Oxford

Before you go

Oxford is about 83 km (51 miles) from central London in a straight line, measured from Charing Cross; the rail route is longer. Trains leave from London Paddington. Our rail tickets guide explains Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime tickets, railcards and split tickets, so you can work out which fare suits a day out. On the day, check National Rail for delays and engineering works before you set off.

Opening times, tickets and closures for University of Oxford visitors are on its official website. For sights that can need a timed ticket, see what to book ahead.

Areas to explore in Oxford

Our Oxford guide is split into 4 areas, each with things to do, places to eat, where to stay and how to get there.

• Radcliffe Square, Broad Street and St Giles: The Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian and the museums and colleges of the old university centre (17 things to do)
• High Street, Magdalen and East Oxford: Colleges along the High Street, Magdalen Bridge and the Botanic Garden, then the shops and restaurants of Cowley Road (13 things to do)
• Christ Church, St Aldate's and Folly Bridge: Christ Church and its meadow, the quiet colleges on Merton Street and the river at Folly Bridge (13 things to do)
• Jericho, the Castle and Port Meadow: Oxford Castle, the streets of Jericho and the open common of Port Meadow (11 things to do)

Weather through the year

Met Office 1991-2020 averages for the Oxford station (opens in new tab), the one we use for Oxford. Daylight is calculated for Oxford on the 15th of the month. These are averages, not a forecast.

Every month, with sunshine and packing notes: when to go to Oxford.

Closest other day trips

Measured in a straight line from Oxford, so the journey between them will be longer. Use the journey planner to see whether a direct train runs.

• Blenheim Palace: about 12 km away
• The Cotswolds: about 40 km away
• Windsor: about 54 km away