Overview
Take a trip to Oxford on your England Vacation
Oxford, known as the city of dreaming spires, is renowned for its architectural masterpieces, including those by Sir Christopher Wren. With 38 colleges, even the smaller ones hold historical significance, dating back to the 11th century. Notable literary figures like Lewis Carroll, JRR Tolkien, and CS Lewis have been associated with Oxford. Don't miss the chance to wander through medieval cloisters, quadrangles, and chapels in these colleges.
Christ Church College, famous for its stunning architecture featured in a Harry Potter film, is one of the largest colleges. Explore the Great Hall with portraits of past scholars, including Lewis Carroll and former British prime ministers. On your way to the Great Hall, cross Tom Quad, Oxford's largest and most impressive quadrangle. Christ Church also houses an exceptional art collection in the small Christ Church Picture Gallery, featuring works by Tintoretto, Michelangelo, and other Renaissance masters.
Magdalen College, founded in 1458, is renowned for its beautiful medieval chapel, 15th-century tower, and cloisters. It sits on extensive woodlands with river walks and its deer park. Notable students here include "Lawrence of Arabia" and Cardinal Wolsey.
Oxford boasts excellent museums, including the Ashmolean Museum, Britain's oldest public museum, founded in 1683. It houses treasures like a fresco from the palace of Knossos, Renaissance Italian art, and Japanese artifacts. The Bodleian Library, founded in 1423, is a splendid example of English Gothic architecture. The Pitt Rivers Museum is filled with an eclectic array of anthropological collections, from amulets to zithers. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History showcases specimens from around the world, including a 150-year-old Japanese spider crab and a nearly complete T-rex skeleton.
For a different experience, embark on a pub crawl, exploring Oxford's historic and charming old pubs nestled in lanes and alleyways. The Turf Tavern, a medieval rabbit-warren dating back to 1381, has hosted patrons like Bill Clinton, Oscar Wilde, and Stephen Hawking. Oxford is a city rich in history, culture, and architectural marvels, making it a captivating destination for travelers seeking a taste of academic excellence and British heritage.
For a different experience, embark on a pub crawl, exploring Oxford's historic and charming old pubs nestled in lanes and alleyways. The Turf Tavern, a medieval rabbit-warren dating back to 1381, has hosted patrons like Bill Clinton, Oscar Wilde, and Stephen Hawking. Oxford is a city rich in history, culture, and architectural marvels, making it a captivating destination for travelers seeking a taste of academic excellence and British heritage.
At a Glance
Languages
EnglishCurrency
British Pound (GBP)What do the experts say?
A traditional British high tea is a must do in my option. If traditional isnt your cup of tea there are a seemingly endless amount of themed teas including but not limited to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Bridgerton and Wizard themed.
I love the history of England. There is so much to see and experience not only in regards to history but art and architecture, natural beauty and so much more. It is a very easy country to get around and also very easy to use it as a jumping off point for visiting the rest of Europe.
Late spring to early fall for the best chance of nice weather or during Christmas. London is magical at Christmas time.
The English are actually proud of their cuisine (mostly stereotyped as bland). Afternoon Tea, A full English Breakfast, a Chippy Stand, traditional Sunday roast - all must tries!
Oxford
Take a break by the waterside at Iffley Lock, c...
Embrace the past at the Christ Church Cathedral...
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
OxfordPartly Cloudy
28°C / 83°F
43mm / 1.7"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get inspired about Your Trip to England
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,210 ReviewsEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. ClaireGoway planned a custom 2 week safari trip for my wife and I which was beyond perfect. Extremely satisfied with the entire process from planning, booking and follow up. Special thanks to my Travel Specialists, Brooke Theron and Angela DonnellyNeil RWorking with Allan is absolutely a dream. He is one of the most responsive people I’ve had the pleasure of working with and his attention to detail is unmatched. I truly wish I could just use him for every single trip I need to book.Liz PooreKimberly Brown from Goway Travel made my trip to Australia & New Zealand a very memorable and remarkable experience. Every step and detail was fantastic and I will never forget the trip of a lifetime and it was because of the experience of Kimberly. If you are thinking about taking a trip to New Zealand and Australia, I highly recommend contacting Kimberly from Goway travel. David KleinWe had a blast and felt covered by GoAway throughout. This was our first time using a travel agent and Melissa and her team made it easy. I also appreciated the quick communication while on our trip. I only wish that we got our official itinerary and tickets sooner as we did not receive them until a week prior. But it is busy season so I understand. Courtney McCarthyElise created a fantastic trip to South Africa. Our experience could not have been better. Thank You so Much!!Dave McVayOur trip to Japan was great. All our Goway arrangements preformed like clockwork and the guides for the tours were wonderful. Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was in total fog but at least the lunch was very good and so was the drum solo, also our tour guide kept our spirits up ( she was the best).
Taryn picked hotels that were very convenient to the meeting point of our tours which was much appreciated and organized all aspects of our trip perfectly. So from our airport pickup to our last day in Tokyo everything ran very smoothly so we have used Goway before and will certainly use it again and reccommend Goway to others.JWWe had a great experience with Goaway travel our travel agent,FARNAZ. was very helpful and patient with us in planning our vacation to Greece. She was very thorough and professional and excellent with laying out our flights and our itinerary for our trip would highly recommend her very professional. Thank you again Franaz for your help and for me and my wife to have experienced a wonderful time in GreececustomerFarnaz booked Greece and Italy - she is fantastic! She listened to our needs and planned a beautiful itinerary that everyone enjoyed. All transfers went smoothly and I am looking to book more trips with her! AmyWe have used Goway Travel for previous trips and have been very happy with their excellent service. Our last trip to New Zealand and Australia was no exception. Our agent, Lori Mazzono, got tuned into the sort of trip we were hoping to have immediately. The various booking she provided were, without exception, exceptional and exactly what we envisioned, We really don't think we would have changed anything. tBruce Belshaw
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified