Oxford, synonymous with knowledge and learning. Come visit, to feed your mind and satisfy your soul.
Hear of our story makers, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien or visit Philip Pullman’s Oxford with an Oxford Official Walking Tour. Explore the past at Oxford Castle & Prison and consider the present at Modern Art Oxford. Take a trip across the continents at the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers Museums. Book a performance at the New Theatre Oxford and let your imagination roam.
C.S. LEWIS & J.R.R. TOLKIEN TOUR
FROM £20PP
Explore the work of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in this 2-hour walking tour and discover the central Oxford locations where they lived, taught and worked.
PHILIP PULLMAN’S OXFORD TOUR
FROM £20PP
Experience the places and stories that inspired Philip Pullman’s best-selling books on a walking tour of Oxford, endorsed by the author himself!
NEW THEATRE OXFORD
FROM £13PP
Book a night at New Theatre Oxford, home to the biggest names in entertainment, from musicals to world class music, top comedians to best of dance and more!
BLENHEIM PALACE
FROM £32PP
Discover the picture-perfect Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore its stunning gardens and 2000 acres of parkland.
Oxford offers an unparalleled range of specialist museums. Where to choose? The Pitt Rivers Museum is the University of Oxford’s quirky museum of anthropology and world archaeology; the History of Science Museum and the Museum of Natural History are what they say on the label, but don’t miss out on Oxford’s many colleges and libraries that are open to the general public and offer fantastic exhibitions too.
During 2022 at the Weston Library, home of the Bodleian Libraries’ special collections, see the unrivalled collection of Howard Carter’s archive of photographs, letters, plans, drawings and diaries detailing the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb back in 1922. All free of charge! And for £2.50 you can step into the stunning Divinity School, the University’s oldest purpose-built teaching and examination room, made even more famous through appearances in the Harry Potter films.
Take a break for lunch and you’re spoilt for choice, with independent cafes aplenty, pubs once home to scholars long gone and refined hotels to relax in. Or pick up a snack from the outdoor market at Gloucester Green or grab a top notch hot chocolate from specialists Knoops while you plan your afternoon of education!
Start your afternoon with a literary fix. Follow an Oxford Official Walking Tour guide on their C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Tour. Explore the work of these seminal authors and the central Oxford locations where they lived, taught and worked. Discover the Secrets of Philip Pullman’s Books, on a tour endorsed by the author himself, providing a fascinating insight into the stories and places that inspired Lyra’s Oxford in his world-renowned books.
A jolt back to the present and into Oxford of today can be found at Modern Art Oxford, one of the UK’s leading art spaces where you’ll find a programme of temporary exhibitions dedicated to contemporary art and culture.
Make time to visit the Ashmolean Museum, Britain’s first public museum, home to beautifully displayed, world-famous artefacts and collections, a fab café in the crypt and a lovely rooftop restaurant. Perfect for afternoon tea!
As you meander through the streets, you may well pass the University of Oxford college chapels and hear the faint music of the college choirs singing. If you’ve time to reflect, then immerse yourself in the experience of Choral Evensong, which happens every evening during university term-time and starts between 5:15pm and 6:45pm depending on which college you visit.
If theatre is your love, then experience Oxford’s thriving arts and culture scene with a touch of drama or comedy. Oxford’s larger theatres, New Theatre Oxford and Oxford Playhouse, feature both student and professional productions. For independent performances, the Old Fire Station and the North Wall Arts Centre put on incredible productions and events.
Oxford’s music scene is alive and extensive. Book into Sir Christopher Wren’s sensational Sheldonian Theatre for world-class classical concerts, spend an evening of jazz at one of Oxford’s sophisticated bars or listen to alternative sounds, or folk, in one of the city’s atmospheric pubs or music venues on the Cowley Road or in Jericho.
A bus ride from Oxford on the Stagecoach S3 or Bus 7 will take you to Blenheim Palace, a jewel amongst England’s great historic houses, or travel with GWR to Hanborough rail station to connect with a free Oxford Bus Company weekend shuttle bus to the Palace.
In addition to its own spectacular collections, Blenheim Palace hosts temporary exhibitions carefully positioned within the house and a series of outside performances and events throughout the year.
CHRIST CHURCH
Christ Church is a must-see on any trip to Oxford, well-known for its stunning architecture, entertaining evening choirs and beautiful meadow.
OXFORD CASTLE & PRISON
Explore the 1,000 year history of Oxford Castle & Prison. Find gorgeous views atop of St. George’s Tower and go underground into the atmospheric crypt.
MODERN ART OXFORD
With a changing programme of exhibitions, exciting artist commissions and fun events for all ages, a visit to Modern Art Oxford is a must for your perfect Oxford day out.
ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM
The Ashmolean Museum, the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archeology, is home to a rich collection representing most of the world’s great civilisations.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
This award-winning museum plays host to a programme of events, exhibitions and activities, with the world’s first scientifically described dinosaur a highlight.
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MUSEUM
OF OXFORD
Visit the Museum of Oxford for a great introduction of the city. Learn about the story of Oxford and its people and what makes the city a special place to live, work and study.d
PLACES TO EAT
AND DRINK
Oxford has an incredible choice of places to eat and drink from street food restaurants, to social enterprise cafes and rooftop drinks and dining including Pho at Westgate Oxford.
PLACES TO
STAY
There’s an amazing selection of places to stay in Oxford and beyond from hotels including Mercure Eastgate Town House to cosy B&Bs and Oxford University College accommodation.
