A kaleidoscope of architecture, history, and culture, Oxford is first and foremost the birthplace of one of the UK’s most renowned universities – but a trip here will quickly dispel any notion that it’s just limited to students. A place where literary icons flocked and stayed – Oscar Wilde, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll have all called this city home – and one that’s no stranger to hosting leading political figures and royalty, Oxford is where stories come alive. Dating back to the 8^th Century, this beautiful city has plenty to entice well-heeled travellers in 2025, offering a plethora of restaurants, hotels, cultural sights and museums to sink your teeth into. Here’s our essential Oxford city guide. 

The hotel: Randolph Hotel

The Randolph

Inspired by Oxford’s storied innovators and university alumni, the 151-key Randolph Hotel sits at the city’s cultural epicentre and has historically hosted many high-profile guests, from members of the Royal Family to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Just a stone’s throw from the Old Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum, The Randolph provides a sanctuary amid the city’s hustle and bustle, comprising bold hues, architectural elements and local art to bring to life the narratives of Oxford’s past, with in-room paintings of Oxford alumni and well-known author and playwright, Oscar Wilde. 

For Wonderland-inspired dining, don’t miss the flagship Alice restaurant, led by executive chef Chris Godfrey. Drinks are best served in the chic surroundings of the Snug – putting a bohemian spin on the traditional English library with plush chairs, vintage art and bold floral walls – while Morse Bar is an ode to Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter, a long-time regular who penned some of his most famous books in the space.

From £200 per night.

The restaurants and pubs: King’s Arms, Turf Tavern and Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons

Oxford’s most famed restaurants and bars are steeped in folklore and legend – and that’s part of the city’s intrinsic charm. You’ll find plenty of shiny new bars serving all manner of innovative cocktails but, in our opinion, you can’t beat a pint or two at Oxford’s olde worlde inns – think low beams (seriously, watch your head), uneven floors, warming fires and candle-lit surroundings. One such is the King’s Arms, the oldest pub in Oxford, built in 1607 and still standing at its original address. It also claims to be the brainiest pub in Oxford, too, known for having the highest IQ per square foot anywhere in the world, and is the historic home of the former Don's Bar, which historically restricted access to men until 1973. 

Also don’t miss the Turf Tavern, renowned as the hardest pub to find in the city due to its unusual location tucked away in St Helens Passage (originally Hell Passage), which was chosen due to its former criminal patrons’ need to escape jurisdiction from local colleges. Used extensively as a filming backdrop for ITV’s Inspector Morse and the Harry Potter franchise, Turf Tavern is no stranger to the spotlight; Richard Burton proposed to Elizabeth Taylor here, and the likes of Tony Blair, CS Lewis, Stephen Hawking and Margaret Thatcher have all popped in for a drink. 

Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons

Foodies yearning for Michelin-starred French fare, however, needn’t look further than Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. While we admit it isn’t in the centre of Oxford (it’s a 40-minute drive away), venture into the rolling hills of Oxfordshire to sample some of the finest tasting menus in the country. This summer’s exclusive lunch menu, priced at £150 per head, features the likes of confit salmon with yogurt and yuzu, garden beetroot terrine with horseradish sorbet, and Herdwick lamb with sheep’s curd and basil. Linger a little longer and book a stay at the five-star hotel, which also guarantees you a table at dinner which is often booked up months in advance. Bon appetit. 

The sights: Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and University of Oxford

Oxford’s rabbit warren of cobbled streets and quads are a prime showcase of the city’s heritage and impressive architecture. First stop on the agenda must be Radcliffe Camera: one of the city’s most iconic landmarks which doubles as a working library, called Bodleian (or ‘the Bod’, if you’re a local), and welcomes visitors for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most impressive libraries in the world. Peek next door into the Sheldonian Theatre: a prime example of 17th century British architecture (it dates back to 1664) and has since been used as the university’s ceremonial hall, seeing 27 British Prime Ministers, 120 Olympians and 50 Nobel Prize winners pass through its doors.

No inaugural trip would be complete without delving into the history of one of the UK’s most prestigious educational institutions: University of Oxford. With evidence of teaching here starting back in 1096, some colleges, like All Souls College, offer free access to their front quads and chapels, while Worcester, Magdalen and Trinity Colleges require bookings. 

The culture: Ashmolean Museum and Modern Art Oxford

The Ashmolean Museum is one of Britain’s oldest public museums, hosting a variety of prized historical artefacts ranging from medieval musical instruments to European art. It's also home to one of the world’s most famous collections of Egyptian mummies, while must-see art by Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Giambattista Pittoni and more, adorns its walls. It is a complete treasure trove so expect to discover everything from Arab ceremonial dress owned by Lawrence of Arabia to a death mask of Oliver Cromwell. 

For something a tad more contemporary, head to Modern Art Oxford: one of the UK’s leading contemporary galleries. A complete contrast to the aforementioned Ashmolean, it is renowned the world over for its bold and ambitious programming. Case in point, its current feature exhibition is Movements for Staying Alive, spotlighting commissions by artists, collectives, schools and young people all made for touch and collaboration, and to celebrate the vital movements of life.

The shopping: Blackwell’s, Cowley Road and Jericho

You’ll find pretty much every shop under the sun in Oxford, but if we were going to recommend one place to soak up part of its history, we’d give you directions to Blackwell’s at 50 Broad Street. First opened on New Year’s Day in 1879 – and trading here ever since – the bookshop has evolved into one of Britain’s most beloved purveyors, with 30 shops now spanning Edinburgh to Manchester. Boasting an eclectic mix of more than 140 titles, it’s well worth whiling away an afternoon here – oh, and don’t miss The Norrington Room, which opened more than 50 years ago and was once proudly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the single largest room in the world selling books. 

Cowley Road, on the other hand, is one of Oxford's most diverse neighbourhoods, famed for its quirky cafes, international eateries, independent shops and live music venues. Jericho, meanwhile, was once named the coolest place to live in Britain by The Times, and also offers a number of gorgeous hangouts away from the main hubbub of Oxford city centre. 

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