Local Suggestions!
PUBS
Oxford has some of the best pubs in the UK, If you are ever unsure as to how to find a good pub, definitely pick up a copy of the “CAMRA good beer guide”, whilst not exhaustive they wont ever suggest a bad pub!
At time of writing the average price for a cask pint in Oxford is around £5. Expect to pay more for Guinness, though honestly Oxford pubs provide a vast range of stouts at much lower prices with far smaller marketing budgets!
Queue along the bar, it's not a coffee shop!
The Royal Blenheim. Victor in Oxfords pub of the year 4 out of the last 5 years (one year it came second by 1 vote!) . No food beyond snacks but a fantastic beer selection, Steve the landlord does a great quiz and always ensures the rugby is on. Usually the only place in Oxford that will show American sport (NHL, NFL) if a game is on. Sadly no outdoor space
The Lamb and Flag: Again not really any food but a large range of beer, all the profits go to fund Phds at St Johns. Former haunt of the inklings (Including Tolkien) Over the road is the construction site that will reopen as the Eagle and Child eventually.
The White Horse: Right next to Blackwells, not a huge range of beer but usually all local choices at good prices. The pubs walls are covered in pictures of actors who filmed in Oxford. Lots of outside space in the summer
The Bear: Expensive for oxford but lovely ancient interior with ceiling lined with ties in glass cabinets collected by the old landlord over many years . Does good food , limited indoor seating ,lots outside
The Gardners Arms: A vegetarian pub! Yes you heard that right, if meat isnt your thing they have a decent range of beer and lovely garden with an entirely vegetarian menu. Slightly outside Oxford centre near the Jericho area.
The White Rabbit: This former heavy metal pub (no really) is one of Oxford's best and cheapest for beer, limited indoor space but a big outdoor seating area. Fantastic pizza.
The Magdalen Arms: If it's a very nice sunday roast you want this is where you go, it's not cheap and about a 30 minutes walk from the town centre (or just get the bus) book ahead.
The Chester Arms: In a similar area to the Magdalen arms, again famous for its roasts except that you cant reserve, in true millennial style you have to get there early and queue. Its worth it though!
Breweries:
A little different but the Covered market has two taproom for oxfordshire breweries :
Teardrop: Tiny space inside the market right next to Sartorellis pizza (also excellent) The beer comes from two breweries 15 minutes outside Oxford on the edge of the Cotswolds
https://www.churchhanbrewery.com/
The Market Tap: Another social enterprise retraining prisoners, this time in brewing and baking. Great beer though, expect higher prices than most pubs
COFFEE AND PASTRIES
Newground: Locally roasted just outside oxford , it looks a little odd from the outside but the coffee here is great, not only that but this is a social enterprise helping to train and educate offenders in side and outside prison to give them life skills and stop them ever going back to prison!
Where: Ship street, right where we start the tour
Hamblin: Only open Thursday to Sunday, the best Cinnamon buns outside Stockholm
Where :covered market
Columbia coffee roasters: Lovely coffee and sandwiches ,
where: covered market
Missing Bean: a Local chain seemingly popping up all over the county now, one of Oxfords original modern coffee shops
Where: Turl street is the original location but there's a few all around now.
RESTERAUNTS
Due to the high student population central Oxford doesn't have many restaurants for city its size, most cater for students or office workers at lunchtime , your best bet is usually a pub (see ones above) Gloucester Green Market or a sandwich shop:
Sartorellis: Inside the covered market this place does amazing pizza, be warned it shuts early.
Lulas Ethiopian: again inside the covered market, same early closing issue. Also has a branch by the train station though where youu can go at dinner!
Browns: The classic Oxford breakfast spot doing a typical fried breakfast, inside the covered market.
Najars: A student institution, falafel, kebab and halal wraps, usually a big queue in term time though very reasonable prices
Gloucester Green food market (TOP PICK): Open Wednesday to Saturday , street food from all around the world , our favourites would be Mukja (Korean) Gyoza Oxford (usually has the biggest queue) and Sasha dumplings but expect to find everything from cake to curry and Cantonese. If you have cash many traders will give you a discount or extra food !
The Trout: Whilst this is technically a pub its more of a food destination. A nice walk across Port Meadow in the summer takes you here, probably best to avoid if its wet out!
Harrisons Fish and Chips: Nationally nominated for many, many awards, sadly its not in the centre of Oxford so is a bit of a trek to get to. Like all Fish and chip shops dont go on a monday, the fish wont be fresh!
Chains:
Dishoom Permit room: Its the same as the others around the country but does great curry with decent service
Mowgli: Similar to Dishoom though more based around street food, on top of the Westgate shopping centre with an oddly great view
Fancier options:
No 1 ship street: Actually centrally located, right by our meeting point!
The Cherwell Boathouse: Out of the centre of the city , the best place to hire a punt in the summer
Gees: 30 minutes walk from the centre of Oxford, classic place for anniversaries etc.
MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITS
The Pitt Rivers and Oxford Natural History Museum. Free Entry
These two share a building, architecturally stunning; the NHM is much like other natural history museums, dinosaurs and stuffed animals. However if you go through to the back you enter the Pitt Rivers, possibly one of the most varied and interesting anthropology museums in the world.
The Ashmolean, Free entry: If ancient mediterranean cultures are your thing this central Oxford museum has plenty of Roman, Greek and Minoan items. Not very child friendly but has a really good cafe on its roof and cheap luggage storage downstairs .
This History of Science Museum, Free entry: On the smaller side but centrally located , worth entering just to see the one blackboard Einstein wrote on on his trip to Oxford.
Other:
The Bodlein Library. If you like books, ancient fantasy, modern fantasy (really any fantasy) or Harry potter then here's where to go. Most tickets are sold as first come first served on the day only. We would suggest the 30 minute tour of the divinity school and Duke Humphries Library , if you can get on the hour-long one that also takes you inside the Radcliffe camera. The western Library also has free wifi, toilets and a rotating free exhibit (can be anything from the books fo John Le Carre to all of the universities most precious books)