Oxford places to visit
From exploring its quirky lanes to taking a punt on the river, Oxford is a fantastic city to visit year-round
Oxford is one of the world's oldest university cities and is well known for its beautiful architecture. But apart from being a beautiful place to visit, the city is also fantastic for a weekend of culture and adventure.
Find out the top things to see and do in Oxford this Autumn:
Magdalen Bridge
Located in the east of the city, this bridge has been used for crossing River Cherwell since ancient times. The first known reference to a bridge goes back to 1004! This is a great place to start your Oxford adventure, from here you can walk along the river Cherwell, pick up a punt, relax by the riverside or explore the nearby Botanic Gardens.
Botanical Gardens
The University of Oxford Botanic Gardens should certainly be on your must-visit list of Oxford. It’s the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world at 400 years old. The garden has over 5,000 different plant species and is a fantastic place to explore or get that perfect Instagram photo: https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/
Radcliffe Camera
This iconic Oxford landmark is actually a working library and is a great spot for any budding photographers. For those with an interest in history, you can take a tour of the Bodleian Libraries. There’s a tour that runs on a Wednesday that will take you on a 90-minute tour and includes a visit to the Gladstone link, a secret tunnel that was originally used to transport books. So if you’re visiting mid-week we highly recommend the tour: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/radcliffe-camera
Bodleian Library
If you prefer to explore on your own time, then you can take an audio tour around the Bodleian Library. Allowing you to get behind the scenes access and hear stories from the historic heart of Oxford University: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/home#/
Carfax Tower
At 74 feet tall, you really can’t miss this central Oxford landmark! It’s certainly worth climbing the 99 steps to the top of the tower for a bird’s eye view of this stunning city: https://www.experienceoxfordshire.org/venue/carfax-tower/
Castle & Prison
Head back 1,000 years and explore the history of Oxford’s Castle and Prison. With guided tours from costumed characters, events and experiences, the rich history will be fun for the whole family: https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/
Oxford Covered Market
Oxford’s Covered Market showcases more than 50 traders selling a colourful array of items from fruit and vegetables to flowers and jewellery. It’s the perfect place to shop for the very best local produce and handmade crafts: https://oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk/
Westgate Shopping Centre
The home of popular high street brands, Westgate is a fantastic place to indulge in some retail therapy. Then, when you’ve exhausted all of the shopping options, you can enjoy a bite to eat or a cocktail in one of the many rooftop bars and restaurants whilst enjoying views of the Oxford city skyline: https://westgateoxford.co.uk/
Night Life
When the sun goes down the city does not stop. Oxford has a vibrant nightlife with a range of venues to explore. There’s something to suit most tastes including pianos bars, cocktails bars and clubs.
Bus Travel in Oxford
Getting to Oxford could not be easier, Sapphire 280 buses run every 20 minutes during the main part of the day Monday to Saturday and half-hourly Sundays with late buses until 10:30 Monday to Sunday.
Sapphire 280 buses connect Oxford with Aylesbury, Stone, Haddenham, Thame, and Wheatley.