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You are here: Backpacker Resources > Travel Stories > UK > Top 5 Things To See and Do in Oxford

Top 5 Things To See and Do in Oxford

My Top Five Things to See, Do and Visit in Oxford

Having lived 10 miles outside of Oxford for the majority of my life, I like to think I know a little bit about what and what not to do in the city. So here goes with a guide to everything in Oxford, narrowed down to five little, locally approved recommendations.

1. The Oxford Colleges

   Boring and predictable, yes, but this really is the one thing you have to do when visiting Oxford. The University and its many amazing buildings are the reasons why Oxford is famous! Most colleges in the centre of Oxford are reasonably similar so you won’t miss out if you only see a couple, however they do vary when it comes to opening times and costs, so check the university website for the full details. Also worth a look in are the Radcliffe Camera, the Bridge of Sighs, the Bodleian Library and The High. The High is the main street in Oxford and it’s actually won awards for its prettiness! For the best views of the famous Dreaming Spires skyline, Carfax Tower at the top of The High is the place to go, although it will set you back £2.10.

2. The Museums

   Another predictable gem, but the Oxford museums hold some of the best collections in the world and they’re all Suggested Donation entry ‐ so they’re nice and cheap too! My personal favourite is the Museum of Natural History, purely because it’s just so typically Oxford. The building houses a variety of animal and dinosaur skeletons (the T‐Rex undoubtedly being my highlight), trays of beetles and butterflies, and an impressive collection of taxidermy. Joined to the Museum of Natural History is the Pitt Rivers Museum of Anthropology and World Archaeology. Think body art, magic, ancient bongs and the ever‐popular shrunken heads. Also worth a mention (and a visit) is the Ashmolean Museum, closer to the city centre. It’s more general in its collections, though by no means less impressive.

3. Punting

   This is something else that’s so typical of Oxford and so worthwhile doing. The rivers that run around and through Oxford provide a great way to see the sights of the city and the surrounding countryside. It’s cheap too especially if you fill a punt with a few people. Cherwell Boathouse is the cheapest at £12, per hour on weekdays. Some boathouses also provide guides who double up as professional punters. Personally I’d recommend the guide! When I went punting for the first time with a few friends we spent the first 20 minutes pushing the boat around in circles and shrieking whenever the boat made the slightest wobble.

4. The Cowley Road

   For a more alternative Oxford experience head to the Cowley Road. A 20 minute walk or a short bus ride from the city centre (take bus 1 or 5 from Carfax Tower), the Cowley Road is home to vegetarian and organic cafes, live music venues, food markets, independent bookshops, Buddhist temples, pubs, junk shops, foreign restaurants … you get the gist! It’s probably best to wonder around and discover things for yourself although The Bullingdon Arms, the O2 Academy and Cafe Coco’s are worthy of specific attention.

5. Blackwell’s Bookshop

   As a book lover and an English student, Blackwell’s is definitely a personal favourite of mine, and somewhere I always make an excuse to visit whenever I’m in Oxford. Founded in 1879, this massive bookshop has five floors packed with every kind of book you can imagine, with the multi‐level Norrington Room in the basement and its infamous three miles of shelving. This is something that’s guaranteed to take you aback.

‐ Ilona Walker