Guidebook for Oxfordshire
Food Scene
They make the best croissants north of the Channel.
8 locals recommend
Gatineau Artisan Patisserie & Bakery
209 Banbury RdThey make the best croissants north of the Channel.
LB's Lebanese Cuisine
253 Banbury RdWonderful Lebanese takeaway
Simply one of the best restaurants in the country, run by Raymond Blanc. Get your wallet primed and your hungry on.
58 locals recommend
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Church RoadSimply one of the best restaurants in the country, run by Raymond Blanc. Get your wallet primed and your hungry on.
Vaults & Garden
1 Radcliffe SqGreat fresh food in the centre of town.
Great bread and friendly staff - and 10 minutes walk from the studio.
12 locals recommend
GAIL's Bakery Summertown
251 Banbury RdGreat bread and friendly staff - and 10 minutes walk from the studio.
Brew
75B Banbury RdBest coffee for miles.
Sightseeing
The most beautiful library in the world, set in one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
12 locals recommend
Radcliffe Square
Radcliffe SquareThe most beautiful library in the world, set in one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
This is the college where Lewis Caroll taught and Alice lived; where Harry Potter was shot (some of it) and it houses the city’s bijoux cathedral with stunning stained glass and and curious memorials, including one to the author of The Anatomy of Melancholy. Don’t miss the stupendous dining hall.
45 locals recommend
Christ Church Cathedral
Saint Aldate'sThis is the college where Lewis Caroll taught and Alice lived; where Harry Potter was shot (some of it) and it houses the city’s bijoux cathedral with stunning stained glass and and curious memorials, including one to the author of The Anatomy of Melancholy. Don’t miss the stupendous dining hall.
Make sure to go around the colleges. It’s hard to choose one — Magdalen is grand, Exeter is cute, Trinity is graceful, Worcester has the best garden, All Soul’s is atmospheric, Keble is high Victoriana. Poke around and explore.
153 locals recommend
University of Oxford
Wellington SquareMake sure to go around the colleges. It’s hard to choose one — Magdalen is grand, Exeter is cute, Trinity is graceful, Worcester has the best garden, All Soul’s is atmospheric, Keble is high Victoriana. Poke around and explore.
Parks & Nature
One of the loveliest private parks with an island-studded lake, an insanely grandiose palace (which you can look around), and wandering herds of deer. Oh and Churchill grew up here…
657 locals recommend
Blenheim Palace
One of the loveliest private parks with an island-studded lake, an insanely grandiose palace (which you can look around), and wandering herds of deer. Oh and Churchill grew up here…
This is one of the last pieces of common land in England, a sea of buttercups in spring, and a series of lakes and pools when there are floods.
102 locals recommend
Port Meadow
Walton Well RdThis is one of the last pieces of common land in England, a sea of buttercups in spring, and a series of lakes and pools when there are floods.
Walk across Port Meadow and along the Thames to Binsey and have lunch at the Perch. Then go look at the Alice’s “treacle well".
Binsey
Walk across Port Meadow and along the Thames to Binsey and have lunch at the Perch. Then go look at the Alice’s “treacle well".
Rent a punt here and pole along the Cherwell: bliss. And it is one of Oxford's best restaurants.
52 locals recommend
Cherwell Boathouse
Bardwell RoadRent a punt here and pole along the Cherwell: bliss. And it is one of Oxford's best restaurants.
Take a punt from the Cherwell Boathouse or Magdalen Bridge and enjoy the timeless peace of this beautiful river.
River Cherwell
Take a punt from the Cherwell Boathouse or Magdalen Bridge and enjoy the timeless peace of this beautiful river.
Arts & Culture
Could this be the most perfect-sized museum? There’s a little bit to chew on for everyone — the collection of art and antiquities is very choice — in particular the Egyptian rooms are very fine and the changing exhibition of Chinese art just to the right when you go in.
374 locals recommend
Ashmolean Museum
Beaumont StreetCould this be the most perfect-sized museum? There’s a little bit to chew on for everyone — the collection of art and antiquities is very choice — in particular the Egyptian rooms are very fine and the changing exhibition of Chinese art just to the right when you go in.
One of the spookiest places in Oxford with its extraordinary ethnographic collection from around the world. The displays are still as they were arranged 80 years ago (with additions). You can see shoes from Alaska and a witch’s curse from Somerset.
120 locals recommend
Museum Of Natural History
Parks RoadOne of the spookiest places in Oxford with its extraordinary ethnographic collection from around the world. The displays are still as they were arranged 80 years ago (with additions). You can see shoes from Alaska and a witch’s curse from Somerset.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Catweazle Club
44 Princes StGo here for live music, upcoming bands and the open mic night.
Upstairs on Thursday nights there’s live jazz in a tight, sweaty, old-fashioned club. Great acts roll up unexpectedly every year. I saw Nigel Kennedy once!
6 locals recommend
The Wheatsheaf
129 High StUpstairs on Thursday nights there’s live jazz in a tight, sweaty, old-fashioned club. Great acts roll up unexpectedly every year. I saw Nigel Kennedy once!
One of the best pubs in Oxford city. A great selection of ales and an eclectic mix of students, tourists and locals. Eat first (there's no food) and bring cash (they don't take cards).
8 locals recommend
Lamb and Flag
12 St Giles'One of the best pubs in Oxford city. A great selection of ales and an eclectic mix of students, tourists and locals. Eat first (there's no food) and bring cash (they don't take cards).
Entertainment & Activities
Escape the madding crowds and take a bus, cycle or drive to this canalside village. There's a great walk through a ghost village and woods along the river Cherwell. Have tea and cake at Annie's or visit either of the two pubs. Hire a kayak and propel yourself down the canal, which is lined with colourful narrowboats and their even more colourful owners!
Thrupp
Escape the madding crowds and take a bus, cycle or drive to this canalside village. There's a great walk through a ghost village and woods along the river Cherwell. Have tea and cake at Annie's or visit either of the two pubs. Hire a kayak and propel yourself down the canal, which is lined with colourful narrowboats and their even more colourful owners!
Getting Around
The closest railway station - just a few bus stops or a 5-minute taxi ride away. Get off here rather than in the city.
32 locals recommend
Oxford Parkway station
The closest railway station - just a few bus stops or a 5-minute taxi ride away. Get off here rather than in the city.