Beautiful, bookish Oxford, with its handsome, honey-coloured streets, grand university buildings and world-class museums is the place to follow in the footsteps of political giants, explore hushed quads, and down a pint in a pub where literary classics were first discussed. Yet along with its 44 colleges, Oxford is a working city where town and gown have been quiet rivals for years and car production is just as important as cutting-edge scientific discovery. Wander its ancient lanes, paddle its backwaters, and discover what every local knows – that Oxford is far more complex and compelling than its international reputation suggests. These are the best things to do in Oxford right now.
Radcliffe Camera, OxfordGetty Images
1. Explore an Oxford College
For many visitors, the university is Oxford and with its colleges scattered all over town, you can’t miss them. The grandest of them all are Christ Church, whose dining hall was the inspiration for Hogwarts’, and Magdalen (pronounced Maudlin), whose grounds are big enough to support its own deer herd. Smaller colleges such as Balliol with its beautiful gardens or Merton with its chained library are just as impressive though. Along with the quads, the dining halls and the grounds, the chapels should not be missed, and if you’re visiting late afternoon, attending a candle-lit Evensong is a joy.
Interior decoration of Christchurch Priory, OxfordGetty Images
2. Tour the city landmarks
Climb the tower of University Church and you’ll get a bird’s eye view of Oxford’s finest landmarks. First up is the Radcliffe Camera, an imposing circular building part of the Bodleian Library. The ‘Bod’ is also home to the gorgeous medieval Divinity School, while next door is the Sheldonian Theatre, a ceremonial hall where 27 British Prime Ministers, 50 Nobel Prize winners and 120 Olympic medal winners have graduated over the years. Handsome Hertford Bridge can be seen from the Bod’s main courtyard, while Blackwell’s, Oxford’s most famous bookstore, is just around the corner – a browse is one of the best things to do in Oxford in itself.
3. Spend the night in a former loo
Oxford’s hotel scene still feels a step behind its global reputation, but a couple of standout stays are quietly cropping up. Right on St Giles’ – a stone’s throw from the Ashmolean – The Netty turns a quirky concept into a credible design destination: two smart suites beneath a restored Victorian public toilet, pavement light filters through glass, high-gloss ceilings pop with colour, and every inch has story-rich detail – it drew interiors-world attention for its bold palette and creative reuse. If subterranean suites aren’t your scene, The Store – in the old Boswells department store – is a polished alternative. Its 101 rooms, rooftop bar and spa nod to Oxford’s heritage while feeling refreshingly modern.
