How to spend a weekend exploring one of the UKs oldest cities with some locals highlights
Oxford is one of the best places in the UK for a mini-break or weekend away. It is one of the UKs oldest cities – it is believed to have been founded in the 9th Century by Alfred the Great and is home to one of the most prestigious Universities in the world – the University of Oxford, which history books first have reference to in 1096. It also plays a unique role in shaping the British political establishment: the last five British Prime Ministers went through Oxford. In fact, so many British Prime Ministers have attended the University of Oxford, there is a page on the University website dedicated to listing them all.
Today Oxford is a hustling university city that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, including day-trippers from London.
Having spent a summer living and working in Oxford, it has a bit of a place in my heart. Being in my mid-twenties at the time, I probably didn’t make the most of the history and culture the city has to offer, but I did learn where you could have an inexpensive night out! I have since been a frequent visitor to the city, sampling the museums, walking tours and cafes. A lovely leisurely lunch and shopping day with a dear friend this weekend sparked me to write my highlights of the city for you all…
Getting to Oxford
Oxford is renowned for terrible traffic and being incredibly difficult to park. If you are visiting from London, I would always recommend either the train (especially since Oxford Parkway Station opened) or the Oxford Tube which runs 24 hours a day from Victoria Coach Station in Central London and is a bargain from £12.
If you are traveling by car, I would always recommend using the Park & Ride. The first of its kind in the UK (if you were wondering), the Park & Ride has four main outposts – at the North, South, East, and West of the City with separate bus routes to each, and the buses run from around 6am to around 11:30pm.
Staying in Oxford
Accommodation in Oxford is expensive, especially at the weekend. I’m too tight to pay City-centre prices. When I have returned for a weekend visit, I have opted away from staying in the city centre and have gone for the far less glamorous but cheaper option of a chain hotel on the Oxford Ringroad, with easy access to a bus route or the Park & Ride. I mean a Ramada* is always clean if nothing else. Really, nothing else.
Find somewhere to stay for your weekend in Oxford
Day one in Oxford
Explore the Oxford through a Scavenger Hunt
Walking tour? Think again. If possible, go for a scavenger hunt across the city. These are usually peppered with history and can be more fun than a classic walking tour and can take you down back streets and to hidden corners.
Different tours go on different days of the week. Solve the City an outdoor escape room runs mainly on Sundays. The one we did, the Oxford City Hunt has multiple time options throughout the week and really did challenge our resolve (and I worry some friendships in the process!).
The Oxford Colleges are a must visit. There are some elements you can access without a formal guided tour, but some you need to book on a formal tour.
Take a break at the Oxford Covered Market
Once you have saved Oxford from real ruin, it’s time for a break. Oxford is home to the usual British chain coffee shops. I would recommend transporting yourselves back in time and opting for the Oxford Covered Market which is nestled behind the city centre. It is home to a number of small traders, some fantastic independent coffee, and mouthwatering gelato. It will also give you a taste of what an old English covered market would have been like, as it still has a butcher, a greengrocer and a florist.
Explore the Bodleian Library
Take a guided tour of the Bodleian Library – the library as it stands today was opened in 1602 but can be traced back to the late fifteenth century. The Bodleian has seen many British Prime ministers and academics grace its reading rooms.
The tour of the Bodleian is about 30 mins long, available in English and costs just £9 per person and needs to be booked in advance. The Library is still used by students at Oxford, so access for members of the public is strictly by guided tour only.
An authentic pub lunch
Oxford is home to many chain restaurants and mediocre pubs. One that never fails to please however is the Red Lion. It is a gastro pub in the heart of the city. Gastro-pub is code for nice, often slightly over-priced food. The quality of food and atmosphere in the Red Lion is always spot on. It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours, enjoy a cold glass of wine and recharge to continue exploring!
Explore Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum
After lunch, walk over to the Pitt Rivers Museum. Located slightly outside the main city centre, the Pitt Rivers Museum is of an ilk you only find in Britain. Named after the man who gave his collection to the University of Oxford, it has evolved beyond the original artifacts (I believe some have been returned to their rightful owners). It truly is one of those slightly eclectic museums with a wide collection of items are only really found in a country where men have explored and colonised the world. It also has some of the most phenomenally bad taxidermy I have ever seen. If this takes your fancy, then Pitt Rivers is for you!
Wind-down at Oxford’s Junkyard Golf
It’s not exactly gourmet, but one of the most fun nights out I’ve had in Oxford has been at Junkyard Golf. If you are in Oxford for a weekend, it’s a brilliant Saturday night. We had a highly competitive round of crazy gold followed by junk food and crazy cocktails. Even losing as badly as I did, it was still great fun.
You can book Oxford Junkyard Golf in advance here from just £11.*
Day two in Oxford
Punting on the Thames
First stop: Punting is one of the most well-known pastimes in Oxford. Seeing the city by river is a real gift. The greenery is stunning and you get to see a different side of the city. I’ve only managed to do it once (as the dodgy photo on the left is proof) but I can confirm it is a wonderful way to wyle away a couple of hours. Many of the boathouses let you just walk up. It isn’t cheap at £30 for an hour to self-guide and £40+ for someone to sail for you.
Punts can “sell out” on a nice weekend in the summer. If you are looking to add this activity to your weekend in Oxford, I recommend doing it earlier in the day to avoid disappointment.
The punts take up to five people and you will often see students living up to the stereotype and cruising the river. There are several mooring points in the city, so the best way to work out the most convenient is our old friend google.
Break for all-day afternoon tea
The Grand Cafe hams up the Britishness for visitors and locals alike. This opulent location in the heart of the City is a must-visit: according to the Diary of Samuel Pepys it is the first coffee house in England so truly is a formative part of our history. The classic interiors are certainly not what they were in the seventeenth century but they exude elegance.
Spend your afternoon exploring Oxford Castle and Prison
Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE a castle, I LOVE looking at Stocks and I LOVE looking at a good exhibition. Thankfully Oxford Castle and Prison has all three. The site is stuffed with replica weaponry (yes, I have climbed a canon there) and people dressed in medieval costumes. Because the castle is so old, you need to join a tour to visit the castle.
Booking online is advised as you can pick your timeslot and it can save you a couple of pounds: it’s £15.50 online for adults and £17.50 if you buy tickets on the door. If you would prefer to book with a tour, it’s £20.* The museum caters for big and little kids alike so it really is a great family day out.
Explore Oxford’s Book Shops
Oxford is home to a large number of book shops – from the British chain Waterstones which has one of its best branches in the city, to Daunt Books to Oxford University Press shop to second-hand book shops. If you like to read, you are guaranteed to find a bookshop to suit your tastes.
The Oxford Board Games Cafe
Finish off your weekend with locals at Thirsty Meeples, the Oxford Board Games Cafe. Another UK innovation, the Board Games Cafe has become a bit of an institution in Oxford. Whatever your level of proficiency, their staff are passionate about games and you can easily spend your two-hour slot trying a game you will want to buy and take home.
Booking is essential as this Cafe is always full. And for good reason. It is frequented by students, professionals, retired residents, and even the occasional celebrity – Countdown’s Susie Dent was in the queue in front of us last time we visited!
So, what have I missed? Should I make time for the Ashmolean next time I visit? Should I try the red bus tour or take a chance on a walking tour?
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