48 Hours in Oxford – Part 1

If you’ve planned a city break to Oxford and really want to make the most of your 48 hours in the city of dreaming spires, read on! We’ve done the hard work for you with an Oxford itinerary packed full of all the best bits…

Day 1

11am – Start your day with a short cruise down the River Thames with Salters Steamers. The 40 minute excursion will take you past Christ Church Meadow and down to Iffley Lock on a return trip, starting and finishing at Folly Bridge in the City centre.
http://www.salterssteamers.co.uk/short-trips.php

12.20pm – Get an incredible insight into the Oxford you would never hear about anywhere else. Oxford Castle holds 1000 years of fascinating history which costumed guides share during 50 minute tours of the historic buildings, climbing the Saxon St. George’s Tower, descending underground to the ancient castle crypt and exploring the atmospheric prison wing. On a good weather day, you may also wish to climb the castle mound and discover the hidden well chamber within.
www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk

1.30pm – Surely time for lunch! Head for a bite to eat in the Castleyard Café. Choose from a selection of delicious sandwiches freshly prepared daily and using bread from a local craft bakery. Finish off with a slice of cake provided by Barefoot Bakery, a fantastic local supplier with cake flavours ranging from a classic Carrot cake through to Chocolate, raspberry and beetroot, plus a definite customer favourite, salted caramel brownies!

2.30pm – Take a stroll to the Covered market on Cornmarket, offering an incredible selection of independent retailers who provide a unique showcase for the very best in local crafts, food and drink. Don’t miss Ben’s Cookies to pick up a delicious sweet treat to enjoy as you browse. The original Ben’s Cookies store was opened in the Covered market in 1983 and has since gone on to see stores open across London and even in Dubai! We invite you to look at their website and not want to pay a visit!  http://www.benscookies.com/our-cookies/
http://oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk/

4.00pm – Enjoy a mini-tour of the Bodleian, taking in the most beautiful parts of the library in just 30 minutes. With roots stretching back to the 14^th century and over 12 million items in its catalogue, it is the second largest library in Britain, just after the British Library. You may also wish to visit an exhibition at the library, called Shakespeare’s Dead, which explores the theme of death present in many of the great bard’s works.
http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/whats-on/shakespeares-dead

6.30pm – If you’re lucky enough to be visiting on a Friday or Saturday, we would highly recommend booking a place on Bill Spectre’s Ghost Trail. Voted in the top ten Ghost walks in the world, Bill’s playful mixture of illusion and historical tales of Oxford will keep you enthralled as you tour the city’s darkest corners. Meet at the Oxford Castle Unlocked castleyard to begin.
http://www.ghosttrail.org/ghost-walk-oxford.htm

8pm – Dinner at the Eagle and Child is definitely on the menu during a trip to Oxford. A popular destination for famous writers to meet and discuss their work, the pub counts JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis amongst its former regulars! An extensive menu means there will be something for everyone.

http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/southeast/theeagleandchildoxford

Check out our blog post for your Oxford itinerary Day 2, available to read here