Travels to Oxford: A Guide

A complete guide on what you can do for the day. Time to take a trip out of the city and visit the historic beauty that is Oxford! 

There is plenty to explore in one of the easiest day trips to arrange! About an hour away from London, Oxford is rich in history and beautiful architecture but if you're stuck on what activities to prioritise while you're there then you've come to the right place!

Oxford isn't the only spot LSE hit up, trips to Cambridge, Bath (Stonehenge) and even Berlin happened last year! Keep on the lookout for when you can book to go.

Throwback to last term's day trip

There are always new day trips being arranged and because it's close by, Oxford is very popular (spaces sell out fast!). As you can see from the compilation of last year's trip, you will be struggling for time with all the stuff you'll want to do. If you want to see any upcoming events then LSE Residential Life will keep you up to date and you can purchase any tickets you might need as well. You also have the option to go independently from the uni but make sure to share any good photos with @lsereslife.

What to do in Oxford

Behold, the top picks of things you can do if you only have the day:

Activities

• Free walking tour - Run by students and alumni, you'll visit many of the historic universities and colleges as well as some locations where Harry Potter was filmed. Tours take place every day at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:45 and last around 90-120 minutes.
• Botanic garden - Visit the oldest botanic garden in the UK, home to over 5,000 different plant species! Tickets are £5.00 for students, open 10:00-16:00 (last entry at 15:00). 
• Museum of natural history - From dinosaurs to ocean depths enjoy a FREE visit to Oxford's best museum. 20 new displays (gigantic Japanese spider crab, meteorites as old as the solar system), open 10:00-17:00 every day.

Sightseeing

• Oxford castle and prison - One of the pricier options (£14.50 if you book in advance) but plenty to offer if you love a castle. Climb St. George's tower, descend into the candle-lit crypts or step into the 18th-century prison cells. Open 10:00-17:00 every day.
• Radcliffe Camera - The place you're probably going to stick on Instagram, it's the most iconic Oxford landmark and is a library open to the public. Free and open Mon-Fri 9:00-21:00, Sat 10:00-18:00 and Sun 11:00-19:00.
• Christ Church meadow - Enjoy a nice walk around a huge park, very central and right by the rivers. Nature at its finest!

Food/drink

• Vaults & garden cafe - Grab a delicious breakfast, lunch or coffee for a reasonable price (average main £11.00)! The menu is a fusion of various cuisines so there will be something that takes your fancy.
• Banana tree - Mouth-watering pan-Asian cuisine (Vietnamese, Malaysian and Thai) located in the heart of Oxford. Plenty of choices and a really cheap lunchtime menu so we recommend going for around 12:00.
• Covered market - Get your shop on, from food/drink to fashion/lifestyle. Lots of independent stores and unique finds. Open Mon-Sat 08:00-17:30 and Sun 10:00-17:00.

The map!

Below are all the spots mentioned above! Compiled into a map for your viewing pleasure: