Holiday in Oxford
City in United Kingdom — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇬🇧
Country
United Kingdom
Type
City
Best time to travel
May to September (15-22 °C, college gardens in full bloom). March to June for punting season. December for atmospheric college chapels at Christmas.
Budget/day
100-230 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to London (2 h), then Oxford Tube bus from Victoria (1.5 h, from £15 return) or train from Paddington (1 h). Alternatively, flight to Birmingham (BHX), then train (1 h).
About Oxford
Oxford is the city of dreaming towers — the oldest university in the English-speaking world, whose 39 colleges have produced scholars, poets, prime ministers, and Nobel laureates for over 900 years. The honey-colored limestone colleges, Gothic chapels, and green courtyards create one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in Europe. The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest and most beautiful libraries in the world: The Divinity School (1488) with its spectacular ribbed vault served as the Hogwarts infirmary in the Harry Potter films. The Radcliffe Camera, a round Baroque building from 1749, is Oxford's most photographed building. Christ Church is the largest and most famous college: The Great Hall with its portraits and wooden ceiling inspired the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the bell tower (Tom Tower) chimes 101 times every evening (for the 101 original students), and Alice Liddell — the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland — was the daughter of the dean. The Covered Market (since 1774) is Oxford's culinary heart: an indoor market with butchers, cheese merchants, the legendary Ben's Cookies, and Palm's Deli, nestled between historic streets full of bookstores, pubs, and antiques.
Top 6 highlights in Oxford
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Bodleian Library & Radcliffe Camera
One of the oldest libraries in the world: Divinity School (1488, Hogwarts filming location), Radcliffe Camera (1749) — Oxford's most iconic building.
Christ Church College & Great Hall
Largest and most famous college: Great Hall (Hogwarts inspiration), Tom Tower, Alice in Wonderland connection, and the magnificent cathedral.
Ashmolean Museum
Oldest public museum in the world (1683): from Egyptian mummies to Michelangelo's drawings to Turner and Picasso — free admission.
Punting on the Cherwell
Oxford's most romantic tradition: punt ride on the River Cherwell past overhanging willows and college gardens (approx. £25/h).
Pitt Rivers Museum
Victorian anthropology museum: shrunken heads, totem poles, and 500,000 artifacts in densely packed glass cases — like a cabinet of curiosities.
University Church (St Mary the Virgin)
Tower climb (127 steps) for the best view over Oxford's towers and domes: from here you can overlook Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian, and All Souls.
Hotels in Oxford
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Oxford
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Oxford
Recommended travel time
May to September (15-22 °C, college gardens in full bloom). March to June for punting season. December for atmospheric college chapels at Christmas.
Summer
15-23 °C, pleasantly warm, occasional showers, green parks and gardens
Winter
2-8 °C, cool and damp, atmospheric with fog over the colleges
How much does a holiday in Oxford cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
50-90 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
100-230 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
250-500 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Oxford
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Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Oxford
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Colleges have opening hours — most open in the afternoon for visitors (2-5 GBP admission). Christ Church (£8) is the most popular, New College and Magdalen are often quieter and just as beautiful.
Book a Bodleian tour — Divinity School and Duke Humfrey's Library (Hogwarts library) are only accessible via guided tour (from £10). Book online in advance, especially on weekends.
Try punting yourself — Magdalen Bridge Boathouse rents out punts (from £25/h). Punt on the Cherwell towards Victoria Arms Pub — beginners are guaranteed to fall in.
Eagle and Child Pub — this is where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis met with the Inklings. The Rabbit Room at the back is a literary pilgrimage site.
Covered Market — since 1774: Ben's Cookies (legendary), Alpha Bar (salads), Oxford Cheese Company. Packed with students and locals at lunchtime.
Food & drink in Oxford
These specialties you must try!
