Things to do in Oxfordshire

Searching for things to do in Oxfordshire? Whether you are looking for Bicester Village – the world’s most popular luxury shopping outlet, the UK’s only crocodile zoo, the world’s oldest public museum – Ashmolean Museum and the oldest Botanic Garden in the world, the oldest University in the English-speaking world, Britain’s oldest chalk figure or picture-perfect villages – don’t look any further, as we’ve got them all!

Explore the city of Oxford and the wider county to discover world-class arts and culture in stunning venues, the University of Oxford, museums, country houses and gardens such as Blenheim Palace and beautiful landscapes full of walking, cycling and boating opportunities.

Oxford and Oxfordshire have also provided backdrops for countless international films including Harry Potter filmed at Christ Church and James Bond’s Spectre filmed at Blenheim Palace, to name just a few. Many places across the county may look familiar to fans of shows like Downton Abbey, Midsomer Murders and Inspector Morse.

Oxfordshire is famous for its excellent local produce and delicious food. From Michelin-starred restaurants such as Belmond Le Manoir, cosy rural pubs, farmers’ markets, social enterprise cafés and international cuisine, you will not be short of places to eat and drink.

If you are travelling with family, Oxfordshire is the perfect place to enjoy a big day out. With fantastic farms, wildlife parks such as Cotswold Wildlife Park with over 260 different species of animal. Magical museums and amazing mazes, the county’s got activities for children of all ages. You can enjoy real-life escape games at City Mazes, explore and climb the historical Oxford Castle and Prison, or visit Cogges Manor Farm, a Scheduled Ancient Monument with over 1000 years of history, for something special.

There are also many tours you can take, by foot, bike or even boat, to explore the county and discover its hidden secrets.

If Oxford is your first stop, the Oxford Visitor Information Centre offers somewhere to gather friendly local information and help, as well as a place for you to store your luggage while you explore Oxford and Oxfordshire.

Great things to do

Didcot Railway Centre

Didcot Railway Centre is a living museum of the Great Western Railway in Didcot, Oxfordshire. See the unique collection of Great Western Railway steam engines, coaches, wagons, buildings and small relics; and a recreation of Brunel's broad gauge railway. Visit the Didcot Railway Centre and enjoy the rural setting based around the original 1930s engine shed. Opening...

MINI Plant Oxford Tours

Take a journey through more than 100 years of Oxford’s car building history and discover how BMW creates over 1,000 one-of-a-kind, made-to-order MINIs every day. - Visit MINI’s production halls where human skill and state-of-the-art technology combine to build a new MINI every 67 seconds. - See MINI’s Visitor Centre where 58 years of rich MINI heritage...

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Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is now a vibrant heritage attraction, open every day to visitors. Step back in time to experience the stories of the extraordinary achievements of the men and women who worked here. A place of exceptional historical importance, Bletchley Park is also the birthplace of modern...

The Oxford Artisan Distillery

Welcome to The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD, to those in the know), this ancient city’s first distillery – and one of the world’s very few true craft distilleries. We cultivate, craft, create and curate the very finest spirits using sustainably grown populations of ancient heritage grain. In fact, the rare and distinctive subtleties in our spirits are...

Cotswolds Guided Tours

Cotswolds Guided Tours is a friendly local family run business providing a variety of 6 hour tours for a maximum of 7 guests, ensuring you receive a personalised experience during your visit. The Famous Cotswolds Tour, visits the ‘must see’ Cotswolds locations, The Slaughters, Arlington Row Bibury, Bourton on the Water & Stow on the...

Weston Library

The Weston Library, also known as the “New Bodleian Library”, is located in the heart of historic University City Oxford, on Broad Street. The original architecture of the library building was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert in the 1930’s and the library was finally opened in 1946 by King George VI. In 2003 the Library...

The Oxfordshire Museum

A large 18th-century house in the heart of the historic town of Woodstock is home to the County’s collections. The Garden Gallery hosts an exciting programme of touring exhibitions. New in 2016 – Juxtaposition: displaying the superb craftsmanship and artistry of contemporary makers alongside pieces from the historic collections. New Anglo Saxon Gallery opened late...

University Parks

Oxford University Parks is a large parkland area northeast of Oxford city centre. The University Parks consist of about 70 acres (30 hectares) of parkland on the bank of the River Cherwell, together with a 4 acre (1.5 hectare) spur of land running towards the south. University Parks is a parkland for sports and recreational...

The Raymond Blanc Cookery School

Let the Raymond Blanc Cookery School nurture your natural love for food! Join the Raymond Blanc Cookery School for one of their fabulous cooking classes and gain the skills you need to translate your passion for food into beautiful and imaginative cuisine. The Raymond Blanc Restaurant is the first Michelin starred kitchen in the UK...

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SJE Arts

SJE Arts at St John the Evangelist church is a warm and welcoming venue in the busy Cowley area of central Oxford with good public transport links to the city centre and to London. The church was designed and built for a monastic order but is now part of St Stephen’s House, University of Oxford....

Cotswold tours from Oxford

Cotswold Exploring

Discover idyllic hamlets, nestling in quiet valleys with picture-perfect thatched cottages, explore charming high streets peppered with quaint tea rooms and antique shops, hear about legends, fairy tales and traditions dating back hundreds of years. Book a tour with Cotswold Exploring! The Cotswolds The Cotswolds is one of the UK’s designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty....

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Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library is one of the worlds oldest libraries at the heart of Oxford’s historic University. The Library opened in 1602 and has since been used as a working library belonging to the University of Oxford. Discover the Divinity School, a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture and the oldest teaching and examination hall in the University....

Sho4Travel

Private Tours of the Cotswolds Escorted tours in my spacious 6-seater air-conditioned Land Rover Discovery. There are a number of different personally guided driven tours available (8-hour full day tour, 6-hour short day tour) which are suited to families or larger groups travelling together. Regular destinations. The Cotswolds discovery tour A full day to explore this...

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

SOFO offers visitors engaging and immersive experiences through a changing exhibitions programme and main galleries including a recreated Great War trench, a mock up section of a Horsa Glider from D Day and Afghan Alley. The galleries take visitors through the life of a ‘21st Century Soldier’, the ‘Blood and War’ of the frontline, Winston Churchill...

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Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is now a vibrant heritage attraction, open every day to visitors. Step back in time to experience the stories of the extraordinary achievements of the men and women who worked here. A place of exceptional historical importance, Bletchley Park is also the birthplace...

Port Meadow

Port Meadow is the largest common land in Oxford, situated to the west of the city, running on the east bank of the River Thames, from Jericho to Wolvercote. The meadow is accessible via Walton Well Road, Aristotle Lane and Wolvercote. The large meadow consists of 440 acres of grazing land which is still used...