Things to see in Oxford
Attractions
Oxford University
Few cities are as synonymous with their university as Oxford. Dating to the early 12th century, it's England's oldest university and one of the most prestigious in the world. Alumni include everyone from Walter Raleigh and Stephen Hawking to Tony Blair and Aung San Suu Kyi. Its colleges display elegant architecture and trim lawns, while Bodleian Library is the oldest library in Europe, founded in 1320.
Address: , Oxford University, Oxford,Telephone: +44 1865 270 000.
Opening times:
Various.
Website: http://www.ox.ac.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Natural History Museum & Pitt Rivers Museum
Two corking attractions in one here. The Natural History Museum is a "cathedral to nature", offering a vast collection of items from the natural world, with exhibits ranging from rocks and stones to dinosaurs and the remains of the extinct Mauritius dodo. Out the back, the rewards are even greater. In an atmospheric half-light, the extraordinary Pitt Rivers Museum has totem poles, shrunken heads and weapons.
Address: , Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PWTelephone:
Opening times:
Daily 1000-1700.
Website: http://www.oum.ox.ac.ukAdmission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Oxford Castle
Oxford's 'hidden' castle is a strange sight. Behind an enormous manmade motte, the walled site was a place of incarceration from 1071 until the closure of its prison in 1996. Now open to the public, its visitor centre shares secrets of the preaching, teaching, violence, executions and romantic episodes played out here from the Norman times.
Address: , 44-46 Oxford Castle, Oxford, OX1 1AYTelephone: +44 1865 260 666.
Opening times:
Tours daily from 1000-1600.
Website: http://www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Magdalen College
Magdalen College (pronounced mawd-lin) is another of Oxford's big hitters. Its intricate bell tower dates from the 1500s and remains steeped in tradition – each May Day, the college choir still sing a Latin anthem at dawn here. Look out for Oscar Wilde's room as you tour the corridors. To the rear, deer-filled water meadows offer picturesque walks and the chance to watch punters along the river.
Address: , High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AUTelephone: +44 1865 276 000.
Opening times:
Daily 1300-1800 or dusk (Oct-late Jun); daily 1200-1900 (late Jun-Sep).
Website: http://www.magd.ox.ac.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Christ Church College
The daddy of Oxford colleges, Christ Church has a distinguished history. Founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525, its glittering pan-generational alumni includes Lewis Carroll and WH Auden, alongside a number of UK prime ministers. More recently, it's become famed for the fact that its Great Hall inspired the Hogwarts banquet hall in the Harry Potter films.
Address: , St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DPTelephone: +44 1865 276 492.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1400-1700.
Website: http://www.chch.ox.ac.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Brasenose College
Set in a startlingly handsome quarter of Oxford, Brasenose is surrounded by the spires, domes, libraries and cobbles of Radcliffe Square. Founded in the early 1500s, it retains a hugely evocative atmosphere in everything from its trio of quadrangles to its central hall. Famous alumni include Michael Palin and David Cameron.
Address: , Radcliffe Square, Oxford, OX1 4AJTelephone: +44 1865 277 830.
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 1000-1130 and 1400-1630, Sat-Sun 0930-1030 (term time); Mon-Fri 1000-1130 and 1400-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1130 (non-term time).
Website: http://www.bnc.ox.ac.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Ashmolean Museum
Established in 1683, the Ashmolean is the UK's oldest public museum. It houses hugely impressive collections of art, archaeology and antiquities, together spanning the course of human history. A £61 million renovation has given the museum a facelift, doubling its exhibition space and creating a more modern feel. Its Ancient Egypt galleries are particularly strong.
Address: , Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PHTelephone: +44 1865 278 000.
Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1700.
Website: http://www.ashmolean.orgAdmission Fees:
No.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Modern Art Oxford
With an exceptional programme of installations, exhibitions and education and community events, Modern Art Oxford has earned itself an international reputation. The visual art gallery has hosted major presentations by artists like Marina Abramovic, Yoko Ono, Ed Ruscha and Tracey Emin, and there are thought-provoking exhibitions are held constantly.
Address: , 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BPTelephone: +44 1865 722 733.
Opening times:
Tue-Sat 1100-1800, Sun 1200-1700.
Website: http://www.modernartoxford.org.ukAdmission Fees:
No.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
The Story Museum
Oxford is where Narnia, Wonderland and Middle Earth were brought to life, so it is little wonder that the city has its own Story Museum. Set in a former telephone exchange, it opened in 2014 and is aimed largely at kids (and kids at heart). It includes all manner of quirky features, from fancy dress rooms and illustration displays to an "extreme reading" space.
Address: , Rochester House, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BPTelephone: +44 1865 790 050.
Opening times:
Tues-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1100-1600.
Website: http://www.storymuseum.org.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
Founded in 1621, Britain's oldest botanic garden is also one of the best. It offers 7,000 types of plant, covering just 2 hectares (5 acres). There are three sections: the Glasshouses, which contain climate-sensitive plants; the Walled Garden, laid out in 1884; and the area known as Outside The Walled Garden, which contains classic features such as a water garden.
Address: , Rose Lane, Oxford, OX1 4AZTelephone: +44 1865 286 690.
Opening times:
Daily 0900-1600 (Nov-Feb); daily 0900-1700 (Mar-Apr and Sep-Oct); daily 0900-1800 (May-Aug).
Website: http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.ukAdmission Fees:
Yes (except for disabled visitors).
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Visit Oxfordshire
Address: , 15-16 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3ASTelephone: +44 1865 686 430.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0930-1730, Sun 1000-1600 (summer); Mon-Sat 0930-1700, Sun 1000-1530 (winter).
Website: http://www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.comHelpful staff here can offer advice on what to see and do, book accommodation, source tickets for shows and concerts, and get discounted entry to many local attractions. They also have plenty of maps and leaflets.
