Holiday homes & rentals in Oxford

Dubbed 'The City of Dreaming Spires', Oxford is one of England's most visited cities, with more than 10 million guests each year. The small city offers the perfect combination of beautiful buildings, history at every corner, a riverside setting and great restaurants and bars. You can tour the hallowed halls of one of the oldest universities or enjoy the beautiful countryside as you sail down the River Thames.

Booking an Oxford holiday accommodation will give you the opportunity to live as a local and relax in the serene atmosphere of the City of the Dreaming Spires.

Getting to your Oxford accommodation

Oxford is centrally located in the south of England, around an hour from Heathrow airport and slightly further from Birmingham. By train, travel from London takes just under an hour, and the motorway network is just a few miles from the city centre.

Getting around the city centre is easy on foot, or take inspiration from the students and hire a bicycle - the city has an extensive network of cycle paths. There is an efficient local bus network too, so hop on a bus from your Oxford holiday cottage and you will be in the city centre in no time.

Where to eat in Oxford

Oxford’s food scene has undergone a major revolution in the past few years. The east of Oxford is especially famous for the wide range of eateries that offer anything from burritos to barbecue. A walk out of the city centre will take you to stellar establishments serving up authentic, Asian, Mexican, and even Thai cuisine. As well as local restaurants to explore, there are also plenty of holiday lettings that allow for self-catering.

Enjoy an ice cream at G&Ds Cool off in the summer heat at one of Oxford’s most famous ice cream parlours, which has branches on Cowley Road, Little Clarendon Street, and St. Aldate’s. As well as strange but sumptuous ice cream flavours, you can also enjoy delicious cakes, bagels, and pastries.

Ashmolean Museum rooftop Enjoy a hearty meal overlooking Oxford’s spires at the restaurant on the museum’s rooftop terrace. This is a perfect chance to enjoy scenic views of the entire city.

Try authentic Thai cuisine Sample some traditional Thai food by booking your meal at Oli’s Thai. Though quite small, this is an incredibly popular and renowned eatery in Oxford, with excellent food - it's almost always packed, so make sure you book ahead.

Oxford and its top sights

You can't visit Oxford without taking in the University and the river! As the city is relatively small, you can easily explore at your own pace.

Many of the individual colleges which make up the university are open to the public at certain times of the year, and advertise opening hours on their websites. Magdalen and Christ Church colleges are two of the most interesting and beautiful, and Christ Church's location on the edge of large meadows leading down to the Thames is truly stunning. Its dining hall was also famously used to film the Great Hall scenes in Harry Potter!

If you are pressed for time, there are hop on/hop off buses running regular tours around the city. These will show you the top sights and give you time to explore the more interesting locations at your leisure before heading back to relax in a cosy holiday cottage.

Art and culture in Oxford

Oxford's Ashmolean museum has an impressive collection of artefacts from all over the world, featuring everything from Egyptian mummies to the best in modern art. The Pitt Rivers museum and the Natural History Museum are also worth visiting, especially for dinosaur fans.

The Bodleian Library, one of the oldest in Europe and the second largest in England, is open to the public for individual visits or guided tours. The Oxford Modern Art museum on Pembroke Street offers an ever changing selection of exhibitions from artists around the world.

Holidays in Oxford with kids

This historic city offers plenty of fun activities for a holiday with children. Kids love the frequent open-top bus tours around the city, and there are also a growing number of walking tours which are more interactive and will be suitable for all but the very youngest children. Harry Potter fans will enjoy tours of Christ Church college, as the Great Hall of Hogwarts was filmed here.

Take older children down to the river, hire a punt for an hour and see the city's spires from the water before heading back to your Oxford holiday letting for an evening in.

The Story Museum on Pembroke Street is dedicated to all forms of storytelling, and there are regular visits from visiting authors as well as workshops and events during the school holiday periods.

Things to do around Oxford

Just to the west of Oxford lies the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, so leave your Oxford holiday letting behind to explore the villages of Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold or Bibury. All have quirky antiques shops for browsing and cafés where you can experience the quintessentially English afternoon tea.

Families will love the Cotswold Wildlife Park, or a trip to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, where you can explore the grounds and house where Winston Churchill was born.

Regular events in Oxford

St Giles' Fair takes place early in September and features traditional British fairground attractions such as dodgems and candy floss. This is a busy, fun-filled event which attracts locals, students and tourists alike.

A more modern addition to the calendar is the Cowley Road Carnival in early July, which is noisy and fun, with lots of dancing and street food from around the world. With the usual floats and dancers, the event is fun for all of the family, and the fun goes on into the evening.

Oxford's top attractions

B000074-1: Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology

The Ashmolean's diverse collection from Ancient Greece, the Islamic world and the Renaissance is a joy for art lovers and novices alike. Note that entry is free.

Pitt Rivers Museum

Displaying the archaeological and anthropological collections owned by the university, this museum was recently the recipient of the Guardian's best family-friendly award. Regular children's events include body painting and object handling workshops.

B000078-1: University of Oxford

This iconic university is not only famous for its world-class education, but also its breathtaking architecture. Walking the grounds of the numerous colleges on a sunny day is a joy.

University Museum of Natural History

The remains of an extinct dodo housed here are a primary draw for visitors, although many more fascinating exhibits feature. Admission to the museum is free.

Bodleian Library

This stunning library is home to over 12 million books - one of the largest collections in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions