Oxford Day Trip: How To Make The Most Of Your 24 Hours

We traveled through England this spring and Oxford was one of our favorite cities we visited. After hours of research and days exploring the city, we put together what we think is the ultimate Oxford day trip itinerary.

Are you looking for the perfect Oxford day trip itinerary? From running through real Harry Potter staircases to finding the door that inspired Narnia, Oxford is one of the most beautiful and walkable cities in the world.

In this guide, we are sharing exactly how to spend one perfect day in Oxford as a first-timer. You will start your morning at Christ Church College, make your way through the Radcliffe Camera, climb a 127-step medieval tower, and end the night at what we genuinely believe is the best restaurant in the world.

Whether you are adding Oxford to a UK trip or making it a day trip from London, this itinerary will help you hit every must-see spot without feeling rushed. Just make sure you book your Christ Church tickets in advance!

Making the Most of Your Oxford Day Trip

Full transparency: we were not in Oxford for just 24 hours. We were there for just under three days. However, we spent a good chunk of that time working remotely (the life of travel bloggers, folks) and a lot of it recovering from a 5am flight out of Rome. So in reality, the adventures you are about to read fit neatly into a single packed day.

Oh, and it was Joey’s birthday. We woke up in Rome, caught a brutally early flight to London, hopped a bus straight to Oxford, and spent the day running through magical staircases and libraries and eating the best curry in the world. Not a bad way to celebrate, honestly.

Everything in this guide can absolutely be done as a day trip. We have laid it out so that whether you are staying overnight or coming in from London for the day, you can follow this itinerary start to finish without missing a thing.

How To Get To Oxford for Your Day Trip

We flew into London Heathrow that morning, fresh off a month in Italy and a 5am flight out of Rome. Running almost entirely on caffeine and excitement, we had been awake since 3am.

It was Joey’s birthday. We love nothing more than traveling somewhere new on our birthdays. That day we got to see Rome (albeit the outskirts near the airport) and Oxford in a single day. Not too shabby. Getting to Oxford was the last thing we had energy to figure out. However, it turned out to be way simpler than we expected.

Getting to Oxford from Heathrow by Bus

We purchased our tickets through OMIO and boarded the National Express directly from Heathrow to Oxford city center. No trains, no transfers, no connections to stress about. We grabbed our bags, found the stop, and were on our way. For two people who had been awake since 3am, that was exactly what we needed.

One thing we learned the hard way though: check the route before you board. We misread Google Maps and got off a stop too early, leaving us with two large suitcases and a few hundred yards of cobbled roads ahead of us. Not ideal on zero sleep and a birthday. There is a stop called Whitehouse Road that would have dropped us practically at our front door. Check the map first. Save yourself the walk.

Getting to Oxford from London

If you are looking to make a day trip from London to Oxford, you are in luck. Trains and buses run constantly throughout the day, making it one of the easiest day trips in all of England.

Getting to Oxford from London by Train

Trains run from London Paddington multiple times per hour. The fast train takes about an hour and costs as little as £12 ($15 / 14 Euro) each way.

Getting to Oxford from London by Bus

Prefer the bus? The Oxford Tube runs up to every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, from Victoria, Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate, and Shepherd’s Bush. Tickets start at around £13 each way.

Getting to oxford by Car

You can absolutely drive to Oxford. However, we would think twice before doing so. Parking in the city center is limited and expensive. Furthermore, most of the best parts of Oxford are pedestrian-only or heavily restricted. Our suggestion is to use one of the Park and Ride sites on the edge of the city, which are well-signed and much cheaper than parking centrally.

Where We Stayed in Oxford

We stayed in a Vrbo called the Modern City Centre Studio Apartment, just off Abingdon Road. It is not in the downtown Oxford area but it was a quick 15 minute walk into the city center. For two nights we paid £246 ($312 / 287 Euro), which felt like a solid deal for a comfortable, private space in Oxford.

There was a little corner store nearby and a pub called The Slow & Steady right across the street. That pub ended up being our first stop in Oxford. Our apartment was not quite ready when we arrived, so we grabbed a basket of fries and two local beers.

We spent the next hour quoting The Inbetweeners at each other. If you have never seen the show, it follows four English high schoolers coming of age with an extremely crude sense of humor. It is absolutely not for the kids. We have a massive soft spot for British comedies and The Inbetweeners is at the top of the list.

Honestly, not a bad way to start a birthday trip!

Looking for something closer to the action?

If you want to be right in the heart of Oxford or are looking for a few different price points, here are a few options worth considering:

• $: The Sportsview Guest House
• $$: The Buttery
• $$$: The Randolph Hotel Oxford, a Graduate by Hilton Hotel
• $$$$: The Store

The Ultimate Oxford Day Trip

9:00am — Coffee at Paper Boat Cafe

At 8:45am we were out of our Vrbo and ready to spend 24 hours in Oxford! We started our morning at Paper Boat Cafe, a cozy spot right on the main street. It has a staircase that takes you down to a patio right near the water, which looked absolutely lovely. Unfortunately it was full, so we ended up inside scrambling to find a table. We eventually claimed a corner spot and used a spare chair as a makeshift table.

The coffee was perfectly fine. The latte and Americano hit the spot after a long travel day. The pastries were good too. However, if we are being honest, it was not a wow moment. If we had more time in Oxford we would have loved to explore a few other coffee options.

Other Coffee Options In Oxford

If Paper Boat is full or you want to explore other coffee options nearby, here are a few worth checking out:

• Broche Specialty Coffee — 165 Kingston Rd
• Love Coffee Co. — 130 High St
• Peloton Espresso — 76 Cowley Rd
• New Ground Coffee — 2 Windmill Rd

Just note that Peloton Espresso and New Ground Coffee are technically within Oxford city limits but are a solid walk from the city center. Worth it if you have the time, less so if you are on a tight schedule.

10:00am — Christ Church College

With a coffee in hand and a little more pep in our step, we were ready to explore Oxford. First up was Christ Church College, just a short walk from the cafe.

We entered through the Christ Church War Memorial Garden via the Broad Walk, which was stunning. From there we made our way to the Christ Church Visitors Centre to buy tickets for the College and Cathedral tour.

Before we get into it, here is something that confused us at first. Christ Church is not a separate attraction. It is actually a constituent college of the University of Oxford, located right in the heart of the city.

It also uniquely houses Christ Church Cathedral, which serves as both the college chapel and the diocesan cathedral. Nowhere else in the world does a cathedral double as a college chapel. While this sort of information may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it was super interesting to us!

We did the College and Cathedral tour, which costs £27.50 ($35 / €32) per person. The tour includes a visit to the Hall Stairs, Great Hall, Tom Quad, Cloisters, and the Cathedral with a very knowledgable guide. There would about 15 of us and while at times we were rushed through we always had our questions met with answers.

The Hall Stairs

Our tour started early. Suspiciously early, actually. They kicked off a 10am tour at 9:55am, and we were not there yet. So we had to run through the campus to catch up with the group, which is not exactly how we planned to start the morning. We finally caught up at the Hall Stairs, which was the first stop on the tour.

For Harry Potter fans, this is quite an important staircase. It is where Professor McGonagall greets the first year students before they enter the Great Hall for the very first time, and it is where Neville Longbottom loses his pet toad Trevor.

One tip we picked up along the way: the best time to see the Hall Stairs and the Great Hall is in the few moments just before they close it down for mealtimes. The crowds thin out and you get a much better chance to take it all in (and get that oh so gramable photo).

The Great Hall

Up the stairs we found ourselves in the Great Hall, which is absolutely breathtaking. The architecture, the portraits, the hammerbeam ceiling — it is easy to see why it inspired the Hogwarts dining hall in the Harry Potter films. That said, it is worth knowing that the actual movie set was not filmed here. The hall simply served as inspiration for the designers.

What makes it even more special is that this hall is still very much in use today. To the left of the entrance was a full working kitchen, with staff bringing out food on trays. There was a full buffet style setup and a cupboard full of pies and desserts that were unfortunately very much out of reach for us on the tour. A real life Hogwarts feast happening right in front of us and we could not touch a thing.

Tom Quad and the Tom Tower

Next we moved into Tom Quad, the largest quadrangle in Oxford, and this is where we learned one of our favorite facts of the entire trip. The tower looming over the entrance is Tom Tower, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1682. Inside sits Great Tom, a seven ton bell that has rung 101 times every single night for over 300 years.

The 101 chimes represent the original 100 scholars of Christ Church plus one added in 1663, and here is the best part: it rings at 9:05pm, not 9:00pm. That is because Oxford historically ran on its own time zone, five minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time. Every town had its own time until railway standardization in 1848, and Oxford simply kept its own.

The bell’s Latin inscription translates to “Great Thomas the door closer of Oxford.” When it finished ringing, the college gates locked. If you were not inside, you were sleeping somewhere else for the night.

The Cloisters and Cathedral

From Tom Quad we moved through the Cloisters, a stunning covered walkway surrounding a peaceful courtyard. We spotted a slug right in the middle of it and spent a solid few minutes debating what to do. We were genuinely worried it was going to get squished by an unsuspecting tourist.

Finally we made our way into the Cathedral, which was absolutely stunning. The stonework, the woodwork, the sheer sense of history in every corner. However, it was very busy and not particularly peaceful at times. That said, the beauty of the space shined through regardless.

Live Your Hogwarts Dream by Staying at Christ Church

On our way out we spotted one of the most exciting signs of the entire trip — during university holidays you can actually stay inside the Christ Church dorms and live out your very own Hogwarts experience. We were far too early in the season, but it immediately went on the list for the next visit.

Our Christ Church tour was one of the highlights of our Oxford Day Trip. Honestly, we could have spent the entire day just wandering the campus. However, there was still so much more to see. Next up, one of the most underrated stops in all of Oxford — the door that could have maybe inspired one of the most important fantasy authors of the 20th century.

12:00pm — The Narnia Door

Just a short walk from Christ Church, tucked along St. Mary’s Passage, sits one of the most uniquely Oxford stops on our entire itinerary. We knew it was there before we arrived, but finding the exact address and GPS coordinates was a bit of a headache. After all that effort we almost walked right past it.

C.S. Lewis was a longtime student and professor at the University of Oxford. Legend has it that he came across this very door, which features carved satyrs inspiring the character of Mr. Tumnus and a lion-like face that is said to have inspired Aslan himself. Next to it stands a historic lamp post, which as any Narnia fan knows, is a pretty significant detail.

Now, is there any hard evidence behind these legends? Honestly, who knows. But we waited for the crowds to clear, grabbed our photos, and decided we were fully on board with the legend regardless.

We thought this stop would only be sought out by the truly nerdy fans of fantasy literature. We had no idea it was a stop on almost every tour that makes its way through Oxford.

12:30pm — The Radcliffe Camera

From the Narnia Door we made our way across to one of the most photographed buildings in Oxford. The Radcliffe Camera is stunning, and the square it sits in is equally as beautiful. However, we will be honest. The name threw us off completely so we did some googling on the spot to figure it out.

It turns out that Radcliffe was a doctor who donated the money to fund the library. Furthermore, “camera” is a Latin term for room or chamber. So there you have it. Not a camera in sight (except for the ones in our hands).

Unfortunately you cannot just walk inside. The Radcliffe Camera is part of the Bodleian Library, which is spread across three buildings including the Weston Library and the Bodleian Old Library. Therefore, if you want to get inside you will need to book tickets in advance.

1:00pm — St. Mary’s Church Tower

Just across the square from the Radcliffe Camera sits the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. However, it is the tower that you are here for. Tickets cost £6 ($8 / 7 Euro) and children must be at least 8 years old to climb.

Because it is such a tight space, they only allow a small number of people up at a time. We waited about 20 minutes for our turn, which was honestly fine given the views that were waiting for us at the top.

The climb itself is 127 narrow, spiraling medieval stone steps. Be prepared to get very friendly with the people walking in the opposite direction. There is not a lot of passing room and it gets tighter the further up you go.

Once you reach the top, you get one of the best views of the city in every direction. Furthermore, this is the moment you truly understand why Oxford is called the City of Dreaming Spires. Looking out over the rooftops, the towers, and the quads all at once is something we will not forget anytime soon.

After climbing back down we explored the church itself, which was absolutely stunning. Beautiful stonework, incredible woodwork, and a massive organ sitting right in the middle of it all.

2:00pm — Lunch at Rosa’s Thai

After climbing 127 steps up St. Mary’s Church Tower, we were starving. We made a quick detour to Rosa’s Thai for lunch.

If you have been following our travels for a while, you already know about our love for Indian and Thai food. Living in Colorado, good Indian and Thai restaurants are seriously hard to come by.

Therefore, when we find a spot we love we hold onto it tightly. Rosa’s Thai is one of those spots. We have eaten there in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and now Oxford, and it has never once let us down.

Our go-to order is always the same. The chicken pad thai, the veggie spring rolls (Por Pia Tod), and a warm mug of ginger tea.

Over lunch we quickly put our heads together to figure out what else we wanted to see across Oxford for the afternoon.

3:00pm — The Bridge of Sighs

With full bellies and a plan in hand, we made our way back across Broad Street to pick up where we left off.

Our next stop was the Bridge of Sighs on New College Lane. This Venetian inspired skyway connects two quadrangles of Hertford College and was completed in 1914, designed by architect Sir Thomas Jackson. It is one of the most recognizable and photographed spots in all of Oxford. We grabbed our photos and moved on.

3:30pm — The Weston Library

We love a gift shop and we love a bookstore. When we spotted the Bodleian Weston Library Shop we obviously had to take a look.

We have a few traditions while traveling. We love buying Christmas ornaments and postcards, and Joey buys a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, preferably in the local language. He has got quite the collection now. The Weston Library shop took care of all three in one stop.

Inside the Weston Library we also found a very nice bathroom, which was much needed after a large lunch and a few cups of ginger tea at Rosa’s Thai.

One of the coolest and most unique souvenir opportunities we have ever come across is also inside the Weston Library. A printing press that lets you leave with a completely custom printed souvenir. Unfortunately it was not running while we were there, but it is absolutely on the list for next time. You can find out more and check operating hours here.

If you want to see the printing press in action, check out this Instagram reel.

The ticket booth for the Bodleian Library tours is also inside the Weston Library. We walked up and asked what was available. This is worth knowing before you go. Tours book up days if not weeks in advance. We would have loved to see Duke Humfrey’s Library and the Radcliffe Camera from the inside, but neither was available. Honestly, it just gives us another reason to return.

4:00pm — The Divinity School and the Convocation House

What was available was a self guided tour of the Divinity School and the Convocation House. So we made our way across Broad Street, taking a quick walk through the columns of the Clarendon Building. Have we mentioned how picturesque this entire city is?

The gothic vaulted ceiling of the Divinity School was used as the Hogwarts Infirmary in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Standing underneath it knowing that is a pretty surreal experience.

On our way out the Statue of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke is sitting directly in front of the door in the middle of the square. You cannot miss it. He served as Chancellor of Oxford University and was a key patron of the Bodleian Library. Just behind it stands the Sheldonian Theatre, another stunning piece of Oxford architecture worth a moment of your time.

5:00pm — Blackwell’s Bookshop

If you need any excuse to duck into a bookshop, Blackwell’s on Broad Street is one of the finest we have ever visited. It has been serving Oxford University since 1879 and the history inside these walls is extraordinary.

Blackwell’s was the first to publish J.R.R. Tolkien before he became famous for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The bookseller published his children’s poem Goblin’s Feet. They also pioneered the UK’s first online book retailer, which for a bookshop of this age is pretty remarkable.

Head downstairs and you will find the legendary Norrington Room, which once held the Guinness World Record for the largest single room selling books. Nearly three miles of shelving and over 150,000 books. We could have spent the entire afternoon in there.

While we did not explore it on this visit, Blackwell’s also has a rare book and antiquarian department worth a look. The oldest text dates back to 1470 and their highest valued item sits at £90,000. Just knowing it was in there felt pretty special.

Blackwell’s Art and Manga Store Is Down The Street

Just a few doors down on Broad Street sits their specialist art, graphic novel and manga store. We peered through the windows and spotted wall to wall manga. We have not quite gotten into manga just yet, but we love watching anime so it feels like the next logical step might be coming sooner than we think.

Side note: we both love our Kindles but have heard they do not give the best experience for manga. We also travel too much to invest in a large box set, and honestly we do not have the space for them anyway. If you do read manga, DM us on Instagram or drop us an email. We would love to know how you do it!

With a few new books that we wanted but did not need, we left Blackwell’s after a solid hour of browsing the shelves. We walked around Broad Street popping into a few stores until we were ready for our next and final meal of the day. Dishoom.

7:00pm — Dinner at Dishoom Permit Room

Let us be very clear about something. Dishoom is our favorite restaurant in the entire world. Not just in Oxford. Not just in the UK. In the entire world. We dream about it, we buy their swag, and we tell absolutely everyone we meet to go.

Tonight we explored Dishoom’s Permit Room for the first time. We really went all out as our grasp on the British Pound to USD and Euro conversion was still a little iffy, so we ordered with reckless abandonment.

At this point we are professionals. We know exactly what we want. The Zingy Hot Wings, the Chicken Ruby, garlic naan, and a few rounds of House Chai to wash it all down. If you have never been to Dishoom, trust us on this order.

We took in the sights, the bustle, and the smells of Oxford as we waddled back to our Vrbo for the night. We put on Plebs, another great British Comedy (even though it is about 25-ish year olds living in Rome), and called it a fantastic birthday weekend.

Final Thoughts on Our Oxford Day Trip

Oxford is a beautiful city full of history and stunning architecture. It is the kind of town we all wished our colleges looked like growing up. It let us step into a world of literature, following in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and pretend for a day that we were students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

We left this town smitten. We left with a longer to do list than when we arrived. Seriously, Oxford is small, cozy, and the kind of place we want to experience again and again across the seasons. There is something truly magical about it.

Our Oxford day trip barely scratched the surface. However, that is exactly the point. It gave us just enough to fall completely in love and more than enough reasons to come back.

What We Would Do on Our Next Oxford Day Trip

We left Oxford with a longer to do list than when we arrived. We broke it down into tours we want to take, museums we want to explore, places we want to eat, and the biggest reason why we want to return. Here is what is on the list.

Tours

• Oxford Harry Potter Walking Tour Including New College: The ultimate Oxford experience for Potterheads, taking you through the real life filming locations that brought Hogwarts to life.
• Oxford Twilight Ghost Tour: As the sun goes down, Oxford’s dark and mysterious history comes alive on this after hours walking tour through the city’s most haunted spots.
• Oxford University Private Punting Tour on River Cherwell: Let a local expert do the hard work while you sit back and take in Oxford from the water on this private punting experience.
• Oxford Sightseeing River Cruise with Afternoon Tea: A classic Oxford afternoon on the river, complete with tea, pastries, and views of the city you simply cannot get on foot.
• University of Oxford Botanic Garden: Founded in 1621, this is the oldest botanic garden in the UK and a peaceful escape from the busy city center.
• Oxford: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien Guided Walking Tour: Walk in the footsteps of two of the greatest fantasy authors of all time and discover the Oxford that inspired their most beloved works.

Museums (Perfect for Rainy Days)

• Oxford University Museum of Natural History: A stunning Victorian Gothic building housing dinosaur fossils, geological specimens, and one of the only surviving dodo displays in the world.
• Ashmolean Museum: Britain’s oldest public museum and completely free to enter, housing everything from Egyptian mummies to Renaissance paintings across beautifully curated galleries.
• Pitt Rivers Museum: One of the most unique museums we have ever come across, organizing over half a million objects from around the world by type rather than origin.
• The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments: A free and fascinating collection of historical instruments housed in the Oxford University music department, where you can actually play a theremin.

Where We Want to Eat

• Sunday Roast at The Perch or The Chester Arms: There are few things more quintessentially British than a proper Sunday roast, and Oxford does it very well.
• The Turf Tavern: One of the oldest pubs in Oxford, tucked down a narrow alleyway off Bath Place behind the city walls. It is a bit of a mission to find, but that is half the fun. Beloved by students, locals, and apparently a few world leaders along the way.

Staying Inside Christ Church College

We spotted the sign on our way out of the tour and have not stopped thinking about it since. During the Easter and Summer holidays, Christ Church opens up its student bedrooms to the public. You can actually sleep inside one of the most famous colleges in the world.

Single rooms start from around £39 ($50 / 46 Euro) per night and breakfast is included, served in the Great Hall. Yes, that Great Hall… The one that inspired Hogwarts! You also get 24 hour access to the campus buildings and grounds, meaning you can wander the quads and cloisters long after the day trippers have gone home.

A few things worth knowing before you book. This is adults only, 18 and over, no exceptions. It is available during the Easter and Summer holidays only. Furthermore, it books up fast so get in early. You can book directly through the Christ Church website.

Practical Information for Visiting Oxford (FAQs)

Before you start planning your Oxford day trip, here are a few things worth knowing. A little section of Frequently Asked Questions to help plan your trip to Oxford, England.

When to Visit Oxford for a Day Trip

We visited in early May and were met with slightly chilly weather, high 50s (12-14°C) and a bit of rain. Perfectly manageable with a good jacket, but worth knowing before you pack.

Beyond that we cannot speak from first hand experience across the seasons. However, we have seen enough photos to have very strong opinions. Oxford in the fall looks absolutely breathtaking, with oranges and reds blanketing the campus in a way that makes it look like a painting. And Oxford in the snow? It looks like you are about to turn a corner and see Hagrid dragging a 30 foot pine tree into the Great Hall.

Summer is actually the best time to visit if seeing the colleges is your priority. July, August, and September give you the broadest access across the most colleges. It is also when you can stay inside the Christ Church dorms and live out that Hogwarts experience we mentioned earlier. That one is firmly on our bucket list.

One important thing to note: avoid late May through June if college access matters to you. Many colleges close entirely to visitors during exam season. After all that planning, the last thing you want is to show up and find the gates locked.

How Long Do You Need in Oxford

We were in Oxford for just under three days, though a good chunk of that was spent working. Everything in this guide fits comfortably into a single day. However, the more time you have the better.

Our honest take? Multiple two to three day trips across different seasons would be far more enjoyable than one long four to six day visit. The city is small and walkable, but it is incredibly deep. There is always another bookshop to duck into, another college to explore, and another reason to come back. See Oxford in the fall, the snow, and the summer. You will not experience the same city twice.

Oxford Costs and Ticket Prices

Oxford can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. You could ball out with fantastic meals and stunning hotels, or you could stay in a hostel and live off Tesco Meal Deals, which are genuinely very good by the way. The important thing is that you spend only what you can afford.

Here is a breakdown of what we spent on a few of the experiences and meals we covered in this guide:

• National Express Bus from Heathrow: £50 ($63 / 58€)
• Vrbo for two nights: £246 ($312 / 287€)
• Christ Church College and Cathedral Tour (per person): £27.50 ($35 / 32€)
• Divinity School Self Guided Tour (per person): £3 ($4 / 4€)
• St. Mary’s Church Tower (per person): £6 ($8 / 7€)
• Coffee and Breakfast at Paper Boat Cafe: £15 ($19 / 17€)
• Lunch at Rosa’s Thai: £60 ($76 / 70€)
• Dinner at Dishoom Permit Room: £75 ($95 / 87€)

Book Everything in Advance for Your Oxford Day Trip

Oxford is a small city with a massive influx of tourists. Things get busy fast. We learned this firsthand when we showed up to the Bodleian Library and found that every tour we wanted was fully booked. Do yourself a favor and sort the following before you arrive:

• Attractions: Christ Church, the Bodleian Library tours, and St. Mary’s Church Tower can all be booked in advance. Do it.
• Tours: The Harry Potter walking tour, punting tours, and river cruises fill up quickly, especially in summer. Book as early as possible.
• Restaurants: Dishoom in particular books up fast. Reserve your table before you leave home.
• Accommodation: Oxford is not a big city. Good hotels and Vrbos at reasonable prices go quickly. Do not leave this until the last minute.

The good news is that almost everything in this guide can be booked online ahead of time. We have included links throughout the post to make it as easy as possible.

Is an Oxford day trip Worth it?

Absolutely. Oxford is one of the most rewarding day trips you can make from London. It is compact, walkable, and packed with history, architecture, and incredible food. You can cover the highlights in a single day and leave feeling like you actually experienced the city. That said, the more time you have the better. Oxford has a way of pulling you back in.

If you want to make a full day of it, here are a few guided day tours from London worth considering:

• Oxford and Cambridge Full Day Tour from London: Enjoy a full day tour to Oxford and Cambridge from London on an air conditioned bus with guided walking tours of both university towns included.
• London: Oxford Tour with Christ Church and Bodleian Library: A dedicated Oxford day trip from London that includes guided access to Christ Church and the Bodleian Library.
• From London: Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Small Group Tour: Combine Oxford with a tour through the stunning Cotswolds villages on this small group day trip from London.

How Do I Get to Oxford from London?

If you are based in London and want to spend a day exploring Oxford, you are in luck. It is one of the easiest day trips you can make from the city. Here are your options:

• By Train: Trains run from London Paddington multiple times per hour. The fast train takes about an hour and tickets start at as little as £12 ($15 / 14€) each way.
• By Bus: The Oxford Tube runs up to every 15 minutes from Victoria, Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate, and Shepherd’s Bush. Tickets start at around £13 each way.
• By Tour: One of the easiest ways to see Oxford from London is to book one of the guided day tours we mentioned above. They pick you up, handle the transportation, and take you straight to the highlights.
• By Car: You could rent a car. But why would you do that to yourselves? Parking in Oxford is limited, expensive, and the city is incredibly walkable. Save yourself the stress.

We book all of our European transportation through OMIO, which compares trains and buses all in one place.

How Do I Get to Oxford from Heathrow Airport?

We took the National Express bus directly from Heathrow Airport to Oxford city center and it could not have been simpler. No trains, no transfers, no stress. We book all of our European trains, buses, ferries, and everything in between through OMIO.

Once you land, simply follow the signs for the Bus Terminal. It is a bit of a walk from arrivals but easy to navigate. The National Express runs from Heathrow to Oxford from as early as midnight through to 11:40pm, with one way tickets starting from £26 ($33 / 30€). The fastest journey takes about an hour. Buses run throughout the day so you do not need to stress about timing.

One tip we learned the hard way: check the full route before you board. There is a stop called Whitehouse Road that drops you practically in the heart of the city. We missed it and ended up dragging two large suitcases across cobbled roads. Check the map first and save yourself the walk.

Is Oxford Walkable?

Extremely. Oxford is one of the most walkable cities we have ever visited. Every stop in this guide is within twenty minutes on foot from the last. The train and bus station is a ten minute walk from the city center.

Furthermore, most of the best parts of Oxford are pedestrian friendly or entirely car free. Leave the car at home, put on a comfortable pair of shoes, and just walk. You will not regret it.

Is Christ Church Worth Visiting?

100 percent! Christ Church is one of the most stunning and historically rich colleges not only in Oxford but in the entire world. It has produced 13 British Prime Ministers, more than any other college in Oxford or Cambridge. King Edward VII studied here. So did philosopher John Locke, poet W.H. Auden, and Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.

It is also one of the most famous Harry Potter filming locations in the world. The Hall Stairs, the Great Hall, Tom Quad, the Cloisters, and the Cathedral are all included on the College and Cathedral tour and each one is worth your time. We would highly recommend booking your tickets in advance through GetYourGuide to skip the line. Budget about two hours for the full experience.

What is Oxford, England Known For?

Oxford is known for being home to the University of Oxford, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. It is famous for its stunning medieval architecture, dreaming spires, and historic colleges.

It is also known as the city that inspired some of the greatest works of fantasy literature ever written, including The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. For film fans, it is one of the most recognizable Harry Potter filming locations in the world.

Is Oxford Good for Harry Potter Fans?

Oxford is an absolute dream for Harry Potter fans. Christ Church College was the inspiration for Hogwarts and several key scenes were filmed there, including the Hall Stairs and the Great Hall.

The gothic vaulted ceiling of the Divinity School was used as the Hogwarts Infirmary in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. New College was used for several scenes across the films as well.

Beyond the filming locations, you can also book a dedicated Harry Potter Walking Tour that takes you through all of the key spots in one go. And if you really want to live out the full Hogwarts experience, you can actually stay overnight inside Christ Church College during university holidays. We have all the details on that earlier in this post.

Do I Need a SIM Card or eSIM for Visiting England?

Yes, and sorting it before you leave home will save you a lot of stress. As Americans traveling in Europe, we use Saily for all of our data needs. It is an eSIM that you download directly to your phone before you travel. No physical SIM card, no hunting for a phone shop when you land, no surprise roaming charges on your bill when you get home.

We purchased a 20GB UK only plan for $30, which was more than enough for our time in Oxford. Last fall we did an unlimited 30 day plan across Europe for $72. Both times it was seamless.

We will also say that their customer service is genuinely excellent. When we landed in Rome a few months ago we struggled to get the eSIM working. We found wifi in the airport and their team walked us through exactly what we needed to do via the Saily app to get it turned on. Quick, easy, and no stress.

It takes about five minutes to set up before you leave home and it is one of the best travel purchases we make every single trip. You can grab your Saily eSIM here.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Visiting England?

Travel insurance is not a technical requirement for visiting England the way it is in some other countries we have visited. However, it is something we highly suggest. It brings peace of mind and the reality is that anything can happen. A simple trip on cobblestones could lead to a broken wrist, and you would rather have the insurance than not.

We use SafetyWing for all of our trips. On our last trip we paid $65 each, which covers $250,000 for unexpected medical and travel costs outside of the USA. It is affordable, easy to set up, and you can be covered in minutes before you leave home.

We also get additional travel coverage through our Capital One Venture X credit card, which includes trip cancellation, lost luggage, and travel accident insurance automatically when you book travel with the card. It is one of the biggest reasons we love that card for travel.

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