House
The Convocation House dates to the 17th-century and was originally constructed as a meeting place for the University’s legislative body. The Chancellor’s Court is adjoined and was used as a courtroom. The wood bench-style seating and fan-vaulted ceiling definitely give an old world political feel with its sense of order and formality.
Above photo: Convocation House
Sheldonian Theatre
Broad Street | Website
Just to the north of the Divinity School is the Sheldonian Theatre, the ceremonial center of Oxford University. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the building is an auditorium-like space inspired by Roman theaters. In lieu of the open sky, there is a lavishly painted ceiling comprised of 32 oil-on-canvas panels depicting Truth descending upon the Arts and Sciences.
Another treat you can’t miss is the 114-step trek to the Cupola (i.e., the top of the dome), which promises spectacular panoramic views from the gallery. An adult ticket is £8.00 and can be purchased online or in-person.
Above photos: The Sheldonian Theatre
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a majestic country estate located in Woodstock, England, just a stone’s throw away from Oxford. It is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and notably the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Winston’s father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough.
Blenheim Palace is open for public tours, despite being a private residence. Located on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds region and 9-miles north of Oxford, Blenheim receives its fair share visitors passing through the picturesque countryside and/or escaping Oxford for a day trip. The palace can be explored in just a couple hours — or you can make an entire day of touring the grounds.
Click here to see my complete photo gallery and visitor guide to Blenheim Palace.
Above photos: Blenheim Palace
Additional Things to Do in Oxford
We ran out of time to do a few things on our list, which always seems to happen as we adopt more of a “slow travel” mentality and spend more time experiencing each new place. Below are a handful of additional ideas that look interesting and fun!
Oxford Punting
Punting on the scenic waterways of Oxford is somewhat of a traditional experience. It involves a flat-bottom wooden boat and a long pole to push the boat along. Typically, one person stands at the end of the boat as the “driver” while others sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. The best place to partake in this activity is at the Magdalen Bridge Boat House, which offers punting tours along the River Cherwell, starting from the Magdalen Bridge. Bookings can be made here.
Oxford Botanic Garden
The Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the UK and amongst the oldest scientific gardens in the world. It was founded in the early 17th-century as a physic garden growing plants for medicinal research. It sounds fabulous! Tickets can be purchased in advance here.
Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum is the archaeological and anthropological museum of Oxford University. The architecture of the building with its ironwork and glass display cabinets are what initially captured my eye. The extensive collections of rare and unusual objects seem really intriguing and different.
Oxford Castle
Did you know Oxford has a castle? Me neither until now. Oxford Castle is located slightly on the outskirts of the other main tourist attractions, but still within walking distance. The 1,000-year-old castle is in partial ruins, but the Saxon St George’s Tower, chapel, and the 18th-century Debtors’ Tower and Prison D-Wing can still be explored. Guided tours are also available.
Tickets & timings
It didn’t take long during our trip planning to realize that some of the attractions in Oxford require advance ticketing. I had to set reminders for myself to log-in on certain days in order to get tickets as soon as they were available — because they are snapped up quickly.
Once you have your travel dates set, it is helpful to create an itinerary and know approximately when you’d like to visit each of these places. In the event you don’t get the time slot you want, you’ll still have the opportunity to shift your plans around.
Christ Church College offers several ticket options, the most popular of which is the self-guided, multi-media tour. Tickets are released around 10am each Friday for the following week. I strongly recommend setting a reminder and purchasing online to guarantee admission. When you arrive on the day of your visit, you’ll need to exchange your online ticket for an admission voucher at the Visitor Center & Gift Shop.
The Duke Humphrey’s Library, Divinity School, Convocation House, and Radcliffe Camera can be visited with a combined ticket. There are 30-, 60-, and 90-minute tour options that include some or all of these places. We chose the 60-minute tour that visited the Divinity School, Duke Humphrey’s Library, and the Convocation House. Tickets are released one month in advance, with additional tours made available on the day.
Other tickets are not as difficult to come by and/or can be purchased when you arrive for your visit:
- St Michael at the North Gate: Free
- Carfax Tower: Adults £4.00 or part of the Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus Tour.
- Evensong: Free
- University Church of St Mary the Virgin: Church is free; Tower is £6.00 and can be purchased in-person.
- The Sheldonian Theatre: Adults £8.00 and can be purchased online or in-person.
- Oxford Botanic Garden: Adults £7.20 and can be purchased online or in-person.
Where to eat
Oxford has plenty of eateries to choose from ranging from quick bites to fine dining. As you can imagine, this college town caters to the student population with quite a few pubs and casual restaurants, but there are also some stand-out upscale options. Here are a few recommendations to get you started!
The Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant is a great place to lunch while visiting the museum. Known for its sweeping views, but the food is also delicious! Afternoon tea is also available. Reservations are helpful, but you can also just walk-in.
The Folly is a riverside dining venue that is super popular during the warm weather months due to its add-on option of a pre- or post-dinner boat tour. They have pre-set tasting menus and a la cart options. Reservations are recommended.
The Alice is located inside The Randolph Hotel on Beaumont Street. The ambiance is whimsical, glamorous, and totally instagrammable. The food is traditional British with pre-set menu options, afternoon tea, or a la carte. Reservations are recommended.
Above photo: The Alice Restaurant
Tours
There are some great special interest tours in Oxford including literary tours, cultural sightseeing, and history walking tours for those that would like more in-depth information and access to special areas. Here are some suggestions:
Literary Tours
- C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Guided Walking Tour
- Harry Potter Walking Tour Including New College
- Morse, Lewis and Endeavour Walking Tour of Oxford
University Tours
Sightseeing Tours
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