Oxford or Cambridge as a day trip from London?

Several years ago we did a daytrip to Cambridge from London and had a terrific time. It was easy and we had a good time at a pleasant pace. We pretty much just walked around the town with no real itinerary or our usual kamikaze sightseeing agenda. It was a very nice day. Not sure how Oxford compares, but intend to try a London based daytrip there in about 2 months. Will be interested to see what other posters have to say.

Flip a coin...both are interesting.

You might consider taking a walking tour from London. You meet the guide in London, travel together by train, and then get a guided walking tour of the colleges.

London Walks goes to both towns. I've done the one to Oxford with them and enjoyed it.

Brianna - We've done the day trip to Oxford. We started out by taking a Guide Friday tour to get the lay of the land. Granted is was July and not that crowded. Then we just wandered around town. We will be doing a day trip to Cambridge this time.

I like Oxford and it's cheaply and easily reachable by bus for a day trip.

Thanks for your input, everyone! I guess I'll do as Frank II suggests and flip a coin.

We have visited both and preferred Oxford. It may just have been our luck on those two days, but we found Oxford to be open and welcoming. We took a guided tour through one of the colleges and visited the Eagle and Child pub and sat where Tolkien sat with his friends. Cambridge, on the other hand, felt unwelcoming. If you choose Oxford, check out the Golden Compass movie, parts of which are supposedly set at Oxford.

We have done Oxford and Cambridge. Perhaps it was the weather that influenced me - when we were in Oxford the weather was nasty! I came away with not the best impression of Oxford. On the other hand, the day we were in Cambridge was gorgeous - we loved the museums, the architecture, the boat ride - everything about it.

I have been to both. If you are an Inspector Morse fan, like Lewis Carroll or want to see the college of a favorite luminary, Oxford is good. But I would recommend Cambridge, if it is a toss up. I found it more picturesque. There is Kings College Chapel, punting on the River Cam and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Oxford is more of a city while Cambridge had more of a town feel, in my opinion. And you could pace yourself or just enjoy the atmosphere without being on overload.

Oxford is way better than Cambridge.

But then I'm rather biased as I live in Oxford...

Born and raised in Cambridge..so go to Cambridge. I lived in Oxford and it really doesnt compare. But then again. Its probably like a brit asking whether to go to visit Yale or Harvard. Going to get some biased opinions!
Both cities have the universities but I think Kings College seen from the river is more spectacular. You can go punting on the River Cam or have someone else punt you along while you have a cream tea.
Great shopping in the city plus a real market every day except Sundays in the city centre.
An excellent theatre [the Arts Theatre] that used to get alot of the major dramas once they started touring.
Lots of pubs and restaurants to fit all budgets. A very walkable central town core as they stopped most traffic entering by putting in those bollards that come up and down out of the ground.
Great St Marys tower that you can climb for excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Also, its about an 75 minutes from London by train so very quick and you dont waste much of your day travelling. Good bus links in the city as well.
Pete

We have been to both and enjoyed them. Being a huge Morse fan, Oxford was a must see and it is more of a town. Seeing the dining hall set up for lunch at King's College was great--like a scene from a movie. We made a huge mistake when we went to Cambridge--it was exam period and all colleges were closed--a real bummer and we did not do our homework on that trip. Ate at great pubs in both places. You can't really go wrong with either--as long as you don't pick exam time which I think was late May. Enjoy!