Oxfordshire - 83 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a landlocked county in the far west of the government statistical region of South East England. The ceremonial county borders Warwickshire to the north-west, Northamptonshire to the north-east, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, Wiltshire to the south-west and Gloucestershire to the west.

Types of Attractions in Oxfordshire

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Oxfordshire

Abbey Meadows

Abbey Meadows

Botanical Gardens

The Abbey Gardens are a charming stroll with flat, easy paths and wide gates. Amongst the planted flower displays can be found Victoria’s statue and the ruins which have fooled many a visitor into thinking they have seen the remains of Abingdon Abbey. It has won the Green Flag award for parks and open spaces for ten years in a row.

Abingdon County Hall Museum

Abingdon County Hall Museum’s aim is to present the history of Abingdon and the surrounding locality in the most informative, exciting and accessible way possible. It housed a courtroom on the first floor, raised on arches above a market space. It is now home to the Abingdon County Hall Museum, and there are fine views from the rooftop overlooking the market square.

Alice's Shop

Alice's Shop

Iconic Buildings

The Alice's Shop in Oxford is the authentic Alice in Wonderland Shop because it is part of the original story. It was Alice's sweet shop 150 years ago. It is now a gift shop selling gifts, souvenirs and memorabilia, all based on Alice.

Ashmolean Museum

The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Its collection representing most of the world’s great civilizations, with objects dating from 8000 BC to the present day. Among its treasures are the world’s greatest collection of Raphael drawings, the most important collection of Egyptian pre-Dynastic sculpture and ceramics outside Cairo and so more.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology

The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford was established in 1683 and is the oldest museum in the United Kingdom. It houses the University of Oxford’s collections of art and antiquities. Its many riches include the world’s greatest collection of Raphael drawings; the most important collection of Egyptian pre-Dynastic sculpture and ceramics outside Cairo; the only great Minoan collection in Britain; outstanding Anglo-Saxon treasures; the most famous violin in the world, Stradivari’s M

Aston Martin Heritage Trust

The Aston Martin Heritage Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation that manages the Aston Martin Museum an automobile museum presenting the history of Aston Martin cars. It is located off Dorchester Road in the village of Drayton St Leonard, South Oxfordshire, England. The collection ranges from the oldest surviving Aston Martin car, No. 3 to a Vanquish Volante pre-production model dating from 2013.

Badbury Hill

Badbury Hill

Mountain Peaks

Badbury Hill is an area of woodland, well-loved for its bluebells, walking and cycling. The summit of the hill is the site of an Iron Age hill fort known as Badbury Camp. It is roughly circular in shape, most of which was levelled early in the 19th century. It is now a wooded area, known locally as Badbury Clump, of roughly nine acres, swathed in bluebells in May and is a well-frequented local recreation area, for walkers and dog-owners.

Banbury Museum & Gallery

Bambury Museum is a family-friendly museum located in Banbury’s town centre, next to the idyllic canal-side, and opposite Tooley’s historic boatyard. Its displays present the history of the town. They include the English Civil War, Banbury as a market town in Victorian times, the Oxford Canal, and Tooley's Boatyard next to the museum. The boatyard is a scheduled ancient monument that can be visited on a guided tour.

Bate Collection of Musical Instruments

The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments is a collection of historic musical instruments, mainly for Western classical music, from the Middle Ages onwards. It has the most comprehensive collection of European woodwind, brass and percussion instruments in Britain. The Bate has over 2000 instruments from the Western orchestral music traditions from the Renaissance, through the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and up to modern times.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace

Iconic Buildings

Notable Architectures

Blenheim Palace a World Heritage Site with over 300 years of History and home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his Family. Explore over 2000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown Parkland and 90 acres of award-winning Formal Gardens. Ride the miniature train to The Pleasure Gardens, a dedicated family area that offers a giant hedge maze, butterfly house and adventure playground.

Blenheim Park

Blenheim Park

Parks

Botanical Gardens

A beautiful park of over 2000 acres, beautifully landscaped and well worth a visit in its own right. Gentle hillsides and well-kept lakes are complemented by large pastures with free-roaming sheep. The park was once an Anglo-Saxon chase and then a twelfth-century deer park. It now includes the Pleasure Gardens, Italian Garden and Rose Garden are well worth a visit as is the 'Capability' Brown landscaped Park.

Bodleian Library

Bodleian Library

Man-made Structures- Other

The Bodleian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and derives its name from its founder Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in Britain after the British Library. Under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003, it is one of six legal deposit libraries for works published in the United Kingdom.

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was designed by Antonio Contino, whose uncle Antonio da Ponte designed the Rialto Bridge, and it was built in 1600.

Brightwell Vineyard

Brightwell Vineyard

Outdoors- Other

Brightwell Vineyard was first planted in the late 1980’s and acquired by its present owners in 2000. It covers 16 acres and grows 8 varieties of grape including Bacchus, Chardonnay, Huxelrebe, Dornfelder and Pinot Noir. White, rosé, red and sparkling wines are made in the on-site winery employing natural, minimum intervention methods.

Broughton Castle

Broughton Castle

Iconic Buildings

Broughton Castle is a moated and fortified manor house near Banbury in North Oxfordshire. Set in parkland and built of the rich local Hornton ironstone. The castle sits on an artificial island in pastureland and is surrounded by a wide moat. Across the small bridge lies the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, surrounded by its historic cemetery. A Grade I listed building, it opens to the public over the summer.

Carfax Tower

Carfax Tower

Iconic Buildings

The tower was built in 1818 as part of a reconstruction of the church, which was demolished in 1896 due to increasing traffic problems in the city centre. Today the tower is the tallest point in central Oxford and so by climbing its 99 steps you can experience a unique bird’s eye view of the city’s famous “dreaming spires” skyline.

Cherwell Boathouse

Cherwell Boathouse

Boating Spots

Cherwell Boathouse is Oxford's biggest punt station with over 80 handmade punts available for hire to explore the river Cherwell.It is located down a small lane off the junction between Chadlington Road and Bardwell Road, which itself is off the Banbury Road in North Oxford. restaurant and riverside café can be found on the same site. It is very popular with tourists and students in the summer.

Cholsey and Wallingford Railway (Wallingford, Station)

The Cholsey and Wallingford Railway is a 2+1⁄2-mile long standard gauge heritage railway in the English county of Oxfordshire. It run steam and diesel trains on the historic ‘Bunk’ line linking Cholsey with the market town of Wallingford. Trains run on selected weekends and bank holidays throughout the year and, where available, are steam hauled.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the Anglican diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also the chapel of Christ Church at the University of Oxford. This dual role as cathedral and college chapel is unique in the Church of England. The cathedral is visited by thousands of people each year, who pray, worship or simply enjoy the stillness and profound sense of history it inspires.

Christ Church Meadow

Christ Church Meadow

Churches

Botanical Gardens

Christ Church meadow is a rare open space at the heart of Oxford, open to the public all year round. Though seemingly tranquil, the meadow is highly variable, with seasonal flooding and a variety of wildlife that comes and goes. During the Civil War it proved invaluable as a defence against the Parliamentarian forces, but visitors are nowadays more likely to encounter a rare English Longhorn cow than a soldier besieging the city. b

Map of attractions in Oxfordshire

Comments

For more information about Oxfordshire, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxfordshire