Top ten attractions
1. Pitt Rivers Museum
This victorian treasure-trove is packed with so many amazing objects that it's hard to be selective.
Nobody should miss the shrunken heads, but to get a flavour of the unique way the museum is organised its best to just poke around.
If possible, visit at a quiet time, take some children with you, and (above all) let the staff help as much as possible.
Since the museum lies behind the University museum you can easily combine Pitt Rivers with seeing the Dodo and the dinosaurs.
2. Roof-top views
There are (at least) four places near the centre where you can gain access to roof-top views.
- Carfax tower offers a good view down the High Street
- St Michael's church in Cornmarket offers views across the heart of the town, and down Cornmarket
- St Mary's church in the high street offers views over Radcliffe Square and the High Street
- The Sheldonian Theatre has always been closed when I've tried to gain access. It seems to open on Weekday and
Saturday afternoons, but with frequent closures for university business
My reccommendation for roof-top vies is the tower of St Mary's church.
3. Blackwell's Bookshop
Bookshops in general are one of the treats of the city. For an afternoon's browsing, the main cluster is along Broad street. Several of these are specialist outlets for Blackwells, but the largest is their main bookshop.
This is a real treat for anyone who enjoys browsing. Make sure you explore to the furthest extent - upstairs there is a small coffee shop, and downstairs a surprisingly large exhibition area.
4. Covered market
Lively, colourful, different
5. Botanic Gardens
On a sunny day, at any time of year the botanic gardens are perfect for a relaxing stroll. I am no expert in plants or gardening - for the enthusiast they must be even more rewarding.
6. Christchurch cathedral
Oxford is certainly not one of the classic cathedrals, and it has not been well served by history. Not many people come to Oxford for the cathedral, but while you are here... Well any cathedral is something special. It will takes a bit of effort to find - but worth it.
7. New College
Each college has its own special character, and each visitor their special favourite. If you have time for only one, then my recommendation would be New College - but make sure you visit at least one.
8. Radcliffe Square
Surrounded on three sides by warm stone buildings, and on the fourth by All Souls, centred on a handsome dome, cobbled underfoot, the square is a special treat, and the collection of Oxford architecture that is not to be missed.
9. The waterways
Its a bit of a cheat to include both under one heading, but the low-lying landscape in Oxford is special, and the water is one way to get away from the crowds. There are several places to hire a boat on the river. For an atmospheric walk, cohhse early morning, south, east or north of the city centre.