Oxford walking tour & city guide

The heart of the university

Radcliffe Square is the most beautiful spot in Oxford, dominated by the domed Radcliffe Camera, a reading room of the Bodleian Library. The Bodleian itself, one of the oldest libraries in Europe, offers guided tours of its medieval Divinity School and Duke Humfrey's Library, both of which appeared in the Harry Potter films.

Nearby, the Bridge of Sighs, a covered bridge linking two parts of Hertford College, spans New College Lane, and the Sheldonian Theatre, designed by Christopher Wren, hosts university ceremonies.

Colleges and museums

Oxford University is made up of more than 30 colleges, many open to visitors. Christ Church, the largest, has a cathedral, a grand Tom Tower and a dining hall that inspired Hogwarts' Great Hall. Magdalen College has a deer park and riverside walks.

The Ashmolean, Britain's oldest public museum, and the Pitt Rivers Museum, crowded with anthropological treasures, are both free. In summer, punting on the River Cherwell is a classic Oxford experience.

Visiting tips

Oxford is about an hour from London by train or bus. Climb the tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin or Carfax Tower for views over the spires. Visit colleges outside exam season, roughly late April to mid-June, when some close to the public.