Oxford is a college town about an hour’s train ride from both Bath and London. The university has really taken over the town, but it is fascinating to learn about the city’s history.
Many people come to Oxford on a day trip from London, but there’s enough to do to warrant staying several days. I stayed in Oxford three nights to try to see as much as I can and take advantage of visiting nearby places, like the Cotswolds. From my experiences, I’ve put together the best things to do while in Oxford.
If you only have a day, here’s a complete guide to the must-do activities while on an Oxford day trip.
Why Visit Oxford on a Day Trip?
You’ll love visiting Oxford if you like visiting historic towns, old colleges, and beautiful libraries. And if you’re a Harry Potter fan, even better, because Oxford was a filming site of the Harry Potter movies, and you’ll see it all over town.
In general, Oxford is the dark academia city of your dreams. A day trip to Oxford from London is definitely doable, and you’ll have so much to do once you’re in Oxford.
Interesting Facts about Oxford
- Oxford was founded in the 9th century, so it’s well over a thousand years old.
- Oxford, the city, is most famous for its university, Oxford University.
- Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It was built in A.D. 1096.
- Oxford has been home to many famous authors, including Lewis Carroll, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien.
- Oxford is home to England’s first coffee shop, The Grand Cafe, which is still open today.
- Some of the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Oxford (see my full list of filming locations below!).
Must-Do Activities on an Oxford Day Trip
- Take an Oxford walking tour
- Tour the Bodleian Libraries
- Visit Blackwell’s Bookshop
- See the Radcliffe Camera
- See the Bridge of Sighs
- Tour Christ Church College
- Visit the Covered Market
- Climb University Church Tower
What to Do in Oxford for a Day
Take a Guided Walking Tour of Oxford
One of the first things you should do upon arrival is take a walking tour of the city.
You should book your two-hour walking tour in advance through the Bodleian Libraries. It costs £20 a person, and it is well worth it. We learned so much about how Oxford University works, its history with the city of Oxford, and many interesting stories and facts.
I’m glad we started with this as it oriented us to this fascinating city. Our tour guide also gave us some great tips on where to go and eat in Oxford.
Quick quiz: What does Oxford University consider its greatest contribution to the world? If you said the Oxford English Dictionary, you would be incorrect. The answer is actually penicillin! (This was one of the questions our walking tour guide posed to us.)
Tour the Bodleian Libraries
After finishing your city walking tour, check in for your next tour of the Bodleian Libraries.
I must warn you that the Bodleian Libraries tours are very, very popular. They sell out in minutes once on sale.
There are three different tours that are offered — a 30-minute tour, a 60-minute tour, and a 90-minute tour.
- On the 30-minute tour, you’ll see the famous Duke Humfrey’s medieval library and you’ll get to peek inside the Divinity School, which was used as the infirmary in the Harry Potter movies.
- The 60-minute tour will include what was on the 30-minute tour but it will also allow you access to the Convocation House and Chancellor’s Court.
- The 90-minute tour will allow you to see all that’s mentioned on the 60-minute tour plus you’ll get to go inside Radcliffe Camera (which is otherwise off limits for tourists). The 90-minute tour is the most popular tour and the hardest to get tickets for.
You’ll most likely be able to get tickets to the 30-minute tour easily, and if that’s the case, don’t worry. Duke Humfrey’s medieval library is absolutely amazing and a must see.
I would show you photos to prove it, but unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the library. You can see it elsewhere, though, as it was used as the restricted section in the Harry Potter films.
I tried to get tickets for the 90-minute tour but was unsuccessful. Our 60-minute tour was very nice, though, and I’m grateful to have gotten to visit the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen.
Tickets for all Bodleian Libraries tours go on sale one month in advance, so get your alerts ready.
Visit Blackwell’s Bookshop
Blackwell’s Bookshop started in Oxford, and you can visit its flagship store. Our city tour guide advised us to visit Blackwell’s Bookshop because of its interesting size. On the outside, it seems like a very small, quaint bookshop. But, once inside, it goes on and on, like some kind of magic trick.
There are multiple floors and rooms that you can really get lost in here. If you like books, you’ll find this place interesting.
Take Photos at Oxford’s Highlights
There are a couple iconic landmarks in Oxford that are fun to visit and take photos of. You really shouldn’t miss them while you’re here! If you take the Oxford city walking tour, you’ll pass by them, but be sure to come back to take a proper photo.
- Radcliffe Camera
- Broad Street
- Bridge of Sighs
- The Narnia Lamppost
Visit the Covered Market
The historic Covered Market in Oxford dates back to the 18th century. You’ll find shops and cafes inside, a perfect place to eat or buy souvenirs.
Climb University Church Tower
The University Church Tower is located near the Radcliffe Camera. It’s the most historic part of the church having been built in 1280. You can climb all 127 steps to the top of the tower to see incredible views of Oxford below.
It is free to visit the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, but to visit the tower, you do have to purchase tickets. Tickets are currently £6.
The tower is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Tour the Colleges at Oxford University
One thing to know about Oxford University is that it is made up of 38 colleges that each have their own chapel, library, and quad. Every college has its own coat of arms, its own rules, and its own way of doing things.
A student applying to Oxford will apply to one of its colleges; however, upon graduation, their degree will simply say Oxford University, not their college name. It’s an interesting system that we learned more about on our walking tour.
Many people visit one of these colleges to get a better sense of what life is like for students.
Which College Should You Visit?
There are 38 colleges in Oxford University, and most of them are free to visit! See a list here of all colleges and their visiting times and prices. You can definitely visit several in a day; you’ll just need to do a little planning to find out when the colleges are open.
We only visited one college on our trip to Oxford, and it was Christ Church College.
Tour Christ Church College
Christ Church College is the most popular college to visit at Oxford, mostly because of its links to the Harry Potter films.
It’s also the most expensive Oxford college to visit with adult multimedia tour tickets priced at £17 if bought online (all other colleges are either free or under £5 to tour).
For me, it was worth it. Christ Church College is a beautiful college at Oxford, one that author Lewis Carrol also studied at.
You’ll have a multimedia guide to tell you more about each of the buildings. It takes a couple hours to get through the tour, and I’d recommend booking the first morning slot for less crowds.
Tips for purchasing tickets to tour Christ Church College: Tickets are released on a weekly basis. I had to create a reminder in my phone to alert me when tickets went on sale. You might also be able to walk up to the college to get tickets the day of, though it will be more expensive and there’s no guarantee of availability.
List of Harry Potter Filming Sites in Oxford
- Bodleian Libraries Divinity School — Hogwarts’ infirmary (link is to movie clip)
- Bodleian Libraries Duke Humfrey’s medieval library — Hogwarts’ library restricted section (link is to movie clip)
- Christ Church College Dining Hall — inspiration for Hogwarts’ dining hall (link is to movie clip)
- Christ Church College Bodley Staircase — Hogwarts’ staircase (link is to movie clip)
- Christ Church College hallways — Hogwarts’ hallways (link is to movie clip)
- New College cloisters and oak tree — Hogwarts’ cloisters and oak tree (link is to movie clip)
How to Get to Oxford from London
I’d suggest taking an early train into Oxford to arrive in the morning. There’s a direct train route from London Paddington Station to Oxford that takes less than an hour.
How to book your train tickets: You can purchase your tickets on Trainline.com. We used Trainline to purchase all our train tickets in the UK. I loved how easy it was to search train tickets from various train companies and to pull up our tickets in the app when needed to scan or show them to employees. Everything was all in one place, making it very convenient.
How to save money on train tickets: If you will be doing a lot of train travel in the UK, consider getting a railcard for 33% off. I was traveling with my mom so we got the Two Together Railcard and saved quite a bit.
Getting Around Oxford on a Day Trip
You don’t need a car while in Oxford as it’s easy to walk to all the main attractions. Oxford is a very walkable city. You’ll also see a lot of people biking around town. I’d suggest taking the train on your day trip to Oxford so you won’t have to bother with parking. But, if you do drive to Oxford, once you park your car, you really won’t need it again until you’re ready to leave.
Restaurants to Try in Oxford on a Day Trip
The Grand Cafe
Grand Cafe is said to be the oldest cafe or coffee shop in England, established in 1650. Come in for breakfast, lunch, or tea, or even just a coffee. Reservations are not required.
The Alice
We ate the breakfast buffet here at The Alice, an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant inside The Randolph Hotel. The decorations are so cool, but the food was a bit overpriced for what it was (at least for breakfast anyway).
Turf Tavern
We learned about Turf Tavern while on our official walking tour of Oxford University. Our tour guide said it was one of the best places to eat in Oxford, a favorite among students.
Turf Tavern has traditional pub fare and is famously hidden among the smaller streets and alleyways, making it all the more charming. If you find it while walking around Oxford, be sure to stop in!
The Crown
The Crown pub is easy to miss — it’s snuggled between two buildings, off of Cornmarket Street. What caught our attention was a sign out front that said Shakespeare used to dine, almost exclusively, at this pub on his journeys to/from London.
We really wanted to come back here for dinner but because we visited Oxford on the hottest day on record, we didn’t make it down, preferring a closer restaurant.
Turtle Bay
We loved Turtle Bay so much that we ate here twice. The restaurant was around the corner from our hotel The Randolph, so an easy walking distance.
Turtle Bay serves Caribbean food, and the flavor and spices were heavenly. It was a nice change from the British cuisine we’d been mostly having on our trip. They have a few vegan/vegetarian options such as the curry aubergine, Buddha bowl, and the mac and cheese bites. All of it was amazing!
Vaults and Garden Cafe
The Vaults and Garden Cafe is another iconic Oxford restaurant. It’s located inside the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, near the Radcliffe Camera. It has beautiful vaulted ceilings and is frequented by both students and tourists. They offer breakfast, lunch, and tea.
Have More Time? Extend Your Trip to Oxford
With more time, you can visit the Oxford Botanic Garden and/or the Oxford Castle and Prison. We didn’t make it to these places on our trip because of how hot it was — one of the hottest days on record in England — and we wanted to take it easy. There is so much more to do in Oxford, though, you can really stay a few days and not get bored.
More Things to Do in Oxford
- Oxford Botanic Garden
- Oxford Castle and Prison
- Punting in the river
- Pitt Rivers Museum
- Ashmolean Museum
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History
- Magdalen Bridge Boathouse
Day Trips From Oxford
Opt to spend another day or two in Oxford, using it as a base to visit Blenheim Palace or the nearby Cotswolds like we did.
Where to Stay While in Oxford
If you do decide to stay a few more days in Oxford, consider staying in the city center. We stayed at the five-star hotel called The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels, and I can’t recommend it enough. I paid mostly with credit card points to offset the cost (it is a luxury hotel), but it’s definitely worth it.
A cool feature of The Randolph hotel is that there are 38 banners hanging in the grand stairwell, each displaying a coat of arms for the 38 colleges in Oxford University. The rest of the hotel is beautifully decorated in a collegiate style.
There’s also an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant here in honor of the author Lewis Carrol who studied at Oxford.
Other Recommended Hotels in Oxford:
Frequently Asked Questions about an Oxford Day Trip
How many days do you need in Oxford, England?
One day is doable, however, I’d suggest at least three days to see more of Oxford and go on a day trip to the Cotswolds.
Is Oxford worth visiting on a day trip?
Yes, definitely! Many people visit Oxford on a day trip to the point where you’ll find it’s less crowded once the day trippers are gone. A lot of the must-see activities in Oxford are close together so it’s easy to do most of them while visiting for just a day. Better one day in Oxford than none at all.
What can you do in Oxford for a few hours?
If you only have a few hours in Oxford, I’d recommend the 30-minute Bodleian Libraries tour and then doing a self-guided walking tour to Oxford’s highlights, including Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, and the University Church Tower. For lunch, head into an iconic Oxford establishment such as Turf Tavern or The Grand Cafe.
Is Oxford a good day trip from London?
Oxford is an excellent day trip from London! You should definitely add Oxford to your London itinerary.
What’s the best way to get to Oxford from London?
The best way to get to Oxford from London is by train. Take the train from London Paddington Station to Oxford, which is less than an hour’s ride.
Book your train tickets via the Trainline app and consider using a railcard for 33% off.
Is Oxford a walkable city?
Yes, Oxford is a very walkable city. You can easily walk to all the major attractions in Oxford.
How to tour Oxford University? Can you walk around Oxford University?
Yes, you can walk around the colleges of Oxford University, but each college has its own process for admitting visitors. Some require advance booking, some are free, some cost money.
See a list here of all colleges and their visiting times and prices. You can definitely visit several in a day; you’ll just need to do a little planning to find out when the colleges are open.
What are some day trips to do from Oxford?
You can use Oxford as a base to visit Blenheim Palace or the nearby Cotswolds like we did. Both of those make great day trips from Oxford.
What to pack for travel to the UK?
Favorite travel essentials
- I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
- I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
- I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
- I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
- For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!
Map of Things to Do on a Day Trip to Oxford
Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to England
Day Trip to the Cotswolds from Oxford or London
Day Trip to Windsor Castle from London
Weekend in Bath England Itinerary: What to Do in Bath UK for 2 Days
18 Things to See and Do in Bath, England
Best Afternoon Tea in Bath: The Pump Room
One Day in York, England Itinerary: What to Do in This Medieval City
Day Trip to Chatsworth House (Pride and Prejudice’s Pemberley)
Big Ben Photo Spots: Where to Take the Best Photos of Big Ben
The Best Library Afternoon Tea in London (with Views of Big Ben!)
Day Trip from London to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton
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