The cultural capital of Oxfordshire is Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires and there are plenty of tourist attractions to enjoy on days out. With its honey-coloured stone architecture, noble lawns and prestigious colleges, the unchanging beauty of this city will always dominate the county.
Learning and exploring are synonymous with this city, even for tourists. Why not start with a city sightseeing bus tour, a great way to get your bearings and discover some of the interesting facts and stories behind the city, with 20 bus stops you and hop on and off as must as you like or just sit and enjoy the ride.
With countless city locations being used as the backdrop for television and film sets from Morse to Harry Potter, you may get a feeling of déjà vu. Oxfordshire is also home to several points of interest used for filming in the The hit ITV drama Downton Abbey including Bampton and Greys Court. Download a PDF guide to follow in the footsteps of the Crawley family.
In the north of Oxfordshire the lush and fertile Cherwell Valley is centred on the lovely town of Banbury, where you can really see a fine lady upon a white horse - or a statue of her, anyway. It's just one of the bustling market towns that punctuate a journey through Oxfordshire. For more information on places to visit in Oxfordshire, see our interactive map of Oxfordshire detailing the county's towns and villages.
Many of Oxfordshire's tourist attractions are open all year round so find something to do today with activities listings each showing a map and opening times for your convenience. Or why not browse our Oxfordshire events guide to find out what's happening this week.
For things to do in Oxford, Bicester, Banbury, Henley-on-Thames and other Oxfordshire towns, browse our pick of the best attractions below or find a more comprehensive list of what to do and places to go at the bottom of the page.
With picturesque villages, breathtaking natural scenery, a world-renowned university city and over 6,000 years of history, if you're looking for places to stay in Oxfordshire, the county has it all if you find yourself wanting more time to explore. The morden Courtyard by Marriott Oxford South is located a short hop away from Blenheim Palace and Bicester Village and with family-friendly interconnecting rooms, free Wi-Fi and a tasty childrens menu, it also has great access to the A34. Did you know you can actually stay on the Blenheim Palace Estate? Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat has around 30 lodges set in peaceful and well maintained grounds, located within walking distance of the Palace, some lodges welcoming dogs too, so everyone in the family came come on your next Oxfordshire adventure.
For more information about Oxfordshire, including ideas for days out, accommodation and events, browse the county's things to do and towns and villages in the list below. Use the 'map view' button to find something near you.
Number of results: 188
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Restaurant
6 Milton Gate, Abingdon
Take sanctuary from the street-level bustle and dive in to the flavours of local British cuisine at Oxen Bar & Grill, the all-day neighbourhood brasserie nestled in the Courtyard Oxford South Hotel. With leather snugs, Oxfordshire inspired details,…
Pub/Inn
Faringdon
The Old Crown Coaching Inn is a 15 century Coaching Inn, with a fabulous pub, cocktail bar, fine dining and casual dining restaurant, with 14 en suite bedrooms, a beautiful courtyard, and a private car park.
Towns & Villages
Cassington
The centre of this small village is its traditional green, one of two in the village, lined by attractive old cottages, the pub and the school. An avenue of lime trees leads across the side of the green to the Norman doorway of the church.
Towns & Villages
Oxford
Visit Oxfordshire and discover one of the most beautiful English counties, with the most inspiring city at its heart.
Towns & Villages
Spelsbury
Spelsbury is a small village on the road between Chipping Norton and Charlbury. By the side of the road there is a large canopied water fountain, of honey coloured stone, built in memory of Constantine Augustus Dillon.
Boat Hire
Henley-on-Thames
Hobbs of Henley – the best in boating since 1870.
Hobbs provides a variety of ways to enjoy the Royal River Thames from public cruises or self-drive and chauffeur-driven days out, to its newest boats, luxury Linnsen self-drive cruisers, the…
Pub/Inn
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
The Duke of Marlborough is ideally situated on the edge of historic Woodstock at the gateway to the Cotswolds and with the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace, almost next door.
Towns & Villages
Witney
Known across the world for blanket making, especially in North America where the Witney Point Blanket was traded in exchange for furs, the town owes its prosperity to the wool trade.
Witney is the largest of the market towns in the Oxfordshire…
Towns & Villages
Faringdon
Historic market town at the edge of the Cotswolds, Faringdon makes a great base for a short break in the Vale of White Horse and the Cotswolds. With easy access to many attractions, including the ridgeway, White Horse Hill, Buscot Park, Thames walks…
Historic Site
ABINGDON
Abingdon Abbey Buildings are the medieval domestic buildings of Abingdon Abbey founded in the 7th century and demolished in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries, they contain outstanding…
Towns & Villages
Chipping Norton
This small village has some fine buildings and is known locally for its independent furniture workshops. Among its attractions are the church, modelled on various Oxford buildings, a memorial to William Smith and a Victorian fountain.
Boat Trip
Henley-on-Thames
Hobbs and Sons Ltd (now named Hobbs of Henley Ltd) was established in 1870 and has continued to provide the finest hospitality afloat to its patrons.
Boat Hire
OXFORD
The Cherwell Boathouse is an iconic restaurant and punt station close to the centre Oxford. Established in 1904 and it has been a family run for over 50 years as a working Boathouse and restaurant with over 80 handmade punts in the water.
Towns & Villages
Woodstock
Woodstock, eight miles north west of Oxford is often visited for two reasons: Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and his grave in nearby Bladon. However, Woodstock has much more to offer...
It is a fine Georgian town with a…
Animal Collection / Zoo
Carterton
Come and join us on a great day out with photo opportunities, feeding displays, crocodile talks and much more. Not to mention meeting all the amazing crocodiles, alligators and caimans. Highlights include: Meet all 12 crocodile species - including…
Heritage / Visitor Centre
Oxford
Explore the 1,000-year history of Oxford Castle & Prison. Step back in time with our costumed guided tours and listen to fascinating stories as they are brought to life. Discover the great tales of Empress Matilda, the curse of Rowland Jenkes, and…
Towns & Villages
Burford
A short distance from Burford, the village overlooks the Windrush valley. The parish church is Norman, showing traces of earlier Saxon work. There is a fine yew tree in the churchyard with a girth of over 19ft and almost 1,000 years old!
Historic Site
Oxford
The Bodleian is a working library & part of the University of Oxford. It is housed in remarkable buildings which form the historic heart of the University, & has been seen in TV shows such as Inspector Morse, & films such as Harry Potter.
Wildlife
Abingdon
Earth Trust is an Oxfordshire charity championing accessible green spaces. Based at Earth Trust Centre by Wittenham Clumps, it hosts events like nature workshops, farm festivals, and archaeology tours. With nature reserves across the county, it…
Church / Chapel
Oxford
Christ Church is one of more than thirty colleges that make up the University of Oxford. Its college chapel is unique as it is also Oxford’s cathedral.