13 Best Things To Do in Oxford (Perfect One Day Itinerary)

Looking for the best London day trips? I recommend heading to Oxford. If you need convincing, here are some of the best things to do in Oxford in one day.

Can you believe I actually started writing this post in Google Docs on the journey back to London from Oxford? You could say I was inspired, as I had such a lovely little day trip from London. There are so many London day trip options, but I have never seen a bad photo of Oxford, so that basically sealed the deal for me. Here are my recommendations for the best things to do in Oxford, plus a one-day itinerary for you to follow.

If you’re planning a wider UK trip, check out my UK and Europe travel itinerary.

A quick list of the best things to do in Oxford
– See historic sights like Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, and Christ Church College.
– Stroll through the Covered Market.
– Enjoy a river walk or a chauffeured punting experience.
– Visit one of several free Oxford museums.
– Join a Harry Potter locations tour.

What to do in Oxford for a day (itinerary)

Here’s a sample itinerary for one day in Oxford.

Morning

Start your day with breakfast in Oxford, choosing from iconic spots like Dishoom and The Ivy. Then it’s time to join a walking tour to see the town’s main landmarks while also visiting one of its many colleges. This Oxford walking tour has daily departures from 11 to 4.

Afternoon

That walking tour would’ve ticked off many of the top things to do in Oxford. So, now it’s time to choose your own adventure. If visiting in summer, why not go punting or climb the University Church of St Mary the Virgin Tower? In contrast, if it’s winter, head inside to one of Oxford’s many free museums. Just don’t forget to stop by the Covered Market for a sweet treat before heading back to London.

How to get to Oxford from London

Oxford is about 1.5 hours from London, and there are two main ways to travel between the two destinations for the day:

• Get the train from Oxford to London. The train is the fastest option, but also the most expensive.
• The National Express bus. I booked through National Express, although it was an Oxford Tube service. The return trip cost me £11, and it takes about two hours each way (depending on traffic). It goes from Victoria Coach Station in London and drops you steps from the action.

Things to do in Oxford

Oxford is packed with historic colleges, libraries, and filming locations, so here are the best things to do if you only have one day in Oxford.

1. Start your day in Oxford with brunch

When I googled ‘best restaurants in Oxford’ and the best brunch spots, The Rickety Press was a frontrunner. It was about a 10-minute walk north of the bus station. Unfortunately, it looks like the cosy pub no longer serves breakfast, but I had an epic bacon buttie with hash browns.

Here are some other Oxford brunch spots to check out instead:

• Why, yes, there is a Dishoom Permit Room in Oxford if you want to tick the iconic establishment off your bucket list.
• You can also visit The Ivy Brasserie in Oxford. They have breakfast specials including tea and coffee, and the space looks stunning (as you’d expect from The Ivy).
• The Oxford Brunch Bar has some really affordable breakfast options.
• Get cosy at the Cosy Club in Oxford, where the specialty is super pancake stacks.

2. Do a walking tour

One of the best things to do in Oxford, hands down, is a free walking tour with Footprints Tours. They do multiple tours daily, and the guides are actually Oxford University students. We saw most of Oxford’s must-see buildings, but we also learned about famous former students, the town’s general history, and what it’s like to be an Oxford University student. Our guide, Georgie, also pointed out a few different Harry Potter filming locations. The two-hour tour was very comprehensive and informative. I highly recommend doing this walking tour on your Oxford day trip.

Alternatively, this Oxford Walking Tour includes entry into one of the historic colleges, while also ticking off the main Oxford sights.

3. Follow in Harry’s footsteps

If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, you can visit filming locations and places that inspired certain movie scenes throughout Oxford. Footprints Tours offers this popular Harry Potter Walking Tour, which is likely to sell out, so get in quick. Alternatively, this Christ Church Harry Potter Tour includes an audio-guided tour through Christ Church. Otherwise, enjoy a self-guided tour of the best of the Harry Potter films in Oxford.

4. Visit Oxford Castle & Prison

I didn’t have enough time to check out Oxford Castle & Prison, but I did walk by. I mean, it’s existed for A THOUSAND YEARS, so I had to see it for myself. You can also pay a £1 entry fee to climb the Castle Mound here, which is small but probably offers pretty good views over the town.

5. Tour a college

So Oxford University comprises several colleges, which are dotted around the town. Our walking tour guide attended St John’s College, which is open for visitors after 1 pm daily. It’s free to have a look around its grounds, so that’s where I headed within my limited timeframe. My university was about 1% as pretty as this place.

Alternatively, you can pay to visit popular colleges such as Trinity College, New College, Magdalen College and Christ Church College. The latter is the aforementioned Harry Potter hotspot, and the £10 entrance fee includes access to all areas, including the Cathedral. Most nights of the week, there’s a Choral Evensong in the Cathedral at 6 pm as well, which anyone can enjoy.

6. Do a spot of shopping

For a small town, Oxford is home to a massive shopping centre. Westgate Oxford has all the usual suspects, like H&M, Zara and Uniqlo. But in the city centre, there are also plenty of souvenir shops and boutiques selling both Oxford University and Harry Potter paraphernalia. If your Oxford trip coincides with rainy weather, heading inside to shop might be just what you need.

Tip: A train or bus ride will take you to Bicester Village, which is a designer outlet shopping centre about 18 kilometres from Oxford.

7. Visit the Oxford Covered Market

A visit to Oxford isn’t complete without a stroll through the 18th-century Oxford Covered Market. Just don’t go when hungry, as it’s filled with delicious options. I popped by for afternoon tea and picked up a honeycomb tiffin from Taylor’s. It was a combination of chocolate, biscuits and toffee 🤤. I also heard good things about Ben’s Cookies. But it’s not all about the food – there are shops as well.

8. Climb the University Church of St Mary the Virgin Tower

For £6, you can climb the 127 steps up the medieval turret staircase for one of the best views in Oxford. It looks straight over Radcliffe Camera and beyond!

9. Go punting on the River Cherwell

On a warm summer’s day, I could imagine it would be quite lovely punting along the River Cherwell. Visit the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse to either hire a punt yourself or enjoy a chauffeured punting tour instead. Sitting back and relaxing while someone else does the work is more my style! Otherwise, if you have spare time, you can take a nice wander along the river for free. There’s also Castle Mill Stream on the other side of town.

Tip: Another option is a Sightseeing Oxford River Cruise. Cruise along the Isis (a part of the River Thames) towards the town of Iffley in an electric boat. Along the way, your guide will point out the ancient Folly Bridge, Christ Church College and Meadows, and Iffley Lock.

Free things to do in Oxford

England is expensive enough in this economy, so here are some of my favourite free things to do in Oxford.

10. Admire Oxford’s main attractions

It’s free to take a look at Oxford’s main attractions, including:

• Christ Church College, Cathedral, and Christ Church Meadow.
• Bodleian Library (a world-famous location, the Weston Library’s ground floor is free to visit with exhibitions, a cafe, and a shop).
• Radcliffe Camera
• The University Church of Saint Mary the Virgin
• The Bridge of Sighs
• The Divinity School
• Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
• Sheldonian Theatre and Carfax Tower

It’s also free to walk around the outside of the colleges to admire the architecture and pretend you’re an Oxford student 😂.

11. Visit a museum

Some of the best places to visit in Oxford on a rainy day are museums, and lucky for us, several are free:

• The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology is the UK’s oldest museum and one of the world’s oldest public museums. Founded in 1683, it features everything from ancient to contemporary art, as well as archaeology and history. Entry is free, and it’s open daily from 10 to 5.
• The Oxford University Museum of Natural History lets you see skeletons, learn about the planet’s geology, and explore six modern ecosystems.
• Modern Art Oxford has paid exhibitions, but the Ground Floor Gallery is free.
• Pitt Rivers Museum has to be one of the UK’s most unique museums, displaying over 26,000 archaeological and ethnographic objects from around the world.

12. Head to Blackwell’s Bookshop

One of the coolest places to go in Oxford is Blackwell’s Bookshop on iconic Broad Street, which has been trading since the 19th century! The Oxford location fits perfectly with the town’s academic vibe and may or may not include an underground room.

13. Go for a walk

If you’re looking for free things to do in Oxford, nothing quite beats seeing the town on a stroll.

• You can go for a stroll along the River Thames or Castle Mill Stream on the other side of town.
• Check out the Jericho neighbourhood. It’s a trendy, local area just outside of the city centre with colourful homes, indie shops, and cosy pubs like The Rickety Press. If you want to see a less-touristy side of Oxford, head here.
• Wander through University Parks, a big open green space that’s the perfect place for a break between sightseeing.

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Best tours in Oxford

A quick recap of the best Oxford tours, plus an organised day trip to Oxford if that’s more your style.

• This comprehensive walking tour includes a college visit.
• The very popular Harry Potter tour to see several filming locations.
• If you visit on an uncharacteristically warm British day, you must enjoy a chauffeured punting experience.
• Check out this half-day Blenheim Palace with Woodstock Tour to visit the largest non-royal palace in England (a.k.a. Winston Churchill’s birthplace). You also get free time in the charming, historic town of Woodstock.
• The Oxford and Cotswolds small-group tour is the best organised day trip from London to Oxford. It offers a bargain price and ample free time at several locations.

FAQs about visiting Oxford for the day

Answering your burning questions about an Oxford day trip from London.

More UK travel guides

If you’re sticking around the UK, you might want to check out these posts:

• Free things to do in Edinburgh
• Must-see Cornwall cottages with oceanfront views
• Free things to do in York and my one day in York itinerary
• Things to do with one weekend in Belfast
• The best Bristol day trips

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Now you know what to do in Oxford for the day, I hope you have the most fun day trip from London!

Oxford really has something for everyone, whether you’re a history buff, a film buff, or a food buff 😉. Enjoy walking through its historic streets and enjoying all the wonderful things to do in Oxford.

PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP
– Compare and book flights easily on Booking.com.
– Book accommodation with Booking.com or Hostelworld. Yes, I am that person who checks both places before booking accommodation to get the best price.
– Organise travel insurance.
– Book adventures via GetYourGuide, my preferred provider. In some instances, I’ve found activities here that were sold out elsewhere.
– Stay connected with an eSIM from Sim Local. Use code HOLIDAY10 for 10% off.
– Sign up for a Wise travel card for low fees and high exchange rates.
– Check out my travel resources page for more info.
Any and all support is appreciated 🫶🏻.