Things to do in Oxford

Whether you want a relaxed day punting down the Thames, a guided tour around the city or the adrenaline rush of go-karting, you’ll find all these and more in Oxford.

From castles to historic churches, leafy parks, botanical gardens and – of course – the mighty university, Oxford has enough attractions to keep you sightseeing for weeks!

A city rich in arts and culture, you can take in art from Picasso and Turner, food and music festivals like Wilderness Festival and museums covering natural history, science, music, art, archaeology and more.

Head to a cutting-edge live music show, a sing-a-long West End musical, a riotous stand-up show or catch some live football, rugby, cricket or rowing – whatever you fancy, you’ll find it in Oxford, a city that barely finds time to sleep.

With excellent train and bus networks, and just an hour from London Heathrow, getting around Oxford couldn’t be easier. Plus, with a small city centre, it’s tailor-made for exploring on foot or by bike or even by gondola!

From Cowley to Jericho and everywhere in between, we’ve covered the best pubs, underground clubs, trendy cocktail bars and cosy watering holes to keep you entertained on any kind of night.

Oxford is one of those rare UK cities with a café culture in its bones. Throw in almost 500 restaurants and buzzing local markets and when looking for a place to eat, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

From huge shopping centres the size of 12 football pitches to weekly markets stocked with artisan goods, you’ll find the best bargains, high street names and independent shops in Oxford.

A world-famous institution that’s given the world Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and more than 50 Nobel prizewinners, Oxford University is the oldest English-language university in the world.