Leisure Guide
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Oxford Leisure Guide
Your guide to what's happening around Oxfordshire
Having Fun on a BudgetNightlife & Entertainment
Eating & Drinking
City Sightseeing
Family Days Out
Beyond the dreaming spires
Oxford is a fantastic place to live and work, and we hope you will find our leisure guide useful as you begin to discover the city.
Oxford on a budget
There is a well-worn cliché that the best things in life are free, but is it really possible to have a good time without spending any money?
Green spaces
Green spaces are the lungs of any city, and can change a place from choked and congested to vibrant and peaceful.
Inside the Ashmolean
If you want to discover more about Oxfordshire’s history, then the city’s beautifully refurbished museum is a great place to start, writes Theresa Thompson
The world on your doorstep
Oxford is lucky enough to have six fascinating museums, covering a wide range of subjects, all within easy walking distance of the city centre.
Staying out for the summer
Oxfordshire’s festival season offers something for every possible musical taste. Tim Metcalfe previews the sights and sounds of 2010.
Foodie's paradise
Oxfordshire’s many and infinitely varied options for eating out leave you spoilt for choice, says Denise Barkley.
After dark
As a master of occupying his thoughts with absolutely anything that will take his mind off the real world for as much time as possible, Richard Bell, the Oxford Mail’s clubbing editor, has unparalleled knowledge of the nightlife on offer to fellow citizens looking for something to divert their attention from the troubles of the working week . . .
Literary tales from the riverbank
Writer and waterways historian Mark Davies reveals how the Thames, and Oxfordshire’s waterside watering holes, have, over the years, inspired generations of authors. With original Yellow Hat Tribe illustrations by Irene Tyack.
Ancient & modern
No city would be the same without a wide variety of watering holes, and Oxford seems to have hit the jackpot in this department, with enough pubs and bars to drown in — probably something to do with the huge student population and all those thirsty brains! From the famous historical venues, where revellers have worn the boards bare over the centuries, to the new and fashionable places to be seen, there will always be somewhere to suit your mood . . .
Grand days out
Why not take a break with the family and visit one of the top attractions within easy reach of Oxford? We have selected some great places to visit, ranging from wildlife parks to grand stately homes.
Oxford landmarks
Visitors to Oxford are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do. It sometimes seems that on every corner there is a new experience to enjoy or famous landmark to see. This can put tourists and other visitors in a spin of indecision.
See Oxford up close
Official walking tours of Oxford are packed with information and anecdotes about the city, the colleges, university life, historic buildings, famous people and odd traditions, and the expert guides will be delighted to answer any questions along the way.
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