Oxford brings together museums, historic buildings and themed walking tours with an activity on the River Cherwell. This lets you plan your stay around a range of interests: from archaeological and ethnographic collections to university architecture, literature, film and punting. The Oxford Covered Market also offers something different, with local crafts, food and drink.
Museums, collections and architectural history
The Pitt Rivers Museum displays archaeological and ethnographic objects from around the world. The Ashmolean is the art and archaeology museum of the University of Oxford and is regarded as Britain’s first public museum. Its collections include objects dating from 8000 BC to the present day. Comparing the two museums reveals their different specialisms: worldwide archaeological and ethnographic objects at the Pitt Rivers, and art and archaeology at the Ashmolean.
The buildings themselves are also among the city’s distinctive cultural highlights. The Museum of Oxford is located in the listed Oxford Town Hall, a Grade II* building. Founded in 1621, the Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the United Kingdom. These historic landmarks complement museum visits with architectural history and a long gardening tradition.
Tours with different themes
The Oxford Official Walking Tours combine historic University of Oxford buildings—including the Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Sheldonian Theatre and Bodleian Library—with filming locations from Harry Potter and Inspector Morse. There is a special Oxford walking tour for fans of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, exploring their works and important places in Oxford. Another family-friendly walking tour visits historic filming locations and inspirations from the world of Harry Potter. The tours therefore differ mainly in their themes: university buildings and film history, the works of two authors, or Harry Potter connections on a family-friendly walk.
Admission, access and getting there
Admission to the Weston Library is free; no ticket is required. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History also offers free admission without requiring a ticket. To visit the interior of the Bodleian Old Library, you must book a Bodleian tour. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History recommends that visitors use park-and-ride services and cycle routes. The entrance to the Pitt Rivers Museum is on Parks Road and leads through the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Visitor rules and entrance details may change, so check the latest information before your visit and, for any tour you choose, check its dates.
The market and the River Cherwell
The Oxford Covered Market has been an architectural and cultural landmark since it opened in 1774. It originally housed 20 butcher shops; today it showcases local crafts, food and drink. Around 60 independent specialists are represented there, although the number may change. The market thus combines its historic use with an offering that differs from the city’s collections and buildings.
The Cherwell Boathouse offers a different activity: punting on the River Cherwell. More than 80 handcrafted punts are available to hire. This gives you a choice of different kinds of visits when planning your trip—a market visit, a themed tour or a trip on the river. For the activities you select, check the relevant visitor and booking information.
Find a hotel for your stay in Oxford
If you’re looking for a hotel in Oxford, start with the experiences you want to shape your stay. Would you mainly like to discover collections and architecture, choose a themed walking tour, or also plan a punting trip?
Discover more destinations: Great Rollright, Standlake, Kidlington, Waterstock, Eynsham, Murcott, Letcombe Regis, Minster Lovell
For the wider travel overview: Oxfordshire.
