A great tour of the Oxford Castle & Prison…read more The tour was a fantastic experience. Packed with history, storytelling with a fun tour guide that all ages could appreciate. Well worth the time and money. The demonstration of a real pillory was icing on the cake.

This is a must-see if you visit Oxford. The guided tour takes you through the vestiges of the…read morecastle to view its architecture and give you an idea of its original use as a fortress. The moderate climb to the tower is worthwhile as you get a nice panoramic view of the city. As the tour transitions to the use of the castle in more recent times as a prison, there is an interesting display concerning that era highlighting criminal justice practices over the past couple of centuries. The "mug shots" of prisoners held there were fascinating and often poignant. This was particularly true for those stories of the children incarcerated for things like petty theft, acts they committed just to survive. The instruments of "correction" such as stocks were also described in detail. Notorious prisoners held at the castle prison were highlighted and their tales were intriguing. The stories of Mary Blandy and the Black Panther were especially memorable. Our guide did a fabulous job of informing us about the history and significance of the structure in a very engaging manner. The Castle Mound at the front of the grounds is also worth climbing as the views are terrific. This is definitely worth the time and price of admission if you are in Oxford.

Not the best place to learn to punt but it is very scenic…read more If you are a learner punter then I'd recommend the Cherwell boathouse in North Oxford or Magdalen Bridge punts. The problem with learning to punt on the Thames is that it gets quite deep in places (which makes it hard to get the pole in and to get a good push) and there is lots of other river traffic. The motor boats don't like you getting in the way and even if you are safely out of the way they create waves. The serious rowers (and in Oxford they are VERY serious rowers) also don't have a lot of patience with learner punts swinging across their bows. The other rivers are much quieter and better for people starting out. On the other hand you can punt past Christchurch Meadows, past the old and new college boathouses, you can even go up the Cherwell and get to Magdalen Bridge. Make sure you have plenty of money or a credit card to leave as a deposit.

Punting is fantastically good fun and I really recommend it for a summer afternoon with friends…read more Whilst the initial cost of hiring a punt might seem high, divide that between a few people and it soons becomes much more reasonable. However, I would agree with notquiteox. Although this is the most scenic place to punt, with Christchurch towering over beautiful and surprisingly rural meadows, and rowers giving it an incredibly Oxford attitude, it's not ideal for learning. As well as the points above, I'd add that the current can get quite strong and if you go too far from the edge it's too deep to punt, meaning you're swept along rather helplessly, which is great fun until you realise you need to be back somewhere or until you need to steer

During our walking tour of Oxford, we walked around the outside and we decided it was worth getting…read morea ticket for. There was a family option for the ticket so that saved us some money. You buy the ticket at the library across the way. The tickets are timed, but they are not strict about it and we bought a ticket for 30 minutes later. Once inside, there wasn't that much to see, but there also was a lot to see. By that, I mean that the space was small, but the detail and awe were great. There are a couple of boards giving you the history, we snapped a few pics knowing that this is where they filmed some scenes from Harry Potter, and were on our way in 15-20 minutes. It was still worth it though!

The Divinity School is between the Bodleian library and the Sheldonian Theatre but is an impressive…read morebuiding in its own right. It was built in the 15th century (1426 - 1480) for theology students but today theology students have lectures in their halls of residence, their colleges and university lecture theatres. The building has served a variety of purposes over the years and hosted Charles I's Parliament in the English Civil War. If you do get the chance to visit, which is rare, have a look at the impressive ceiling. It was restored by Wren and has vaults and bosses which are intricately carved with letters and symbols. It's mind-boggling to think of someone creating them all those yeras ago.

Upon first glance, you wouldn't expect this to be the Carfax tower because it looks rather…read moreinconspicuous but then you see the sketchy entrance and signage and you know you're in the right place. Fun Fact: The Carfax Tower is all that's left of the 13th century St. Martin's Church. We paid 2.50 each to climb 99 dodgy looking, narrow,spiral steps to the top. There's only one way up and down so if someone's on the stairs coming down while you're going up, you may have to backtrack a bit, though they do have a couple of landings where to can get off the stairs and rest a minute and allow stair traffic to pass. The rooftop is a bit hard to navigate because you're only allowed to walk along the perimeter and don't have access to the whole rooftop but the views are definitely amazing. We got there when there weren't many guests there and the morning was still cool and cloudy so we were able to get lovely pics of the city. It's safe to say it isn't suitable for those that have difficulty with stairs or those that may have a bit of claustrophobia.

Nice summer day when I walked by here. Should have gone up but it looked super touristy from the…read moreoutside and already climbed to the top of St Mary's.

We enjoyed a nice visit to the garden. They offer timed tickets you can pre book which makes it…read morequick to get in. There is a large garden you can walk through to see the plants and trees and also some glass houses that contained interesting plants such as poisonous plants, cactus, and more. Most plants were labeled. There were a number of trees and some seating that was in the shade. It was a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours.

What a beautiful place to walk and listen to the birds as you walk your breakfast off…read more Really peaceful and despite not having all the flowers and trees in bloom, it was such a lovely couple hours spent here. I can just imagine what it would be like in summer. I really liked the green houses as well. Our favorite was the rainforest one. A small gift shop at the entrance/exit. The staff was really friendly and helpful but that's just all the people in Oxford so far.

The Martyrs Memorial was one of the most profound locations that touched me deeper than I imagined…read more The monument, completed in 1843, memorialized three Oxford martyrs from the 16th century. Both the Bishop of Worcester, Hugh Latimer, and the Bishop of London, Nicholas Ridley, were burned nearby October 16, 1555 after being convicted for heresy because of their Protestant beliefs after a quick trial. The story was they translated the bible so everyone could read it, not just the rich and powerful. The actual execution site was close by on Broad Street, just outside the old city walls. The site was marked by an iron cross sunk in the road surrounded by bricks. You can see this in one of my pictures. I'm thankful we were able to see this site which was a sobering reminder of the brutal past. If you are ever in Oxford I recommend checking it out.

An interesting monument to 3 martyrs. It is nice there is a plaque explaining the significance of…read morethe site. Worth a quick stop if your passing by.

I came here for evensong and was not disappointed. The chapel is beautiful inside and despite being…read moreornate, it manages to avoid the rather flamboyant decorations that many have. The wall in front of you as you walk in is breathtaking and if you go in during the day, the stained glass windows really give light to the room. The seats are pretty uncomfortable, so elderly visitors may find it helpful to bring a cushion. They face each other, so the choir is on the same level, just nearer to the altar. This creates a fantastic effect with the two parts of the choir singing at each other and the sound echoing from the walls. The men stand at the back providing the tenor and bass, whilst the boys stand at the front looking rather angelic. The choir is world-famous and specialises in Renaissance and Baroque music. Service sheets and books are provided and the services are Anglican. The lighting is subtle lamps which give the place a wonderful, peaceful glow. It's all very welcoming to guests, whether you're used to this sort of thing or not.

Visited the museum while in Oxford for the day. Lots of history and neat exhibits to visit. We…read moresaw insects, fossils and tons of other things, almost too many to list. The day of our visit, there were a few schools visiting but everyone we encountered from the staff to the young preschool students were friendly and considerate. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Oxford.

A museum of natural history would generally be on my list of "museums I don't wish to visit" but…read morethe Oxford Museum of Natural History proved that I barely know myself. First, it's free of charge which automatically makes it attractive. But though free may get me in the door it won't guarantee I'll enjoy it. This museum isn't just free but it is also gorgeous and interesting, a real home run. And, in the event that Natural History isn't your jam even here, this place contains the portal to the almost indescribable Pitt Rivers Museum (also free). One of these is bound to be your happy place.

The Bodleian Library is the main library for Oxford University. It is the second largest libray in…read moreEngland - second only to the British Library. Unfortunately it is is closed on Sunday which was our only day in Oxford. Consequently we weren't able to see the inside or take a tour of the library and got to see the exterior only. The architecture is magnificant and even the exterior is worth seeing.

What an amazing experience! We had a tour of the Bodleian Libraries, and it was by far the…read morehighlight of our trip to Oxford. The rich history of the library was captivating, and the stunning architecture of the buildings was not to miss. Natasha, our tour guide, was an absolute gem! She guided us through the majestic halls and took us behind the scenes, explaining the lavish history along the way, always with a warm smile. Her enthusiasm for the library was palpable, and her extensive knowledge made the tour even more fascinating. One of the highlights was seeing the Duke Humfrey's library. Such a beautiful and historic building with crests of the University of Oxford covering the ceiling, and Kings, Queens, and Bishops along the aisles. The Radcliffe Camera and The Divinity Schools were not to miss as well. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Oxford.