Famous Landmarks in Oxford: Attractions & Places to Visit
Oxford is packed with famous landmarks and attractions, including Christ Church, the Radcliffe Camera, museums, historic colleges, river walks and punting trips. The city is easy to explore on foot, and many of its best-known places are in the city centre.
Top Oxford attractions include the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church, Oxford Castle & Prison and the Ashmolean Museum. You can also explore churches, colleges, bridges, museums and river walks in the city centre.
Oxford is easy to explore on foot, but there are also guided walking tours, sightseeing buses, punting trips and river cruises if you want a different view of the city. I’ve visited the city multiple times and enjoyed it; the latest was with a dog.
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You can book tours and activities via the GetYourGuide or Viator websites.
Famous Oxford Landmarks
Radcliffe Camera
One of the most recognisable landmarks is the Radcliffe Camera. The baroque building was completed in 1749 to become the home of the Radcliffe Science Library. Visitors can enter the building on one of the Bodleian Library’s guided tours.
The Bridge of Sighs ā Hertford Bridge
The Bridge of Sighs is a popular landmark for a photograph. It dates from 1914 and is a skyway that joins two parts of Hertford College.
Bodleian Library
One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Bodleian Library, which was established in 1602. The library is a stunning building and good for a look around outside. Visitors can book a tour to see the Bodleian Library’s interior. The Bodleian Library is the principal research library of the University of Oxford and the 2nd largest in the UK. It is also one of the oldest libraries in Europe.
The library has over 13 million printed pieces. It’s a popular place and well worth visiting inside, too. One of the standout features of the building is the Tower of the Five Orders.
The Sheldonian Theatre
The eye-catching Sheldonian Theatre was built between 1664 and 1669. They use the venue for live performances, ceremonies and talks. You can also go on a self-guided tour of this impressive building. One highlight is its painted ceiling.
Clarendon Building
The Clarendon Building is an early 18th-century neoclassical building used by the University of Oxford. It was built between 1711 and 1715, and it’s now a Grade II listed building. The Clarendon Building is next to the Bodleian Library and the Sheldonian Theatre, making this area a very special place for sightseeing.
Carfax Tower
The Carfax Tower is a landmark in the city centre and the last remaining part of the 13th-century church of St Martin. Carfax Tower is 23 metres tall. There is a law that no buildings in central Oxford may be taller. The tower is a Grade II listed building and still contains original 15th-century bells, which are rung on special occasions.
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is next to the Radcliffe Camera. It originally opened in 1280 and has a fascinating history. The tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest part of the church building.
The church is free to enter. However, there is a charge to climb the tower. The highlight of the church is climbing the tower for one of the best views of the city.
St Michael at the North Gate
St Michael at the North Gate is a historic place on Cornmarket, and its eye-catching Anglo-Saxon tower is a wonderful sight. The church was built between 1000 and 1050, so it is one of the oldest buildings in the city. You can go inside and climb the tower for the views or to see the clock mechanisms.
Martyrs’ Memorial
The Martyrs’ Memorial, near Balliol College, commemorates the 16th-century Oxford martyrs who were burnt for heresy during the English Reformation. The Victorian Gothic-style monument was completed in 1843, 300 years after the bishops were burnt for heresy.
Church of Saint Mary Magdalen
The Church of Saint Mary Magdalen is one of the city’s ancient parish churches and, thus, is a Grade I listed building. The building is a combination of Gothic and Gothic Revival styles. The church site has a history dating back to the Saxon era. It has been rebuilt and expanded since the original, built in 1074.
St Aldate’s Church
St Aldate’s Church is opposite Christ Church in the city centre. There has been a church on this site since the Saxon era. Some of the current buildings date from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Oxford Colleges and University Buildings
Christ Church
Christ Church has some fantastic features: the cathedral, the Old Tom Tower and the gardens. There is also an old masters gallery with paintings to see.
The Christ Church Gardens are splendid and colourful. You can also see them through the fence as you walk towards Merton College from the meadow.
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is also one of the smallest Church of England cathedrals. The cathedral was built between 1160 and 1200, combining Gothic and Romanesque styles. Famous visitors include Catherine of Aragon, who is said to have prayed here.
You can book various tours of the cathedral; some focus on the architecture or stained glass windows. There is also a self-guided tour, and the church is also open for prayer.
Tom Tower
Tom Tower on St Aldate’s is basically the entrance to Christ Church. This is a bell tower named after the bell inside, called Great Tom, which weighs over 6 tonnes.
Christopher Wren designed this tower, and it was built in 1681 and 1682. The Tom Tower is a square tower with an octagonal lantern and a dome. The gate at the bottom leads to the Christ Church quad and offers magnificent views.
Merton Meadow & Merton College
Merton College is a pleasant place to visit for a walk, especially the sports fields to the rear adjoining Christ Church Meadow. The footpath to the side of Merton College is lovely, with a shaded area to sit and look at the chapel.
The roads at the front of the college are picturesque, too. On the street are some timber-framed buildings. Merton College was established in 1264 and is named after its founder, Walter de Merton. The oldest remaining building of the college is The Hall, which was completed in 1277. You can also do a tour inside; find out more on their website.
Magdalen College
Magdalen College is a beautiful building with an impressive tower that is well worth seeing. They allow visitors most days of the year and also do guided tours, which can be arranged on their website.
Magdalen College is part of the prestigious University of Oxford and was founded in 1458. At Magdalen College, you can see five quads, including the Cloister or Great Quad. The Founders Tower is Gothic, with lots of decoration and carvings.
One of the most notable parts of the college is the Great Tower, which dates from 1509. It was originally a standalone tower, and buildings were later added. The chapel is a Grade II-listed building dating from the 13th century; however, it was modified in the neo-Gothic style in the 18th and 19th centuries.
All Souls College
Another Oxford University building to see is All Souls College. The college has a history dating back to 1438. Historic buildings in the college include the library and chapel. You can visit the College Front, Great Quadrangles, and Chapel for free in small groups or individually.
New College
New College was founded in 1379, so it has some interesting buildings to see. It’s a nice place for a look around the outside, or you can arrange a tour of the college. On the tour, you can see the college’s buildings, the cloisters, the quad and the original entrance gate. Tour times and prices are on the New College website.
Other Colleges of Oxford University
45 colleges make up Oxford University, most of which have historic buildings. Some even have tours, a chance to see the gardens or even dine in.
Museums, Markets and Indoor Attractions
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum is a free tourist attraction. It is in a grand building with stone pillars at the entrance. The Ashmolean Museum covers both art and archaeology in its exhibits. Exhibits range from ancient Egypt to more contemporary art.
Oxford Castle & Prison
Oxford Castle and Prison is over 1,000 years old. Despite its 1,000 years of history, much of it was destroyed during the English Civil War. During the 18th century, the castle became a prison. The prison offers guided tours, including the tower, the cells, and a candlelit crypt.
History of Science Museum
The History of Science Museum is near the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre. Inside the museum, you can see and learn about scientific instruments from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century.
Museum of Oxford
The Museum of Oxford is in the town centre, near Christ Church, and is housed in the town hall. Visiting is by donation; pay what you can afford. The museum tells the story of the city from the prehistoric era to modern history. Inside are artefacts, including Oliver Cromwell’s death mask and Rolling Stones concert tickets.
Alice’s Shop
On St Aldate’s is Alice’s Shop, a 15th-century stone building that was remodelled in the 17th century. The site has long been a shop and is now a gift shop all about Alice in Wonderland. The shop was the inspiration for two of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novels, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.
The Covered Market
The Covered Market is an indoor market with various shops and stalls. It dates from 1774, and trading has happened here since then. You can buy food, gifts, baked goods or sandwiches for lunch. The butchers in the market sell the local special Oxford sausage.
Historic Pubs
Throughout the city, there are historic pubs where you can enjoy a pint of beer or another drink. This includes the 12th-century Turf Tavern and the city’s oldest pub, The Bear Inn, which was opened in 1242. You might also find some pubs that have featured in the movies or on TV, for example, Inspector Morse.
River Walks, Bridges and Viewpoints
Punting on the River Cherwell
Oxford Punting is based on a slipway next to Magdalen Bridge. You can hire a punt from them for a trip along the river. They are open from February to the end of November each year. The punts can carry up to 5 passengers. However, you can also book a chauffeur service for an easy ride.
Christ Church Meadow
Christ Church Meadow has views of the Oxford skyline and the neighbouring Christ Church Cathedral. Entering Christ Church Meadow from St Aldate’s, there is a pretty garden with fountains and lots of flowers.
The visitor centre, the cafe, and the entrance to Christ Church are also in the meadow. You can walk to Boathouse Island, Magdalen Bridge, or Merton College via Christ Church Meadow.
Boat Trips with Salters Steamers
Salters Steamers offers boat trips along the River Thames from Folly Bridge, as well as a variety ofĀ river cruises: short trips, picnic cruises, and themed tours. They also provide a boat hire service where you can hire diesel boats, punts or rowing boats by the hour or for an entire day.
Walk to Boathouse Island
As a former rower, I was interested in seeing Boathouse Island, home to the Oxford University colleges’ rowing boathouses. There were lots of boathouses, each with its emblem on display. On the river, there were people out training.
Folly Bridge
Folly Bridge is a magnificent spot for watching boats or the university rowing crews. You can also rent a boat here or enjoy a beer at The Head of the River pub. The bridge is a Grade II-listed building dating from 1825 to 1827; however, there has been a stone bridge at the site since 1085. When at the bridge, you can also see Bacon’s tower.
Magdalen Bridge
Magdalen Bridge, which crosses the River Cherwell, has been a crossing since 1004. Back then, it was a wooden bridge. Magdalen Bridge is now a stone arch bridge dating from 1790.
The views from Magdalen Bridge are magnificent; you can also watch people enjoying their first punt on the river. From the bridge, you can also see the imposing Magdalen Tower, the botanical garden, and the parkland below.
Westgate Roof Terrace
If you like views of city skylines, then the place to head is the Westgate Roof Terrace. The Westgate Roof Terrace is on the same floor as the toilets in the Westgate Shopping Centre. From here, you can see many of the city’s spires.
Is Oxford Worth Visiting?
Oxford is a beautiful city to visit and is one of my favourite UK city breaks. It has loads of things to see, including some fabulous buildings. The city also has engaging museums, bookshops and other places of interest. The open space, parks and riverbanks enhance the experience.