A real gem, that’s exactly what Oxford is. A city that exudes centuries of history and fascinates you with its architecture alone. Gothic (and more) is the style of the UK's city of Colleges, renowned worldwide since the 9th century. Just 55 minutes from London, I consider it a worthy stop to visit even just for one day. Primarily because you can manage it, and also because there are so many things to discover! So, wake up early and let's get moving! At the end of the article, as usual, I will tell you how to reach Oxford from London. Ready for another journey together? Ready to discover what to see in Oxford? Iamme ià.
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Oxford Town centre
Welcome to the city of Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical, and Palladian style! If you are a lover of urban architecture, you can already book your ticket to Oxford! A small premise: to tell you what to do in this city in just one day, I spent 3 days there.
I want to explain things to you properly, so I’ve gathered information on everything I think is worth visiting. I’m providing a very short list below that, if followed step-by-step, will make your life much easier. The reason is that all these things come (more or less) one after the other:
- Gloucester Green Town Square
- The Saxon Tower of St. Michael at the North Gate
- Bridge of Sighs
- Radcliffe Camera
- University Church of St Mary The Virgin
- Covered market
- Carfax Tower
- Christ Church
- Oxford Parks
- Westgate
- Oxford Castle Quarter
- Oxford Canals
Stay in the city centre to enjoy Oxford on foot
Oxford day trip things to do: Gloucester Green Town Square
Leaving Oxford station, if you follow the route I’ve outlined, you’ll do a "U-turn" loop. So, by the end of it, you’ll find yourself literally back just a few steps from the station. The first stop I’m listing for you is Gloucester Green, a very famous (though small) square.
Here, in fact, from Wednesday to Saturday, there is an open-air market. The most beautiful thing here is the multi-ethnicity of the people you meet, also because there are food stands from every nation.
Besides checking out the market stalls, take the opportunity to grab a quick snack! Just a snack, mind you, because later I’ll tell you about a place to eat "the" Roman pinsa. It’s also located in Gloucester Green, but we’ll come back to that later—let’s continue the tour.
Oxford day trip things to do: The Saxon Tower of St. Michael at the North Gate
Following George Street and heading towards the center, you will find yourself at a 1st intersection. From here, basically, the tour of the heart of this "gem" begins. By taking the first right at the intersection, you will find yourself in front of St. Michael’s Tower.
St. Michael's Tower is one of Oxford's oldest buildings from the Saxon era. There are 97 steps to climb before reaching the top of the tower. Honestly (and I'll explain why later), in my opinion, it’s not worth going up because there is a waaaay more beautiful (and higher) place.
Oxford day trip things to do: Bridge of Sighs
Once you've seen the tower just from the outside, you can head back to the intersection. Continue towards Radcliffe Camera and the tour starts to get waaaay more interesting. As you walk towards Radcliffe Square, you’ll come across a small intersection.
On the left, you'll find a small street, the location of the Bridge of Sighs! It is officially called Hertford Bridge and connects two Oxford colleges. Therefore, just like before, we can only view it from the outside!
Have you ever been to Venice? I have! And this bridge bears a certain resemblance to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. And a little bit to the Rialto Bridge as well. Nothing to do about it, oh, they’re always trying to copy us!
Oxford day trip things to do: Radcliffe Camera
Continuing to walk, however, you will suddenly find yourself in an iconic square: Radcliffe Square. It's impossible to miss, especially because in the center stands the world-famous Radcliffe Camera. A gem within a gem!
The latter contains about 600,000 books. (Perhaps in 600 lifetimes we could read them all, perhaps). Between underground rooms beneath Radcliffe Square and the upper section. There are two reading rooms, used mainly by university students. The downside is that, unfortunately, it is not possible to access them.
The reason is precisely because it is intended for student use only. Perhaps if you ask for authorization beforehand, it might be possible. However, even just seeing it from the outside is impressive. In fact, it's a spot I recommend for taking plenty of great photos. (P.S. bring a good wide-angle lens).
Oxford day trip things to do: University Church of St Mary The Virgin
We’re moving just a tiny, tiny bit. This Church is located right in front of the Radcliffe Camera and has a very high tower. It dates back to the 11th century and is historically the most important building in Oxford. What I think is worth visiting to take a beautiful memory back home is the tower. 127 steps separate you from one of the most beautiful views in Oxford: High Street, All Souls College, and Radcliffe Square.
This is what you will see from the top, besides the magnificent Oxford skyline. The entrance fee is £5, which is not excessive in my opinion. Of course, I remind you that I am a lover of landscape photography. So, I couldn't miss this spot. And that’s exactly why I told you to avoid climbing the previous tower.
Oxford day trip things to do: Covered Market
We’re moving on, but again, just a short distance away. A few steps from Radcliffe Square, you'll find the covered market. It's very famous here in Oxford because it's full of narrow alleys, little markets, and tiny shops. Get lost, get lost until you find the exit (if you find it).
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The cake design shops here are very cute, and I recommend tasting something typical from them. They are great because they have transparent windows where you can watch how they create the cakes.
Oxford day trip things to do: Carfax Tower
I'm mentioning this turret because it's on the way to the next (and in my opinion, most beautiful) spot! Carfax is the heart of Oxford, and its name derives from Quadrifurcus. Here, the four roads from the four city gates meet. It is dominated by the bell tower of the 13th-century church. The main part was rebuilt in 1820 and subsequently demolished in 1896 to widen the road.
As you can see, here they are constantly demolishing and rebuilding. There are 97 steps to reach the top here. But you know what? Enough with the stairs, iammece a fa na cammen int o parc! (Which means: let’s go for a walk in the park).
Oxford day trip things to do: Christ Church
This is probably where you’ll spend a bit more time compared to the other spots! Christ Church in Oxford is an emblem. It is located in the heart of the city center and belongs to the University of Oxford. The entrance from the garden side features this phrase on the ground: “My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage” with a sword in relief embedded in the floor.
This garden commemorates the men of Christ Church who died in World War I. It also houses the legendary Christ Church Cathedral, which was built in the 12th century. We can say it is one of the favorite destinations for another reason as well: Harry Potter!
Harry Potter Oxford Tour
Listen up, young folks, if you are lovers of this world-famous saga, spend these £15. Do you remember (if you’ve seen the 1st movie) the scene where the students have to be chosen for their house? Where they walk through that enormous hall with the floating candles? Where, all of a sudden, food for an army appears on the tables and they start feasting?
Well, THAT hall is located exactly here, in Christ Church! You didn't know?! Well, what am I here for? That’s exactly why I’m here! Since we’ve spent little to nothing so far, I think it’s a very doable stop! Personally, I love watching movies, so I’m also passionate about filming locations. And I definitely think this Hall is one of my favorites. I don't know, it just exudes a "magical" and mystical feeling at the same time! I highly recommend it!
Oxford day trip things to do: the Parks
Let’s just say that visiting the parks in Oxford comes naturally! Oxford is full of them, and I’ve listed it as something to do right after Christ Church because you can do it from here. Once you've visited the Hall, if you head back to the garden where you started, you can enjoy a lovely walk.
In fact, an entire green space starts from here, and you could walk for hours! Reach the canal and keep going right along the water! I suggest, however, keeping a long walk or a park break for the very end. What I did was continue just a bit past the Christ Church garden for the view. I have to be honest, there are several beautiful spots where you can take many lovely photos! What impressed me the most is the way these massive buildings alternate with the parks—which are equally massive! This is exactly why I love Oxford! In fact, if you look closely at my photos, you'll notice the wide-open spaces surrounding the buildings.
Westgate Oxford
I've included the Westgate on the list for a bit of leisure! It is basically a shopping center located in the heart of Oxford. So, inside you will find shops for every brand and plenty of dining spots. In fact, I'll be recommending one shortly.
The Westgate is the heart of "modern" Oxford and it’s very beautiful because of its glass roof. This makes it "naturally" bright, and it has an area (on the top floor) dedicated to dining. By taking the escalators in the center of the mall, you’ll find a whole series of places. I’ve been to several of them, and before finishing the article, I’ll recommend one for a quick "hit and run" bite!
Oxford Castel Quarter
1000 years of history resisting the elements of the gloomy English weather. Last but not least, the small medieval Norman Castle.
Our tour is almost coming to an end, and this is the penultimate stop. It is possible to walk around the outside of the castle for free. However, it is not possible to see the interior without a guided tour. I admired it only from the outside, passing through the prisons and the garden.
Honestly, I believe it’s simply worth a quick visit. Moreover, next to the Castle, there is a small hill. If you climb it via the path, you will reach its summit. From here, you can better admire the view of both the Castle and a glimpse of Oxford.
Oxford Canals
A little relaxation before leaving is definitely called for. And you can find it along the Oxford canals. They are pretty much everywhere, and you'll come across them especially in the parks! I found it relaxing because walking along the canals keeps you away from the road! Or at least for most of them, so you can recover some energy sitting on a bench.
Observing the mirror-like reflections that the canal creates with the houses along its banks! In the Oxford canals, I also saw many people doing sports: kayak or SUP (stand-up paddleboarding). Honestly, I didn't try it, mostly because qua fa nu caxx e fridd! (The temperatures are not exactly ideal), but if you're interested, you can take note of it.
Where to stay in Oxford
I leave below a couple of links to help you in case of an overnight stay in Oxford:
Where to eat in oxford
I’ll start with a quick premise for this part as well: I have 3 places to recommend for a 24-hour stay. First and foremost, I can tell you that if you try something at the Gloucester Green market, you can't go wrong! Just something to snack on! There are stalls from every nationality with their own typical specialties!
Right in this same square, however, you will also find a pizzeria! It's called “Buongiorno e Buonasera”. As you can tell from the name, first and foremost they are very friendly, and they are also experts in preparing "pinsa". “Pinsa Romana” is a reimagining of an ancient recipe dating back to the times of Ancient Rome. The term Pinsa actually derives from the Latin Pinsere: to stretch or press down.
To be honest, I wasn't familiar with it. But thanks to the hospitality of Selim (the manager and pizza chef), I had the chance to try it. I was very impressed by the quality as well. Light and, above all, made with high-quality ingredients, specifically typical ones from the Lazio region! I recommend it for a lunch break or on your way back home!
Oxford Pub
Another place I recommend, even just for a beer, is The Turf Tavern. This pub was established in 1381! I'll write it out for you: One thousand three hundred and eighty-one! A real piece of history! It’s the classic old-school English pub, with warm tones and spacious areas inside!
It also has several outdoor areas where you can spend your evenings at the height of summer! It's very atmospheric; I highly recommend it, and you’ll find it near the Bridge of Sighs. In fact, to find it, you have to go down a very narrow and tight alley. This makes the whole experience even more “British” and “old school.”
Oxford Cocktail Bar
Good things always come in threes! In Oxford, I also found a very nice cocktail bar located on the dining floor of the Westgate! It's called The Alchemist. Very cool, modern, and chic! So, if you're not looking for a "birrozza" (a big beer) but rather a drink in the heart of Oxford, I highly recommend it! The average price for cocktails is between £8 and £10, so not too excessive either!
From London to Oxford
If you want to get to Oxford, it won't be very difficult as you have several options. Needless to say, transport in the UK works brilliantly. From London to Oxford is about an hour by train. I’m giving you London as the starting point because it is generally the most visited city. So, it’s assumed that if you want to visit Oxford, it’s because you want to take a day trip out of town. If you are in another English city, just consult the Chiltern Railways website. Enter your starting point and it will give you all the info. Departing from London, however, you have two stations to choose from:
- Paddington Station
- Marylebone Station
Ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week and the time slots! So you can even find some very cheap ones! Besides the train, you can decide to take the bus, although the latter takes much longer (about 2 hours). Precious time that you would be taking away from visiting the city, so the train is better! I’ll leave you the link anyway so you can check schedules and prices for buses as well
Conclusions
So, what do you think? Did you like Oxford? Honestly, I consider it an excellent stop outside London if you are visiting for several days. In a 7-day trip, for example, it would be perfect! Mainly because, usually, when you plan to travel for more days, you have more time. This also implies organizing a few "out-of-town" trips. Once again, our journey is coming to an end. Don't forget, however, that photography was invented. And that is exactly how I will remember this yet another wonderful trip!
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