Oxford. Never been. Suggestions

We were there last month for a few days, with our almost 8 year old. We enjoyed wandering around town looking at the buildings. The Ashmolean museum is fantastic. I would have loved to take a tour of some of the libraries and other building like Christchurch College but my daughter wasn't old enough. We also enjoyed our day trip to Blenheim Palace - would've liked to have more time for the Churchill exhibits but the gardens/play area were calling for my daughter. And I would've loved more time to explore the various college meadows/parks/paths. We also did a day trip out to the Cotswolds with e-bikes that was so fun.

Just noticed there's an excellent thread with lots of Oxford recommendations also posted this morning, so check that out for more!

There are several recent posts about Oxford that you may want to look for. Here is one with lots of options: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/exploring-a-week-solo-in-oxford

I spent one night in Oxford in late April this year (also solo, female, senior traveler), so I basically had half the first day and half the second. But I saw a lot and definitely want to go back. I highly highly recommend the Ashmolean Museum. I only had a couple of hours there, but really want more time next time.

For food, I loved the Turf Tavern. It's one of the oldest pubs in England (goes back to 1381), and is very quaint and charming, with good pub food. Lots of twisty turny entrances and up a cool alley.

Another interesting place is The Bear Inn, Oxford’s oldest pub – there’s been a pub here since 1242. I did not eat there (not enough time) but want to at some point. Good reviews.

If you like Morse, there is the Morse Bar at the Randolph Hotel. The Randolph Hotel’s beloved Morse Bar is an ode to Morse creator Colin Dexter who was a regular and penned some of the Morse books from the bar. Filming for the Inspector Morse series took place in this intimate paneled bar, which focuses on cocktails and whiskey.

There is also a self-guided tour of Endeavor locations put out by PBS: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/endeavour-filming-locations-in-oxford/

instead of going from St Pancras International to Paddington (for the GRW train to Oxford) you can also consider Marylebone station, just prior to Paddington and use the Chiltern Trains service to Oxford.

Check each for price and ease of time with your arrival at St Pancras.

Do you like milkshakes? Thick ones?

Burritos San Francisco style?

I took a walking tour with this organization in 2019. There tours start at the Cool Brittania shop. I took a Harry Potter/Alice in Wonderland tour.

https://www.oxfordofficialwalkingtours.org/
They have an Inspector Morse tour but it looks like they only offer it about once a month now,

Also worth seeing are the University Museum (natural history) and the adjoining Pitt-Rivers Museum of anthropology, which have interesting Victorian buildings as well as the collections.

I went to the mathematics building and purposely bumped my head on the front door, hoping some knowledge could infuse itself into my brain. D'oh!

Paddington Station offers the most regular and faster train service to Oxford from London. When you arrive take a 2 hour guided tour from Carfax Tower. It's called the Town & Gown Walk. It's brilliant and will give you a great tour of the town plus everything you need to hang out in Oxford will be explained enroute! If you want to spend a day exploring the Cotswolds I suggest you can either pick-up a local tour in Oxford or do what most people do and take a short train ride to Moreton-in-Marsh and pick up either the Cotswolds Tour Bus by Shakespeare Coaches https://www.cotswoldstourbus.com or the go codswoldstour. Both have same itinerary on the 1 day tours but the Cotswolds Tour Bus have the more luxury vehicles and you also have the option of adding a night in Stratford-Upon-Avon with free entry into Shakespeare's houses. Oxford is a beautiful city so I really hope you enjoy your trip!

I arrive at St Pancras via the Eurostar at 1157. How long does it take to buy a ticket for the subway, travel to Paddington to catch the train to Oxford. Should I buy the ticket for Oxford in advance? Or at the station? Where do I buy the subway ticket?

There are no border formalities when you arrive at St Pancras. The quickest and easiest way to pay for your tube ticket to Paddington is to use a bank payment card at the entrance gate to the Circle Line platforms, but for this you will need a card that is capable of contactless payments. If you don't have one there are ticket machines near the entrance. It will probably take 15-20 minutes from Eurostar to the tube train, quicker if you have a contactless card.

Once you get to Paddington you can get your ticket to Oxford from machines or at the ticket office. Alternatively you can buy a ticket on your mobile phone in advance and show it to get onto the train, but this depends on you having data coverage on your phone in London.

I know I'd much rather take train to Oxford from London than be driven - but totally up.to you. Just tap your credit/debit card for the tube, and buy a ticket on your phone for the train to Oxford.

My suggestion for meals in Oxford if you're not looking for anything fancy is the Gloucester Green Outdoor Market. Open Wednesday to Saturday every week. Good food from all over the world at a reasonable price.

I enthusiastically second the Gloucester Green market recommendation. I was so excited to see the Korean stall (comfort food!) but there are oodles of choices. All the pubs mentioned are fantastic, too, as are the Perch, St Aldate's, the White Horse, Lamb and Flag, etc., etc.!

I love poking around the colleges (when open). Note that some will charge an arm and a leg (Christ Church, etc. – worth it, in my opinion), while others (just as lovely) are free. Evensong is an ethereal experience.

Enjoy!

The OP has returned from their trip to Oxford. People can bookmark this thread for great recommendations though !