Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Oxford
Oxford is one of the most fascinating university cities in the UK. Located just over an hour from London, it’s perfect even for a day trip. Rich in history, surprising Gothic architecture, and a movie-like atmosphere, Oxford is much more than an academic center: it’s a journey through time.
🚆 How to get there: by train from London Paddington (about 1 hour), or with an organized day tour by bus (a cheaper but slower option).
📌 More details: You’ll find more details at the end of this article.
⏳ How much time to spend: one day is enough to see the main sights, but two days let you enjoy the experience more leisurely.
🌸 When to go: I visited in spring, when the gardens burst with flowers and the light warms the ancient stones, but Oxford’s charm lasts through every season.
The Charm of Radcliffe Camera
One of Oxford’s most iconic buildings. The Radcliffe Camera, with its majestic dome, is part of the famous Bodleian Library. You can’t enter freely, but just admiring it from outside is breathtaking.
It’s one of the city’s most photographed landmarks.
I didn’t expect so much Gothic architecture, and it’s everywhere: silent, imposing, almost mystical.
Bodleian Library: Where Books Have a Soul
One of the oldest libraries in Europe, still in use today. It’s a quiet place full of history, also used as a Harry Potter filming location. The guided tours are short but unmissable.
Every room seems to hold centuries of thoughts.
Fun fact: at the Bodleian, you can’t borrow books — you must read them there, as an academic ritual.
Christ Church: History, College Life, and Magic
Perhaps Oxford’s most famous college, not only for its history but also because some Harry Potter scenes were filmed here.
The Great Hall truly resembles Hogwarts — and it’s not just a set: students really dine there every evening.
Only the wealthiest or most distinguished students get to sit at the horizontal table at the far end. It’s a matter of honor, tradition, and status.
Oxford’s “Bridge of Sighs”
Just like Venice, Oxford has its own “Bridge of Sighs,” connecting two buildings of Hertford College.
It’s one of the most photographed and atmospheric spots, perfect for a romantic pause or a striking photo.
Built in 1914, despite the name, it has never held prisoners, only students!
Many of Oxford’s historic colleges are open to visitors, each with its own distinct character. From the grandeur of Christ Church, to the peaceful gardens and riverside paths of Magdalen College, and the medieval cloisters of New College, walking through these spaces feels like stepping into centuries of academic life.
Oxford truly is the city of dreaming spires — a place where architecture, history, and quiet inspiration exist in perfect harmony.
Blackwell’s Bookshop: A Reader’s Paradise
Right next to the Bodleian is Blackwell’s, one of the UK’s most famous independent bookstores. It’s huge, with basement levels that seem endless.
Here you’ll find rare editions, university manuals, novels, maps — everything.
If you love books, prepare to lose at least half an hour, or leave with a heavy bag.
University Traditions: Rituals, Pranks, and Freedom
Oxford isn’t just study and silence: unique traditions involve students, especially at key moments. After the last exam, for example, students are often “covered” by friends with a mix of shaving foam, confetti, flour, and sometimes even sparkling wine. It’s an explosion of color and relief after weeks of stress.
For thesis defense, the ritual is more subdued but equally meaningful: students walk the city in academic gowns, often accompanied by friends and family.
University life here remains a total experience that marks a lifetime.
🎟️Admission Prices for Main Oxford Attractions
🎓Christ Church College
£18–£20 (includes Great Hall and Cathedral)
Discounts for students and children
📚 Bodleian Library – Guided Tour
£9 (short tour – 30 min)
£15 (extended tour – 60 min)
Booking online recommended
📷 Radcliffe Camera
Free to admire from outside –
interiors only accessible with Bodleian tours
📖Blackwell’s Bookshop
Free entry
Warning: you might leave with too many books!
I explored Oxford in just half a day as part of a guided tour combined with the Cotswolds — an easy, stress-free way to see more without planning a thing.
👉 You’ll find the exact tour I chose.
If this guide inspired you, follow me on Instagram @theplanningpulse for curated itineraries, cultural details, and visual stories from Europe and beyond — where every journey continues beyond the page.
