Day trip to Oxford or Cambridge from London?

I think Cambridge might give you more of a Campus feel. Oxford's colleges are right on the city streets, stuck here and there throughout the fairly large town. Also Cambridge has the famous Fitzwilliam Museum. The boys and yourselves might enjoy the American Air Museum at Duxford Air Museum which is part of the Imperial War Museum which is near Cambridge. Thatched roofed houses are here and there...but you have to go to the Cotswolds are more rural areas to get villiages of them (Although a lot of the ones there have different colored stone roofs.) There are pubs along most of the B or C roads most of the old ones are probably right in town.

The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial site is outside of Cambridge. You can get there using the HOHO bus.

Well, I didn't find Oxford to be "touristy"; it is a city with a working university. I did think that Cambridge was prettier and if I were choosing between the two, I'd choose Cambridge. I'm not sure what you mean by a "local" experience. If you mean a local restaurant, just ask a student at either place.

Kathleen has it right.
Cambridge gives you more of a iunified college feel, walking the "backs' you are surrounded by colleges in a way you are not at Oxford. however to get the "old englosh village' feel, the best place is the Cotswolds which are close to oxford- so you could combine your two searches in one trip. You will find thatched cottages in east Anglia- east of cambridege, but you need to do a little research to find the memorable villages. Pubs are everywhere

There are tourists in either town, but I don't find either to be overrun. Oxford is interesting, but I happen to like Cambridge quite a bit. If you go, you might enjoy punting on the Cam, where you will see the college buildings along the backs. Take one that is guided by a student, rather than doing it yourself, so that you get the commentary. The Eagle is a well-known pub there.

I am an Oxford fan, and have visited both. My bias? Based primarily on The Eagle and Child, the pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein and their literary buddies hung out. The Rabbit Room is a place of pilgrimage (but surprisingly UN-touristy pilgrimage) for many Tolkein and Lewis fans. Also adore the Bodleian Library. And the fact that Oxford is embedded in a city. It's got a more vibrant vibe, if you know what I mean. And yes, Oxford is in the same area as the Costwolds AND Stratford-upon-Avon, so all the Ye Olde Quaintness you can possibly absorb is 20 minutes away.

I would choose Cambridge as well for the reasons others have stated. The Kings College Chapel alone is worth the trip. As I recall it's an easy walk from the train station.

Having only been to Oxford I cannot give you a comparison. But as a PBS Masterpiece Mysteries Inspector Morse/Lewis fan, I do have to say that we enjoyed our visit to Oxford.

We made a huge mistake on our visit to Cambridge-it was exam period and no admission to any college-I think it was mid/late May. OTOH, we really enjoyed Oxford. We saw most of the colleges (including the dining hall at King's, I think, where a Harry Potter scene was filmed), went to Eagle and Child, the Alice in Wonderland Shop, and visited the church in CC where Shakespeare served as a Godparent at a baptism-the font is still there. One caveat: the Bodlean is closed on Monday-at least that was the case for us as we went to Oxford on a Monday-it was in early November and there were very few tourists.

If you do decide to go to Oxford...just take the train and do an easy walk about as Oxford is a pretty flat city.You can take a local bus to Woodstock and you are on the Edge of the Cotswolds and can walk to Blenheim Palace.

My husband and I have been to Cambridge in 2010 and 2011. We took the tube to a London train station and took the train directly to Cambridge. We did the same when we went to Oxford in 2010. We defnitiely preeferred Cambridge. You can get on a Hop-on, Hop-off tour, right after you come out of the train station. You can watch the people "punting" on the river and can eat over by the river. We also went to their Cambridge mall to sit for awhile. It is a really nice mall to have an afternoon coffee. We have done the Hop-on, Hop-off tour both times we were there. It is a quaint town to visit.

As a local to Oxford I don't need to advance what my case would be. However, one thing that has not been mentioned is the Ashmolean Museum, which after its recent £61 million refurbishment is quite outstanding. It is said to be Britain's oldest public museum, opened in the late 17th century, and some of the exhibits have been on constant display. In its new layout it is good for either a long visit or just dipping-in.

This is simply personal preference. My wife and I prefer Oxford, but know friends who prefer Cambridge. If you want the traditional English thatched houses, etc. Oxford is next door to the Cotswolds and a short bus ride from one of Englands gems, Blenheim Palace.

I was also debating between the two. But then I took a look at Blenheim Palace and the Ashmolean Museum and am sold on Oxford. I just hope I will have time to see a little of the town and the uni. Thanks!

I enjoy the whole area around Oxford... the villages, cottages, Blenheim Palace.... but I love the actual town of Cambridge better than Oxford... the campus is beautiful and the walk along the river was great. So,
for me its a toss-up.