One of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK, Oxford is mainly famous for the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The city is full of countless architectural masterpieces, historic museums, mediaeval libraries, century old gardens, thriving student population, lush greenery and plenty of open spaces. Britain’s oldest public museum and oldest botanical garden are also located in Oxford. There are plenty of stunning places to explore and exciting things to do in Oxford. You must add the following top 10 places to visit and things to do in Oxford in your bucket list. These are the must-see and must-do without which your Oxford sightseeing trip will be incomplete:
- Radcliffe Camera
- Bodleian Library
- Christchurch College
- Ashmolean Museum
- Sheldonian Theatre
- Oxford Botanic Garden
- Punting
- Covered Market
- Pitt River’s Museum
- Bridge of Sighs
- Radcliffe Camera
Built between 1737 and 1749, Radcliffe Camera is the defining landmark of the University of Oxford. It was designed by one of the greatest British architects James Gibbs and named after Dr John Radcliffe, the royal physician, who entrusted a hefty sum to the University of Oxford to build and run a library. This spectacular circular, columned library with a dome is an architectural masterpiece and one of Oxford’s most iconic sights.
Radcliffe Camera, known as the Redcliffe Library, initially focused on natural history and medical books. Bodleian Library took over the running of the Radcliffe Library in 1860 and renamed it to the Radcliffe Camera shortly after. Now it serves as the main reading room of the Bodleian Library.
The Camera, meaning ‘room’, is located at Radcliffe Square, a few minutes walk away from the city centre of Oxford. Although Radcliffe Camera is not open to the public you may visit Radcliffe Square to snap an indulgent picture. To get a better view you may climb 127 steps up in the nearby St. Mary Virgin Church tower.
- Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library, one of the most prestigious and oldest libraries in Europe, officially opened in 1602. It was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley, a Fellow of Merton College and a diplomat in Queen Elizabeth I’s court. It holds collections in History, English, History of Science, Philosophy, Reference, Theology and Patristics.
Alongside its rich collection of printed items, visitors could explore the library’s mediaeval origins, admire the elaborately carved gothic ceiling, and visit the oldest reading room and the oldest teaching room of the University of Oxford. There are several library guided tours available. 30 minutes for £10, 60 minutes for £15, and 90 minutes for £20 are among the most popular.
Generations of famous scholars including Nobel laureates, writers, British Prime Ministers and monarchs have studied in its reading room. The stunning architecture and rich history has made Bodleian a popular location for commercial filming. Many popular TV series and films including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Golden Compass were filmed here.
- Christchurch College
Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Christ Church College is one of the most prestigious, grand, and historic colleges in the University of Oxford. Many well known personalities including scientists, writers, historians, lawyers and 13 British prime ministers have been educated at the college. During the English civil war, the Great Dining Hall of the college was the seat of the parliament.
The iconic architecture, rich history and academic excellence has made Christ Church the most popular Oxford college among tourists. Christ Church was featured in many popular films and TV series such as Harry Potter, the Golden Compass, Inspector Morse(TV detective series). Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (also known as Alice in Wonderland) was written here. Christ Church’s college chapel is popular for its internationally renowned Cathedral Choir, concerts and events.
Christ Church college is located at St Aldate’s, a few minutes walk away from Oxford city centre. The entry fee varies between £16 to £24 depending on the type of tour. It is highly recommended to book online in advance to guarantee entry.
- Ashmolean Museum
Founded in 1683, Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology is Britain’s first public museum. Its huge collections of fine arts and archaeological specimens covering over 4000 years of history attracts thousands of visitors each year. The museum went through a massive refurbishment doubling its display spaces and reopened in 2009.
Some of the important highlights of the Ashmolean Museum’s collection include Egyptian mummies, Majolica pottery, Greek and Minoan pottery, Paintings by Pablo Picasso, Drawings by Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
A year-round calendar of exhibitions, courses, talks, tours, and events reveal the sheer grandeur of Britain’s oldest museum.
Ashmolean Museum is located at Beaumont Street five minutes walk away from Oxford city centre. The museum entry is completely FREE for visitors. It is highly recommended to book online a timed entry ticket in advance to guarantee entry.
- Sheldonian Theatre
Delicate, grand, and meticulously rich in craftsmanship, Sheldonian theatre is an architectural Jewel in the mediaeval city centre of Oxford. Built between 1664 and 1669, the theatre is dedicated to ceremonial occasions of the University of Oxford. Inspired by drawings of Roman theatres, Sheldonian theatre was designed by one of the most distinguished British architects Sir Christopher Wren, Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, and commissioned by Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury.
One of the most remarkable features is the theatre’s 70 feet wide unsupported roof which was an architectural and scientific wonder at the time. Alongside exploring the theatre’s mediaeval origins, visitors could also attend musical concerts and dance performances, admire the 32 panel painted ceiling, explore the old printing loft and visit the octagonal cupola at the centre of the roof offering unparalleled views of Oxford.
Sheldonian theatre is located at Broad street, a few minutes walk away from Oxford city centre. The general admission fee is £4.75. However, visitors over 60 or under 16 years of age and blue badge holders are required to pay only £4.00. It is highly recommended to book online in advance to guarantee entry.
- Oxford Botanic Garden
Founded in 1621, the University of Oxford Botanic garden is the oldest botanic garden in the UK. This 4.5 acres garden is home to one of the most diverse collections of plants (over 5,000 different species) in the world. It costs only £7.2 for an adult and free for children under 16 to explore the garden. The garden consists of three sections: the Walled Garden, the Lower Garden, and the Glasshouses.
The walled garden is the garden’s oldest section. The formal taxonomic beds, the Geographic Beds, the Euphorbia collection, the Medicinal Plants Beds, and the Literary Garden are the highlights of the walled garden. The Lower Garden is home to a collection of ornamental plants. It is a perfect location for a family day out where visitors would admire its lush greenery, water garden, orchard, picturesque meadows, and flower gardens.
The Glasshouses comprises seven display glasshouses containing an assortment of unfamiliar and exotic plants from around the globe:
Citrus plants including lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits and citrons are main features of the Conservatory glasshouse. Plants from High Places glasshouse is home to alpine plants including cyclamen, narcissus, primulas, tulips, sempervivums and ferns. The Cloud Forest glasshouse displays an assortment of carnivorous Nepenthes pitcher plants and many different types of fern. The tropical water lily pond is located at the most iconic glasshouse named The Water Lily House.
A collection of carnivorous plants for whom insects are an essential source of nutrients grows in The Carnivorous Plant House. Tropical crop plants including cocoa, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, coffee, cinnamon, sugarcane, rubber, avocado, etc. are the main highlights of the Rainforest House. Arid House grows all the plants adapted to drought including giant euphorbia, and an assortment of cactuses.
- Punting
Punting will give you an unique opportunity to experience a panoramic view of some of Oxford’s best sights. During the journey, you could just relax, admire the iconic landmarks standing surrounding the river Cherwell, take lots of photos, and enjoy the magical ride from the deck. There are a number of established punting service providers available in Oxford.
Situated underneath Magdalen College Tower, Magdalen Bridge Boathouse is the most popular place to hire a punt. As you float toward south you will pass the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens, Christ Church College Meadows where Alice in Wonderland (1865) was written by Lewis Carroll, then pass the famous St Hilda’s College gardens to stunning Magdalen School rose gardens. You may continue your journey towards the Isis (Thames) if you feel adventurous. It will cost £30 per hour to hire a punt for up to 5 people. For a chauffeured punt ride it will cost £45 per 30 mins.
Cherwell Boathouse operates from Bardwell road. You may need to hire a Taxi to get there. As you set off your punt journey upstream, you will pass Wolfson College and Marston meadows to the Victoria Arms pub. Downstream will take you to wonderful University Parks and Parson’s Pleasure. It will cost £23-£25 per hour/ £115-£125 full day to hire a punt for up to 6 people.
- Covered Market
Founded in 1774, Oxford’s covered market is one of the most beautiful, vibrant and oldest continually operating markets in the UK. Any Oxford trip will be incomplete without visiting the century old Covered market. Located at the heart of the city centre, this market gives a glimpse of mediaeval Oxford.
The Covered Market houses a collection of specialist traders selling a variety of goods. Visitors could find old fashioned butchers, jewellery, shoe cobblers, cheese vendors, flowers, souvenirs, boutiques, toiletries, and many more.
With more than 25 restaurants, bakeries, bars, and cafes within walking distance, it offers plenty of choices for any food lover as well. Visitors could enjoy live music, comedy and engage in lots of activities while shopping and eating.
The Covered market is open from 8 am – 5.30 pm Monday to Wednesday, 8am – 10pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10 am – 5pm on Sunday and Bank Holidays.
- Pitt River’s Museum
Founded in 1884, Pitt River’s museum is one of the most unique and best of its kind museums in the world. With more than half a million archaeological and ethnographic objects, manuscripts, and photographs from around the globe, the museum attracts a great number of visitors each year.
Some of the important highlights include a 2500-year-old cylindrical glass bead with face from Cyprus, caricature masks from Mexico, Ahu’ula- a feather cloak from Hawaii, Many Shots’s robe from North America, Roman leather shoe from Egypt, and collections of early 19th and 20th-century photography.
The Balfour Library, one of Britain’s leading museum research and teaching libraries, is located on the first floor of the Museum. It has a massive collection of 20,000 books, 12,000 pamphlets and 300 journal titles.
Pitt River’s museum is located at South Parks Rd, approximately 10-12 minutes walk away from Oxford city centre. The museum entry is completely FREE for visitors.
- Bridge of Sighs
Officially known as Hertford Bridge, Bridge of Sighs is one of Oxford’s most iconic film locations and picturesque landmarks standing opposite the entrance to the Bodleian Library. Completed in 1914, this skybridge connects two buildings of Hertford College over New College Lane. Over the years it has become a tourist hotspot for its unique architecture, beauty, and mystery.
Unfortunately Bridge of Sighs is not open to the public to cross, but you may admire it from street level and snap an indulgent picture of one of Oxford’s most instagrammed monuments. Early morning is the best time to visit the Bridge of Sighs while the street is quiet.
Designed by Sir Thomas Jackson, one of the greatest architects of England, the bridge was constructed as part of a redevelopment project of Hertford College. The arch beneath the bridge has a great similarity to the original Bridge of Sighs in Venice while the stonework and windows reflect Gothic architecture.
no comment