Day out in Oxford

I_am_mad

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone so would be able to tell me about Oxford as I am going there for a weekend in June. What things do people recommend to do, where are nice places to eat (if nice weather with outside area)? I am staying in Abingdon (t) so if anyone knows of any places to eat here aswell. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you

I_am_mad

nobody knows about Oxford

C_J

I do!

I'm at work at the moment, but give me a moment and I'll rattle off some information and post it soon:)

C J

C_J

First question: Will you have a car, or will you be relying on public transport?

C_J

The first thing you need to know about Oxford is that it hates car drivers - there's hardly any parking, if you can find a spot it's extortionately expensive, and the traffic wardens are very zealous about ticketting.

To get to the city centre from Abingdon, drive straight up the A34, take the Oxford exit and follow the signs to the Rebridge Park & Ride. (There are 5 park and ride car parks around the city, and Redbridge is the nearest one for Abingdon. Two of the other ones are actually free to park in (so more MSE!!), they are the ones at Thornhill and Water Eaton. Maps here:

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/transport/park-and-ride.cfm

Park and ride car parks fill up very very quickly on work days,and by 10am at weekends. You pay to park (at 3 of them) and then the fare costs £2.10 per adult return into Oxford, and the buses go roughly every 15 mins.

In Oxford, you may want to do a tour of some of the Colleges. The University website lists them all,with clickable links :

http://www.ox.ac.uk/colleges/colleges_and_halls_az/index.html

Most have their gardens open for tourists in the afternoons.

New College is the one with the famous and much-photographed Bridge of Sighs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_Sighs_(Oxford)


Oxford city centre is not great for shopping- it's pretty much the usual high street names with lots of mobile phone stores and coffee shops. Nice places for lunch are The News Cafe in Ship Street, or Sofi's at Carfax for simple baguettes and drinks.

There's the Covered Market

http://www.oxford-covered-market.co.uk/

for interesting shops

You can visit Carfax Tower (remains of 13th century church in the city centre ... climb to top for good views), St Mary The Virgin Church in Cornmarket Street, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Radcliffe Camera.

The Ashmolean Museum is wonderful, and entry is free - it also has a nice cafe.

Outside the Ashmolean you will find the Martyr's Memorial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs'_Memorial

Other good museums are the Pitt Rivers (with huge dinosaur in it!) and the Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street. Entry to both is free.

If it's a nice day,you could go punting on the river Cherwell - hire a punt from Magdalen Bridge. This is also the location of the Botanic Gardens which are worth a visit too.

For days out nearby, try Blenheim Palace in Woodstock (the town itself is pretty too), or the Uffington White Horse (carved into the hillside chalk):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffington_White_Horse

C_J

It's also worth checking the online version of the Daily Information (an advertising sheet often found in newsagents' windows). It's updated daily and has useful info about what's on in Oxford,plus there are links to maps etc:

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/

Jelliebeen

I think all park and rides in Oxford are now free to park in!

It depends what you want to do, but even if you're not a museums person, the Natural History museum and the Pitt Rivers (at the back of the former) are really worth it.

If it's nice, grab an ice cream from G&D's on St Aldates and take a walk round Christchurch meadow, where you can sit by the river and watch people in boats of all shapes and sizes.

The covered market is good for independent (on the whole) shops and fun to look round. There's also two shopping arcades in the centre of town.

The castle complex has plenty of places to eat, but mostly chains like La Tasca, Carluccio's, The Living Room etc. You can also do the 'Oxford Unlocked' tour round the old castle.

If you've got the time, get on the S3 bus outside of Debenham's i n the centre and go to Woodstock, where you can get off right outside Blenheim Palace. Or, get off in the centre - the palace grounds are lovely, and you can get in for free if you keep walking towards the edge of town. If in doubt, ask someone who looks local for the free entrance. Basically you just follow the main road for about 10 mins and there's an entrace through a gate on your left.

I_am_mad

wow thanks for all that info it has helped alot. We will be in a car so im guessin park and ride is the way forward!! hopefully they are all free!! Are there any nice country side pubs if its nice weather to sit outside and eat near by abingdon? thanks again xx

RobTG

From Abingdon catch the X13 or X3 buses into town, they run really frequently and until 11.30 at night or so, gives you an option rather than the park and ride if you fancy a beverage or 2 during your time in Oxford...

Abingdon itself has got some decent pubs to drink in, and a few different restaurants, italian, indian etc.

C_J

Abingdon itself isn't all that great, though there are a couple of pubs down by the river.

I'd suggest going out to the Barley Mow at Clifton Hampden near Long Wittenham - only about 5-10 mins by car from Abingdon. Lovely old thatched waterside pub which is mentioned in Jerome K Jerome's "Three Men In Boat".

susancs

We are staying in the Devere Milton Hill Hotel, Abingdon in July and all this information has been fab. Like OP we are considering park and ride , but also I wonder if the bus stop is near our hotel-as might be easier to leave the car parked up at the hotel and hop on the bus?