Fun in Oxford

There is so much to do in and around Oxford. Here are a few ideas about how you might keep busy and entertained in your free time.

Bowling at Oxford United stadium

Bowlplex

  • Range of actives at Kassam stadium including bowling, arcade and even a 12 screen cinema just minutes ride from the college.
  • Price: Bowling: £5. Cinema: Approx £7

Become your favourite F1 star at Oxford's own Go-Karting track.

Karting Oxford

  • Price: £20 - £30

Rileys pool and snooker club

  • Choose from snooker, American or English pool, darts or just chill in the bar.  All Kings students are welcome.
  • Price: £8 per hour

Win your fortune at the dogs

Oxford Dog Racing Stadium

  • Price: £5 entry

Visit Oxford University's world famous colleges

  • Magdalen College (deer park and where C.S. Lewis taught)
  • Christ Church (where the Harry Potter films were shot)

World-class museums

Ashmolean museum

  • Opened in 1683 with a vast and fascinating collection, including Einstein’s black board.

Museum of Natural History

  •  Come face to face with dinosaurs and all manner of insects

Pitt Rivers Museum

  • Prepare to be amazed by the weird and wonderful collection with everything from a totem pole to shrunken heads.
  • Price:  All FREE and located in the heart of oxford

Cinemas

Price: £-£8

Traditional old English pubs

Famous Oxford literary pubs include:

  • White Horse (52 Broad Street), which appears in several Inspector Morse TV episodes
  • Eagle and Child (49 St Giles), famous haunt of J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis, amongst others.

Ice-skating

  • Try dancing and ice-skating at the same time in Oxford
  • Monday night ice skating disco.
  • Price: £4

Shopping at our local luxury shopping outlet centre

  • Bicester village, a designer outlet only 20 minuets by train or by local bus every 10 minuets from Oxford, including shops such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and many more.
  • Price: Approx £5

Bodleian library

  • The world’s second largest library containing more than 11 million books.  Also used as a set for the Harry Potter films.
  • Price: £7 guided tour

Punting on the river

  • Head for Magdalen Bridge on the River Cherwell or Folly Bridge on the Thames, where punts can be hired for a lazy time drifting on the water, and perhaps having a picnic.
  • Price: £16 per punt per hour (5/6 per punt)

Listen to live music from classical to rock

Classical music in Oxford

Oxford gig guide

Oxford Towers

  • Look down upon the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ from several Church towers.

Botanic gardens

Oxford Botanic Gardens and Arboretum

  • The gardens dates back to 1621 when it was established as a physic garden for the cultivation and study of medicinal plants.
  • The gardens have 7000 specimens and include famous spots such as Tolkien's Tree, on which he based the character Treebard.
  • Price: £2.50