How to see Oxford, England in one day

Without a doubt, Oxford is one of my favourite spots to visit in the United Kingdom. Some of world’s most brilliant minds have attended Oxford University: Stephen Hawking, J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Hugh Grant (maybe not brilliant but super handsome) and T.S. Eliot – to name a few.

So beyond walking in the footsteps of famous authors, scientists, politicians and even actors, why visit Oxford? Because beyond the stunning architecture, it’s also where they filmed a number of Harry Potter films. As you walk the grounds you will, no doubt, recognize the dining area, some of the hallways, the courtyard and many other nooks and crannies.

Getting there

Situated an hour outside of London, Oxford makes a great day trip if you find yourself looking to see more beyond the city. There are a number of ways to get to there depending on what you have at your disposal and what you’re comfortable with.

Car: 1 hour 15 minutes
Train: 1 hour 10 minutes

There are also lots of options for taking tours if you’d rather do something stressfree and planned for you. The problem I have with day tours outside of London is that they often try to fit too much in too little amount of time.

Where to stay

As easy as Oxford is to see as a day trip from London, it would definitely be a beautiful place to stay overnight. Plus there are lots of options to choose from to make your stay that much more wonderful.

Oxford Spires Hotel : Obviously this is on the higher end of what we would spend on a hotel per night but to be in such a beautiful spot and right by the meadows would be amazing.

Eurobar & Hotel : If you’re looking for a location that’s right in the centre of everything and really reasonably priced then this is it. The beds look super comfortable and the decor is modern!

Central Backpackers: Looking for a budget option? Central Backpackers is cheap but definitely cheerful and located right in the centre of everything as well!

Click here for more hotels in Oxford

What to see

I would say the vast majority of things to do in Oxford involve just walking around and seeing things. If you have the opportunity to take a walking tour I would recommend it. There is just so much history at Oxford it’s hard to get the full experience unless you have someone with you that knows the key spots to look for.

Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library is one of the biggest in England, falling second to the British Library. It’s also one of the oldest which is clearly seen from the state and appearance of the architecture. While we didn’t actually go inside, we wandered around it and that was enough to take in the beautiful building

Radcliffe Camera

In my opinion this building is the best part of Oxford, it’s also the most famous building. While at one time it was home to strictly science books, the Radcliffe Camera is now primarily a reading room.

Oxford botanical garden

I wish I had have known how important this garden was before visiting the University, I may have paid it slightly more attention. The botanical gardens at Oxford are the oldest in Great Britain and are also home to the most diverse collection of plants in the world! If you find yourself in Oxford on a rare, but nice day, this is a must.

Christ Church Meadow

Another great spot for a wander is Christ Church Meadow. We were lucky to have such a nice day in England that wandering through the various green spaces was really quite lovely.

Magdalen Bridge Boathouse

This might sound silly but one of my favourite memories of Oxford was going punting. It was such a hilarious thing to try, especially with a group of friends. The cost is minimal, especially when split but the laughs and beautiful views are endless.

Harry Potter Filming spots

If you’re as much of a Harry Potter geek as us, you’ll love walking around Oxford, there are so many spots you’ll recognize. One of the most notable is the Great Hall in Christ Church College – seeing it will definitely bring you back to all of the meals enjoyed at Hogwarts! A lot of the hallways and staircases you’ll recognize as you move through them. Some other notable filming spots: the Bodleian Library, the New College Courtyard, Christ Church Cloisters and Bodley Tower Staircase.