Oxford
The City of Oxford is one of the worlds most iconic cities. From the rich history of the colleges to the unique architecture Oxford attract tourists from all over the world.
Attractions
The Oxford Christmas Market hosts stalls selling seasonal gifts and refreshments. With a wide variety of crafts on display, the market can be a great place to pick up unique presents – and with local choirs performing carols, and the Christmas lights of Broad Street in full swing, it can be a great place to experience a fun and festive atmosphere in the open air.
The Junkyard Golf Club offers three themed mini-golf courses, in the very centre of Oxford – just minutes from the Westgate Shopping Centre. You can navigate between the cars in a scrapheap challenge, wind through jungle paths, or explore the sights and sounds of a sinister circus. All courses feature loud music, flashing lights, and UV lighting. A wide variety of alcoholic drinks are available, including draft beers and ciders, spirits and mixers, and an extensive range of cocktails.
One of the oldest libraries in the United Kingdom, the Bodleian Library has stood in the centre of Oxford for over 400 years. Guided tours to see behind-the-scenes are available daily, for 30, 60, or 90 minutes – as well as self-guided audio tours in a variety of languages.
Originally a Norman fortress, and later a notorious prison, the Oxford Castle offers a slice of history, just minutes from the centre of town. Visitors to the Castle and Prison can venture underground to the crypt, explore prison cells from the eighteenth century, and climb the castle tower to enjoy stunning views of the city.
Thirsty Meeples is a relaxed board game café where visitors can book a table and browse the extensive board game library, playing as many games as you want in your session. Staff are on hand to advise on games which might suit the number of players, time available, and level of experience.
Located between the River Thames and the Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford’s Ice Rink offers year-round skating sessions. Visitors are welcome to bring their own skates, or to hire from the rink’s collection. If you’re new to skating, ‘skate aids’ can also be hired for children under the age of 14.
Oxford Botanic Garden is the UK’s oldest botanic garden, founded in 1621. Situated in the heart of Oxford, this historic garden is an oasis of green in the city centre. Indeed it is one of the most compact yet diverse collections of plants in the world. Take a stroll among the family beds in the formal walled garden; see exotic, tropical and carnivorous plants in the glasshouses; enjoy the lush herbaceous borders of the informal lower garden. Visitors are very welcome to bring a picnic with them and there are many benches to use.
For all running and sports fans....this is where Sir Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile on 6 May 1954.
The Cherwell Boathouse is a riverside attraction offering a café, restaurant, and punt rental facility. With tens of hand-made boats to choose from, punts can accommodate up to six people. In summer, the bankside restaurant offers stunning views from a terrace overlooking the river, and seasonal menus are updated throughout the year. The ‘Tea Hut’ café, which opens at weekends from April to September, offers warm-weather refreshments including soft drinks, ice-cream, and Pimm’s.
If the weather isn’t ideal for outdoor exploration, visitors seeking an adrenaline rush can duck, dive, and run for cover at ‘Laser Kombat Oxford’ - Oxford’s laser tag arena. Offering military-themed fun for both children and adults, the arena will provide players with both equipment and a briefing – all you need to bring are bags of energy, and comfortable clothing.
An ideal attraction for a rainy day, Gravitee Golf is a space-themed minigolf centre, where visitors can choose between two indoor courses. Both courses are suitable for both children and adults. While on site, visitors may wish to take advantage of the fully-licenced bar and ‘refuelling station’, where pizzas and baguettes are available.
Home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill,, Blenheim Palace is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture that boasts over 300 years of history to discover.
Museums and Galleries
Oxford University is the oldest University in the English speaking world, and to date one of the best and most prestigious ones also. Countless famous figures and great minds have studied here, and any visitors are – no doubt – walking in the footsteps of many of them, seeing the same views that they had.
“Where is the famous Oxford University?” is a question many visitors ask. the answer is: everywhere! The University is made up of 38 independent colleges, and their quads and buildings can be found all over the city.
Located in Oxford’s Town Hall on Saint Aldate’s, the Museum of Oxford tells the story of the city over the centuries. Housing hundreds of artefacts, the museum charts the growth and expansion of the city, from the time of the Anglo Saxons and Romans.
The Story Museum is one of Oxford’s quirkiest galleries – offering visitors the chance to step into famous literary worlds. With immersive exhibition spaces, live events, and a welcoming café, The Story Museum offers fun and unique experiences for children and adults alike!
Modern Art Oxford is a contemporary art gallery located just minutes from Oxford’s High Street. With regularly rotating exhibitions, the gallery also hosts thought-provoking workshops, innovative events, and performances. Younger visitors may wish to explore the ‘Creative Space’, where activities and art materials are available
Located within the grounds of Christ Church College, the Christ Church Picture Gallery exhibits both contemporary and historical artwork from the college’s extensive collection. Guided tours of the gallery run once a week, and visitors are allowed to sketch in the gallery with pencils or charcoal.
The History of Science Museum is a treasure-trove of scientific equipment, located in the very of centre of Oxford. Telling the stories behind scientific innovation, the museum spans a wealth of time periods. The museum regularly hosts special events and lectures, and younger visitors can take advantage of three ‘family trails’ around the museum.
Based at the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Music, the Bate Collection offers visitors the chance to explore the history of Western Classical music – by examining the hundreds of instruments on display. The museum hosts regular ‘family fun days’ with events including gallery trails, and chances to play some of the instruments.
The Ashmolean Museum is one of the largest museums in Oxford, hosting galleries of art and archaeology over five floors. As well as taking in history and culture, visitors can also find a great location to eat, with the Rooftop Restaurant and Terrace offering lunches or afternoon teas, and a great place to pick up gifts – with a surprisingly well-stocked gift shop.
An amazing museum for families or natural history enthusiasts. Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford.
Housing the University of Oxford’s archaeological and anthropological collections, the Pitt Rivers Museum contains over half a million exhibits - perhaps unconventionally, grouped according to their purpose, rather than according to their location or the time period of origin.
Bike Hire
Donkey Republic Bike Rental operates through an app – allowing users to locate available bikes and book a rental via their phone. The Donkey Republic bike rentals are available for both short-term and long-term hire, with multiple drop-off locations. Their website hosts a suggested route for a picturesque cycle tour, taking in Oxford’s castle, colleges, and riverside nature.
Brompton Bike Hire offers rentals of folding bikes, from an unstaffed dock – located conveniently just by Oxford’s train station. Hiring requires a membership fee and a daily hire charge, and bikes can be borrowed for between twenty-four hours and thirty days.
Located in the leafy suburb of Jericho, Bainton Bikes (based at Walton Street Cycles) offers bike hire by the day, week, or month. Bainton Bikes also offers a range of guided and self-guided bike tours, allowing you to explore the city of Oxford, and the surrounding countryside, on two wheels.
Based in East Oxford, on Cowley Road, Cycloanalysts offer lightweight hire bikes which include all the accessories that you need for a friction-free cycle – including locks, lights, and mudguards. Bikes are available in several frame sizes, and extras like child seats and baskets can be made available upon request.
Summertown Cycles, based in north Oxford, offers two different types of bike rentals. Visitors can either hire a hybrid bike for the short-term, fitted with mudguards and panniers, and suitable for day excursions round Oxford and the countryside, or a town bike available for a long-term rental. These town bikes are available for between four and ten weeks – accordingly, they can be rented for one Oxford term.
Farm Shop
Pick your own strawberries, raspberries and other fruit during summer. Excellent farm shop and cafe year round. This is an excellent place to buy local produce.
Micro Brewery or other Brewery
Based in East Oxford, The Oxford Artisan Distillery is a producer of whisky, gin, and vodka. Visitors can book a tour, and learn about the delicate process of distillation, following the entirety of the spirit-making process from grain to finished product. In the summer, the distillery operates a garden bar overlooking South Park.
Parks and Green Spaces
Just a five-minute walk from the High Street, Christ Church Meadow is one of the most central green spaces in Oxford. From its well-maintained paths, it’s possible to see rowers on the river, grazing cattle, and stunning views of Christ Church and Merton Colleges.
The oldest Botanic Garden in the United Kingdom, featuring a huge range of exotic plants. Located in the centre of the city, just minutes from the High Street, the Botanic Gardens offers visitors a chance to see glasshouses containing biomes from around the world, immaculate walled gardens, and special collections – including carnivorous plants.
Winding through the heart of Oxford, the River Thames offers a chance to navigate the city away from traffic and surrounded by nature. It’s an excellent place for cycling with scenic views, visiting a riverside pub, or exploring the easily accessible nature reserves at Grandpont and Longbridges.
Sitting between the University’s Science Area and the leafy suburbs of North Oxford, the University Parks are a large area of parkland open to all. Offering flat walks (and public toilets), visitors seeking longer walks can follow footpaths towards Marston, the weir at Parson’s Pleasure, or the waterside walk of Mesopotamia.
One of Oxford’s hidden gems, Mesopotamia Walk connects the University Parks to Headington Hill Park via a peaceful waterside walk. With university sports grounds on either side, and bounded by the upper and lower levels of the River Cherwell, the walk offers a quiet route between the University Parks and King’s Mill Lane.
Linking Oxford’s train station to the suburbs of Jericho and Summertown, Oxford’s canal offers a peaceful way to access the northern green spaces of Port Meadow and the Trap Grounds. Fans of historical facts may want to take advantage of the ‘Heritage Trail’ – a three mile stretch of the towpath featuring signposts linking to an audio guide.
Port Meadow is a large green space linking the leafy suburb of Jericho to the villages of Binsey to the west and Wolvercote to the north. As a flood plain for the River Thames, Port Meadow offers stunning walks along the river banks.
Located at the east end of Oxford, just minutes from the vibrant Cowley Road, South Park offers commanding views back to the city centre. Equipped with a playground for younger children, and a collection of outdoor gym equipment, South Park hosts a range of festivals, fairs, and events throughout the year.
One of the ‘wilder’ green spaces in central Oxford, Iffley Meadows are a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ - featuring diverse plant and animal species. Each spring the meadow is covered in a blanket of purple flowers.
Sitting between Iffley Road and Cowley Road, Florence Park is a green getaway in the heart of East Oxford. Hosting tennis courts, a high-flying trapeze school, play areas, and mini-golf, Florence Park offers a wide array of activities for the adventurous and energetic!
Once home to CS Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series, the CS Lewis Nature Reserve preserves the pond and woodland which the writer once owned. Teeming with wildlife, a nature trail is available for children.
Just beyond Oxford’s Eastern Bypass, Shotover Country Park offers a variety of walks through fields and woodland. Containing bridleways, mountain bike trails, and three different marked walking trails, it can be a great alternative to the inner-city parks.
Wytham Woods is a large area of woodland which belongs to the University of Oxford – where researchers carry out observations into woodland habitats. Visitors can take advantage of the meandering paths which wind through the woodlands and grasslands, or the many creative and scientific events.
This is a 2km walk that takes in stunning views from the top of Forest Hill across Oxfordshire.
Swimming pool
Tucked away in the south of Oxford, just off Abingdon Road, Hinksey Park’s heated outdoor pool offers visitors the chance to swim open-air, with a guaranteed water temperature. Younger visitors can take advantage of the nearby ‘splash park’ – with an array of fountains, jets, and tunnels.
Eat and Drink
The Art Café is both a café and exhibition space – allowing visitors to view local artwork while enjoying fresh food and drinks. With an emphasis on local, free-range, gluten-free and vegan products, The Art Café caters for most dietary requirements – and offers a bewildering choice of gluten free cakes and slices.
Serving breakfasts, lunches, coffees, cocktails, and tapas from the very centre of Oxford, The Handle Bar menu evolves with the seasons, to bring the freshest local ingredients to centre-stage. With a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options, the restaurant serves both the classic brunch dishes, and options for the more adventurous.
The Vaults and Garden Café is located in the vaults of Saint Mary’s Church – with a stunning vaulted ceiling, and an outdoor seating area which overlooks Radcliffe Square and the Bodleian. The café serves breakfasts, lunches, and cream teas, with a real focus on sustainable and local ingredients from organic and ethical farms.
Located at the intersection of Oxford’s High Street and the winding path of Queen’s Lane, The Queen’s Lane Coffee House claims to be one of the oldest coffee houses in England, operating since the seventeenth century. With a wide range of hot and cold drinks, the Queen’s Lane Coffee House has a specific focus on traditional English fare and home-made Turkish food.
Mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys, The Grand Café claims to be the oldest English coffee house, opened in the seventeenth century. The building is a stunning example of art-deco interiors, with delicious seasonal and local produce on offer. The menu spans breakfasts, lunches, and traditional high tea is served all day.
Based in the building which used to host a thriving marmalade factory, The Jam Factory acts as a café, restaurant, bar, and arts centre. Just a stone’s throw from Oxford’s train station, visitors can enjoy a wide range of breakfasts and brunches, alongside salads, hot mains, and sourdough sandwiches.
Common Ground is a café geared towards workspace; the café is furnished with spacious desks, a generous wifi connection, and enough electricity outlets to ensure that anyone bringing a laptop can connect to power. The food and drinks on offer include salads, sandwiches, and an extensive range of coffees – sometimes with visiting chefs providing hot and delicious lunches.
Opera Café, located on the quiet Walton Street, has a focus on Mediterranean food and high-quality ingredients – offering breakfasts, lunches, cakes, and pastries. Specialities include ‘baklava’ and ‘basbousa’ – layered filo pastry and a sweet semolina cake which pair beautifully with both hot and cold drinks.
Located on Walton Street, The Jericho Café is an independent coffee shop serving drinks and cakes for on the go, and a selection of heartier breakfasts and lunches. Voted one of the best brunch spots in Britain by The Sunday Times, in addition to cooked breakfasts, they offer sweet waffles, bagels, and melts.
Serving a Mediterranean-inspired menu, Gees offers brunches, lunches, puddings, and cocktails – in an airy and light-filled Victorian conservatory, surrounded by trees and plants. The menu changes with the seasons, and includes dishes inspired by the regions of Spain and Italy.
Selling coffee and cake, the Barefoot Bakery specialises in decadent brownies, and home-made cakes – all with an emphasis on home-baking. Visitors can choose from an extensive menu of hot drinks, and there are many options suitable for vegan, gluten free, and dairy free diets.
Positioned on the banks of the River Thames in Lower Wolvercote, North of Oxford, The Trout Inn is a great place to enjoy lovely views of the Thames. The Trout Inn is a premium pub, bar, and restaurant with its very own garden, centrally located in the heart of the picturesque town of Wolvercote.
Experiences
Escape Hunt Oxford offers an exciting, challenging attraction where you can work in a team to solve puzzles before time runs out. With immersive, themed indoor escape rooms, outdoor adventures are also available – with geolocation and augmented reality allowing for a huge playable area around the city.
Salter’s Steamers are a family-run boat hire business, which also offers river cruises along the Thames. Boat hire is available from a pontoon located next to the Head of the River pub, and visitors can book either punts, rowing boats, or diesel boats – depending on the desired level of exertion.
At the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, you can take part in one of the quintessential Oxford experiences – punting. The boathouse offers the options to hire a punt, pedalo, or rowing boats, either by the hour or by the day – and even to hire a chauffeur, if you’re looking for the greatest possible degree of relaxation!
Sail along the river Cherwell on this idyllic form of transport and discover Oxford in a totally unique way. Whether you choose to float downstream to University Parks – one of the most popular picnic spots in Oxford, sail to ‘The Victoria Arms’ for a pit stop, or simply admire the stunning architecture and landscape of Oxford from the water, hiring a punt will guarantee your trip to this historic city will be an unforgettable one.
High Fly Trapeze is a flying trapeze school based in Florence Park – where the adventurous can try out circus skills in a safe environment. Catering for ages seven and up, they are welcoming and inclusive – so whether you want a one-off experience, or to pursue training in aerial arts, their friendly and experienced staff are on hand to explain, train, and help you soar through the air.
City Mazes Oxford offers a selection of escape room challenges – where players must race to solve puzzles before the time runs out. City Mazes offers a variety of rooms with different themes; from sci-fi to hostage escape, and with one room set in the world of wizarding.
Church or Religious Site
Offering panoramic views of the Oxford skyline, The University Church is located just opposite the Bodleian Library, in front of the Radcliffe Camera. Visitors can climb to the very top of the church’s tower via a spiralling medieval staircase, explore the church interior, or visit the ‘Vaults and Garden Café’.
Shopping
At the very heart of Oxford, The Covered Market is home to an eclectic collection of independent traders. Whether you’re looking for food and drink, to buy products, or seek services, the varied mix of stalls cater for all tastes.
We at Wild Honey are deeply passionate about food, health and our vibrant community here in Oxford. We stock the freshest, local, organic produce....