Oxford Travelers Recommend

With attractive medieval streets, an assortment of beautiful buildings, and atmospheric old alehouses patronized by literary greats, Oxford is a joy to explore—even for time-tight travelers. In case you have only 24 hours to tour this world-famous hub of learning, we’ve put together the ultimate 1-day itinerary to help you maximize every moment.

Morning: Tour the University

The university has been at the heart of Oxford for centuries, and touring it is a must. Take a student-led walking tour for insights into college life, a filming locations tour to see backdrops used in Harry Potter and Inspector Morse, a bike tour to cover more ground in less time, or a flexible hop-on hop-off tour to craft your own itinerary. No matter your method, Oxford University highlights include the renowned Christ Church College, Bodleian Library, and the Ashmolean Museum, whose treasure-filled collection includes everything from Egyptian artifacts to J.M.W. Turner paintings.

Afternoon: Treat the Taste Buds

There’s more to Oxford than mere academic institutions—it also has a flourishing culinary scene. Join a guided food tour for a local’s take on the town’s eating highlights. Sample gourmet goods—including Oxford blue, a creamy and tangy veined cheese produced in the region—from artisan shops, markets, and street stalls. Sweet-toothed travelers may prefer a chocolate-themed tour with stops at Oxford’s finest chocolatiers, cafés, and candy shops. If you’re more partial to a tipple than a sweet treat, take a tour of the Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) instead, which produces spirits such as gin, absinthe, rye whiskey, and vodka.

Night: River Cruises and Pub-Hopping

Spend the evening drifting down the Thames, floating past the university boathouses, Christ Church Meadow, and tranquil riverside pastures. Choose a cruise that includes dinner at a riverside restaurant, or opt for a cruising package that includes a prepacked picnic to be enjoyed alfresco.

If all that sounds a little too genteel for your taste, opt for a pub-hopping tour instead. Oxford is packed with historic watering holes, many of which were frequented by famous writers such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. A guide can bring you to the best of them, reveal anecdotes about well-known clientele, and introduce you to the best of British real ale.

From kings and prime ministers to archbishops, saints, and Nobel Prize winners, the list of Oxford University alumni is as diverse as it is extensive. Here are a few of the famed university colleges to check out during your visit to Oxford.

Christ Church College

Christ Church is widely considered the most famous of Oxford University’s colleges. Highlights here include the 16th-century buildings overlooked by Sir Christopher Wren’s Great Tom bell tower and the Great Hall, which featured as the lavish Hogwarts dining room in the Harry Potter movies.

New College

The castle-like New College was founded in 1379, and its full name is the Warden and Scholars of St. Mary’s College of Winchester in Oxford—little surprise the name has been shortened over the years. One of Oxford University’s wealthiest colleges, New College ranks among the most academically successful in the world. One must-see nearby attraction is Oxford’s famous Bridge of Sighs.

St. John’s College

Sir Thomas White founded St. John’s College in 1555. It takes pride of place on St. Giles in central Oxford, and the majority of the college buildings are arranged around bustling squares.

Magdalen College

Nestled on the banks of the River Cherwell to the east of the city center, with a deer park within its extensive grounds, Magdalen College boasts one of the most beautiful settings of all Oxford University’s 38 colleges. Woodland walking routes pass cricket lawns and deer hides, with sweeping views over the pretty Cherwell River.

Merton College

Merton College dates back to the late 13th century, when the bishop Walter de Merton donated funds to establish a center of learning. One of the most famous alumni is acclaimed poet and playwright T. S. Eliot, who studied at Harvard, then Merton College. No visit here is complete without a walk through the gardens, which feature a 17th-century mulberry tree and a pretty summerhouse overlooking the lawns.

All Souls College

With its looming gothic towers, All Souls College is perhaps the most visually striking Oxford colleges. Henry VI of England founded All Souls in 1438, and to this day the college remains one of the university’s wealthiest. One highlight is the beautiful Codrington Library, a Grade I–listed building—meaning, given the official status as an English or Welsh building of exceptional interest—housing over 180,000 items.

Wadham College

Founded in 1610 and situated near the Ashmolean Museum in the heart of the city, Wadham College’s buildings range from Gothic to contemporary. Highlights include the Holywell Music Room and the attractive Wadham Gardens.

Lincoln College

The College of the Blessed Mary and All Saints, Lincoln—better known simply as Lincoln College—dates back to 1427, when the then-Bishop of Lincoln founded it. Famous alumni include author John le Carré and 18th-century physician John Radcliffe, after whom Oxford landmarks including the Radcliffe Camera, the Radcliffe Infirmary, and the Radcliffe Observatory are named.

Home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is the ultimate college town. With its charming pedestrian- and bike-friendly town center, pretty waterways, and convenient transport links to nearby Blenheim Palace, it’s easy to explore this world-famous university town. Here’s how to spend two memorable days in Oxford.

Day 1: Discover Oxford’s Splendors

**Morning:**It’s easy to get lost among the mazelike streets of Oxford, so avoid wasting time with a guided highlights tour. A hop-on hop-off bus tour ferries you between top attractions, from Bodleian Library to Christ Church College, while walking or bike tours offer additional insight.

**Afternoon:**No trip to Oxford would be complete without a river cruise. Have a chauffeur steer you down the River Cherwell in a punt or take a sightseeing cruise along the River Thames. Some cruises include picnic lunches or afternoon tea.

**Night:**Follow in the footsteps of famous Oxford alumni at storied centuries-old pubs. A guided pub tour takes you to charming haunts with open fires, wooden beams, and cozy snugs. Many pubs serve hearty British fare—including pies, burgers, and fish and chips—alongside ales and ciders.

Day 2: Venture into the Countryside

**Morning:**Leave the city behind for a trip out to the 18th-century Blenheim Palace, the grand country estate where Britain’s wartime prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill, was born. It’s just a 20-minute taxi journey, or a 40-minute bus ride, from town.

**Afternoon:**Embark on a half-day tour to the Cotswolds, a rural area of Britain known for its pretty pastoral landscapes and picturesque honey-stone hamlets. Travel between quaint villages such as Asthall and Bourton-on-the-Water before returning to Oxford for the evening.

**Night:**Experience a different side of Oxford’s nightlife on Cowley Road. This area is packed with ethnic eating options, from Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants to tapas spots and pizza joints. Grab dinner here, then catch some live music at the O2 Academy or the Bullingdon. 

Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, has more to offer than showstopping architecture and rich academic heritage. It’s also within easy driving distance of historical sights such as Stonehenge and Blenheim Palace, and the picturesque Cotswolds region. Here’s how to enjoy three days exploring Oxford’s treasures and beyond the city limits.

Day 1: Historic Oxford

Begin your Oxford adventure with the essential sights, checking off some of the university’s architectural heavy hitters and landmarks, from the neoclassical Radcliffe Camera to Christ Church College. This can be done while listening to commentary from the top deck of a hop-on hop-off tour bus or—for more historical and local insight—as part of a guided walking or bike tour. You can also explore Oxford through the lens of famous TV shows and movies with tours that visit Harry Potter and Inspector Morse filming locations.

After a day of sightseeing, rest those legs on a leisurely cruise down the River Thames. Float past Christ Church Meadows and under Folly Bridge, stopping for a picnic dinner on the banks or for a 3-course meal at a riverside restaurant.

Day 2: Day Trip into History or Nature

Oxford enjoys an enviable setting amid scenic rolling countryside, with many first-rate attractions nearby. History-keen travelers can take a day trip to two UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites: neolithic Stonehenge and the spa town of Bath. Spend the morning unpicking Stonehenge’s mysteries with the aid of an audio guide and the afternoon exploring the historical center of Bath. Alternatively, spend the day in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding National Beauty known for its gently undulating hills and quaint, time-warp villages—among them Great Tew, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Bourton-on-the-Water.

Back in Oxford, dedicate the evening to pub-hopping around town. Sink pints of ale paired with pub grub in the cozy nooks of characterful establishments where authors such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien used to socialize.

Day 3: Stately Homes and Culinary Discoveries

Squeeze in another side trip this morning to the magnificent Blenheim Palace. Just a 20-minute drive or 40-minute bus ride from town, this grandiose 18th-century home was gifted by Queen Anne to General John Churchill for his military efforts. It’s a lavish affair, set amid 2,000 acres (809 hectares) of grounds that encompass parkland, formal gardens, a butterfly house, and a hedge maze.

Return to Oxford for an afternoon tour that introduces you to the best under-the-radar foodie spots, from streets stalls to artisan sellers. Follow up the food tour with a visit to an Oxford distillery, where gin, vodka, and other spirits are made using locally grown organic grains.

Come evening, sit down for dinner with a view at a waterside restaurant. You’ll find several options just outside the city center on the banks of the Cherwell and Thames rivers.

Medieval Oxford is perhaps best known as home to Oxford University—one of the oldest universities in the world. But the City of Dreaming Spires is also renowned for its collection of historic, architectural marvels. Here are a few must-see buildings to admire when visiting Oxford.

Christ Church College

One of Oxford’s most famous assets is its prestigious name-sharing university, whose magnificent college buildings, libraries, and museums boast an architectural history dating back centuries. Christ Church is among the most visited colleges in Britain, attracting admirers from across the world keen to see features such as the Meadow Building and the Chapter House for themselves.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is unique within the Church of England because it’s both the cathedral of the diocese of Oxfordshire and the chapel of Christ Church College. Built in the 12th century, the cathedral boasts a Norman choir, nave, and tower, and beautiful stained-glass windows.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology

With spectacular neoclassical frontage, the Ashmolean Museum is the world’s first university museum, dating back to the 17th century. The museum houses valuable treasures including Guy Fawkes’ lantern, an 18th-century violin made by master instrument-maker Antonio Stradivari, and red-chalk sketches of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.

Sheldonian Theatre

Oxford University alumnus and great British architect Sir Christopher Wren created some of the university’s most iconic buildings, including the Sheldonian Theatre. Built in 1664 and inspired by the Roman Theatre of Marcellus, the Sheldonian was only Wren’s second-ever commission. It features an eight-sided cupola from which you can admire sweeping views over the rooftops and spires of Oxford.

Radcliffe Camera

Constructed in the mid–18th century to house a science library, the Radcliffe Camera ranks among Oxford’s most striking buildings. Rad Cam, as it’s known locally, was built in the English Palladian style in a cobbled courtyard within the Bodleian Library complex. It’s a working part of Oxford University and, as such, visitors are not permitted inside—but that doesn’t stop the many keen admirers from passing by to take a look.

Few British period TV series have captured the world’s attention the way Downton Abbey did, with millions of viewers around the globe tuning in. Here are a few ways to follow in the footsteps of the famous Crawley family, using Oxford as a base.

Cotswolds Filming Sites

Many of the set locations made famous in Downton Abbey are in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds—the countryside outside Oxford—and the city makes a great base from which to go exploring. Tours visit picturesque hamlets such as Bampton (which doubles up as the on-screen Downton village) Bladon, Cogges, and Swinbrook, and spot some of the locations featured in the series. There’s the home of Isobel Crawley, the church where Lady Mary married Matthew Crawley, the village where Lady Sybil eloped with then-chauffeur Tom Branson, and the Grantham Arms pub—where scheming maid Edna seduced the widowed Branson. Although not directly linked to Downton Abbey, nearby UNESCO World Heritage–listed Blenheim Palace is also featured on many tours from Oxford.

Highclere Castle Filming Sites

Home to the Carnarvon family, Highclere Castle is the real-life 17th-century stately home that doubled for Downton Abbey itself in the popular television series. Downton fans will recognize the castle’s sweeping driveway, grand facade, and main hall featured heavily throughout the series; some of the bedrooms were used as well.