What To See in Oxford (England)

When travelers think about going to the UK, and more specifically England, London pops to mind. It is no secret that the English capital is one of the most vibrant and extraordinary cities in Europe, with so extremely much to offer, so it's no wonder that masses of tourists constantly head there. But outside the capital there is also lots to be seen and experienced, like the wonderful city of Oxford.

Here are some of the many things worth seeing and doing there.

In the beautiful University city of Oxford you will, no wonder, get the opportunity to see many wonderful University buildings. It's no secret that that is what the city is most known for. But apart from the many prestigious Universities that are located in Oxford, visitors to the city can enjoy plenty of other nice places.

Walking around the old city center of Oxford, you will get to see for example the beautiful Wesley Memorial Church. It is a majestic building, dating back to the 19th century, which is sure to impress tourists passing by. The interior is well worth a visit as well, and you might even get as lucky as did to get to see a musical rehearsal when we spontaneously went inside.

The beautiful Wesley Memorial Church

Close by to this lovely Church is a street that is well worth a visit as well: Cornmarket Street. it is an important shopping street in the center of the city and it is in this picturesque street that visitors can find the beautiful Golden Cross arcade, dating back to the 12th century, which leads to a lovely covered market that is worth seeing.

Another beautiful sight to admire while visiting this street is the 14th-century timber-framed building that is located on the corner of Ship Street. Belonging to Jesus College, it is part of the building constructed in 1386 to house the "New Inn".

14th century building on Cornmarket Street

The most special sight on Cornmarket Street, though, is St Michael at the North Gate. Apart from the striking Tower, this beautiful Church is Oxford's oldest building, dating back to the 11th century.

St Michael at the North Gate in Oxford

Before moving on to other parts of the city, make sure to check out The Oxford Union Library. Dating back to the 19th century, this library is a wonderful example of Victorian architecture and it is one of the World's most beautiful libraries.

Perhaps its most striking feature is the breathtaking murals on the walls, painted in mid 19th century by the remarkable William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti after the original painters suddenly gave up on the project.

Extremely beautiful and noteworthy is the floral ceiling as well, designed by William Morris himself.

The gorgeous Oxford Union Library

Another popular place to see while in Oxford is the Carfax Tower. A part of what was St Martin’s Church, dating back to the 13th century, this Tower is all that is left from that building nowadays. That's because, unfortunately, during the 19th century the main part of the church was destroyed in order to make room for the increasing traffic in that area.

The Tower measures around 22 meters and it is forbidden to build higher than that in central Oxford. The good news are that if you want to take advantage of this tall building in the city center, you can do it. For 3£, visitors can climb the almost 100 steps and enjoy the amazing view of Oxford's skyline from the top of the Tower.

The Carfax Tower in Oxford

When you finally start exploring the city's major attractions, the Universities, start by Lincoln College.

Founded in 1427 by Bishop Richard Fleming, it has educated plenty of remarkable people who have achieved wonders for Humanity. Among them is Howard Florey, who received a Nobel Prize for his contribution to the development of penicillin.

Nowadays visitors can visit this charming College, which is considered by many to be the most 15th century characteristic College in the whole city. You can do a virtual tour here to open your appetite to visit this unique place at the heart of Oxford.

Lincoln College in Oxford

Another must-see while visiting Oxford's Universities is, of course, the University of Oxford. This extremely prestigious University is believed to have operated as early as in the beginning of the 11th century, making it the oldest University of the English-speaking World. Apart from that, Oxford's University is considered the 2nd oldest still in operation.

This world-leading University is composed of 39 colleges and 4 divisions composed by many academic departments. The University's buildings are spread across the city of Oxford, so it doesn't have a main campus.

A great choice is to visit the Balliol college, part of Oxford's University, where you will be able to see beautiful courtyards and a majestic Dining Hall, greatly remind of Harry Potter scenes.

Balliol College in Oxford

Another interesting place to visit is the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, also known as simply Oxford University Museum.

There, visitors get the chance to see many of the University's Natural History specimens, including its dinosaur exhibitions. The Museum is also the only way to access the popular Pitt Rivers Museum, which is an adjacent museum exhibiting the anthropological and archaeological collections of the University of Oxford.

Moving on from the Universities and onto other landmarks of the city of Oxford, head to the famous Radcliffe Camera. Belonging to the University of Oxford, this 18th century building was designed to house the Radcliffe Science Library. Due to its beauty and scenery, it has become one of the most iconic buildings of the University.

A curious fact about it is that it is the first circular library in the whole country of England.

Radcliffe Camera in Oxford

Right next to the famous building, you can see a lovely detail on New College Ln as well: Hertford Bridge, often known as "The Bridge of Sighs". It is an iconic skyway that connects two buildings of the Hertford College.

The Bridge of Sighs in Oxford

A perfect way to finish your Oxford visit is to head to the Christ Church War Memorial Garden. Created in 1926, this garden was built in the city of Oxford to celebrate the end of WWI.

Christ Church War Memorial Garden in Oxford

From this beautiful garden you will get a great view of the majestic Christ Church standing in its back. Take the opportunity to relax for a moment and snap some pictures, before you head to the most famous Harry Potter location in the whole city: the Christ Church Dining Hall. This breathtaking 16th century Hall was used as the inspiration for the Dining Hall we have all seen in the Harry Potter movies we love.