Things to do

Oxford

Oxford is renowned worldwide for its many historic colleges and quads. Most of these are based around the city centre, and offer tours. The availability of these tours varies depending on the time of year and day, and it is best to look up individual colleges for the details of their tour dates.

www.ox.ac.uk/visitors

Along with the colleges are many historic places of interest, such as the Bodleian Library, Oxford Castle and Prison, Christ Church Meadows and the Botanic Garden. There is also the Ashmolean Museum, Natural History Museum, and Pitt Rivers Museum.

During the warmer months of the year, tourists can rent punts on the river.

Shoppers can enjoy a fantastic experience at the Westgate, opened in October 2017, or a more traditional experience in Oxford High Street and the historic Covered Market.

Cowley Road in East Oxford offers independently-owned stores and coffee shops, and Jericho suburbs provide catering for every style and budget.

www.oxfordcityguide.com

Surrounding areas

If you like history and architecture, visit Blenheim Palace in Woodstock. Woodstock is one of a number of picturesque market towns in the Oxfordshire region, and Bourton-on-the-Water, Iffley and Thame are also popular tourist destinations.

The Cotswolds are a short drive from Oxford, providing scenic views and nature walks. For urban pursuits, London is just over an hour away by train or coach.

If you like shopping, Bicester Village, an internationally-renowned retail outlet, is only 20 minutes by train from Oxford.