Oxford Day Trip Recommendations

Oxford should be its own day trip. Blenheim can be seen in 1/2 - 1 full day on its own. The best way I went about Oxford is with my travel guide and my two feet. If a pub looked crowded as opposed to empty, I enjoyed either a drink and/or a meal as I wanted to be there. I planned which colleges I wanted to see. I made time for Choral Evensong at the Cathedral at Christ Church.

Oxford is a walking town. You can go on tours at the places you visit like the cathedral if you like.

I’d give yourself some time to visit a couple of the colleges. Some of the bigger ones charge a smallish admission fee while some of the smaller ones are free. Hertford, Exeter & Corpus Christi colleges are among the old historic ones that don’t charge an entrance fee.

Here’s a website with all the details. Most of the older colleges have a couple of cloister-style areas with student rooms clustered around them, plus a chapel.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors/visiting-oxford/visiting-the-colleges?wssl=1

If you’ve seen Inspector Morse or Lewis, they’re forever solving murders in colleges.

I found the Ashmolean Museum to be the high point of Oxford.

I agree, Ashmolean Museum is definitely worth a visit. I spent 2 hours there and there was more to see! It is one of the best museums in England. We spent half a day at Blenheim and enjoyed it immensely. We listened to a man playing the organ in the Long Library, a real treat! We were fortunate to be there then.
My friends still comment on the gifts I purchased in the wonderful gift shop there 5 years later! Definitely worth going into the gift shop.

If you’re interested in Inspector Morse and Lewis, go to the bar in the Randolph Hotel, its walls are decorated with pictures of the iconic detectives. We chose to have afternoon tea in the hotel and chatted with the ladies next to our table about Downton Abbey. Very fun.
Granted we had 2 days in Oxford, but we didn’t visit any of the colleges. We had dinner in a pub when a group of high-spirited college students were having a celebration.

Things not already mentioned:

Pitts River Museum (archaeology, ethnography, eclectic)
Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum (oldest in the UK)
The Parks (wander or maybe watch some cricket)
Punt / cruise along the Cherwell (pronounced Charwell)
Oxford Castle and Prison (guided tour only)
The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD Gin)
The Kilns (CS Lewis)
Various themed walking tours (just colleges, Morse/Lewis/Endeavour, Lewis/Tolkien etc)
Nearer Blenheim Palace in Woodstock are the Oxfordshire Museum and Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

That should be enough for now ...

We visited both Blenheim Palace and Oxford in October 2017, on separate days. We did a full day in Oxford and needed all of it. Recommend not trying to do both in one day.

Also, check out taking the train to Oxford. The only parking available is in a lot outside the city.

There are a few parking places in central Oxford, but they fill up fast and it's generally a very bad idea to try to drive there. Definitely leave your car at whichever of the Oxford park and ride places is most convenient and get the bus from there to the city.

We spent an entire day in Oxford on a day trip from London and wished for more time. We haven’t been to Blenheim yet, but will be there in a few weeks (!). When we have questions about combining sights in one day, we usually begin the day with the attraction with designated opening/closing time, e.g., Blenheim first. Wander at will and if time allows move to next sight and try for time controlled attractions or simply walk around the town for a few hours remaining if too late for particular sights. Pub visits, dinner, aimless walking, whatever. Have a great time and safe travels.

Philip beat me to it - parking in Oxford is both very rare and very expensive. The roads are a maze - intentionally - the Council hates cars. The time you plan for driving could double by the time you have the car put away and find yourself in the High.

There are a few Park & Rides around Oxford. Find the one nearest to the route you will travel and put the car in there and take the bus into the centre.

Do you know that many colleges are only open - if open at all - in the afternoon? As mentioned above, most charge. Visit the Porter Lodge of the one you want to visit and the opening hours (and charge if any) will be posted, usually on an "A" board at the Lodge.

You will be visiting in late May near the Late May Bank Holiday. Many colleges will close to visitors during Exams which is usually mid-May through to the end of June. You can check most colleges on line at https://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors/visiting-oxford/visiting-the-colleges?wssl=1#

Ashmolean is a wonderful place.

Pitt Rivers is no slouch.