Oxford

Escape the hustle and bustle of London and spend a day or two exploring Oxford.

I booked a National Express coach from central London and had an easy 2 hour journey to Oxford, enjoying beautiful views of historic West Wycombe and the impressive Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire countryside.

Rather than continuing to Oxford’s bus terminal at Gloucester Green I decided to disembark on the High Street where some of the historic college buildings had already caught my eye!

So with only a couple of days to pack as much as possible in, what activities would I recommend for the perfect trip to Oxford?

Here are some ideas of things to do in Oxford based on my previous visit:

TAKE A WALKING TOUR

                                                 Christ Church College, Oxford

One thing I highly recommend doing is taking a walking tour. This is an excellent way to get orientated, learn about some of the history of the city and see several of the university colleges.

I took the 2 hour free Oxford walking tour by Footprints Tours which is conducted by local university students and runs solely on a tips basis.

There are 38 colleges that make up the historic University of Oxford – the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The city is saturated with stunning architecture, and you really do feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you wander the streets past Christ Church College, All Souls College, Hertford College and Merton College.

Radcliffe Camera

For me, the most beautiful part was walking through Radcliffe Square, home to the impressive circular Radcliffe Camera, which is Oxford University’s iconic round library. This distinctive shape can be seen from the very corners of Oxford so it’s not surprising that it inspired Tolkien and Sauron’s temple to Morgoth (The Lord of the Rings).

The Bridge of Sighs

I also loved passing the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ which is located within a few hundred metres from the Radcliffe Camera. The bridge is popularly known as the Bridge Of Sighs but is officially called Hertford Bridge as it connects two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane in Oxford.

Trinity College Oxford

Many of the colleges open there doors for the public and for a small fee (between £2 and £7) you can wander the leafy green grounds and explore inside some of the most ancient colleges and beautiful chapels.

VISIT THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGES

Inside Christ Church College

I highly recommend visiting Christ Church College and taking a tour of the college. It is Oxford’s most beautiful college and famed for its huge impressive cathedral.

To get to the entrance, however, you’ll have to go down the passage Grove Walk and walk around the outside of the college until you get to Christ Church Meadow. At this entrance, you can queue and buy your ticket to enter the college.

The garden that inspired the film, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Christ Church is where Alice in Wonderland was born. The fictional Alice was inspired by Alice Liddell, the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church in the 19th century. Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, studied and taught at Christ Church, which is how he met this little girl.

The college hosts many large, beautiful gardens which inspired the setting for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, particularly the Deanery Garden, which is private.

On your tour, you’ll also visit the hall that inspired the Great Hall in Harry Potter. Although this room was never used in the films, when you walk through the large wooden doors, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Hogwarts.

Indeed, the steps leading up the hall are actually the steps used in the Harry Potter films.

THE PASSAGE TO NARNIA

When you leave Christ Church, you’ll find yourself in Oriel Square. From here you can walk towards the High Street and then up to St Mary’s Passage. 

Here, you’ll find none other than the door to Narnia. One look at this passage and it’s easy to see where C S Lewis got his inspiration.

If you stand facing the door to “Narnia”, you’ll see a familiar-looking lamp to your left. This can only have been the inspiration for the lamppost where Lucy and Mr Tumnus first met. Now speaking of Mr Tumnus, check out these two figures guarding said door. The similarities are uncanny, right? 

Apparently, C S Lewis spent much time running between the two doors that stand opposite each other in this passage, which is how he came upon these details.

THE BEAR INN

After a full day of exploring this historic city, the pub was a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a relaxing drink. Dating from 1242 The Bear is the oldest pub in Oxford and a real hidden gem, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the High Street. Students, locals and tourists drop in to enjoy a great pint of real ale and good, home-cooked food in these historic premises. If your not sure where it is, ask a local and they will be more then happy to point you in the right direction.

From exploring the city’s history and architecture to great shopping and top restaurants, I hope you find this guide to help you plan your day trip to Oxford.