Escaping London: Oxford Day Trip

Day Tripping in Oxford:

London is cool and all but after a while, you may be looking for a little change of scenery. You might want a break from the crowds, noises, smells and fast pace of the big city and when that happens, you will naturally want to catch the first bus to Oxford. It’s okay. It happens. It happened to me too, which is great for you, dear readers, because now I can share this mini guide to help you make the most of your Oxford day trip.

**Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon Affiliate/other affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you!**

How To Get There

By Train

Trains from Paddington to Oxford leave pretty frequently at every 5 to 10 mins. The cost of a ticket can be as high as £27 one-way but if you search through the Cheapest Fare Finder on the National Rail Enquiries website you may be able to snap up tickets for as low as £8.50. The journey only lasts about an hour and you can take in the sights as you go.

By Bus

The bus is also a popular option for those heading out to Oxford from London. If you’re interested in this particular mode of transport then look no further than the Oxford Tube. The Tube runs 24 hrs a day and it picks up every 12 to 20 mins during the day and then every 20-30mins in the wee hours of the night. The fare costs £15 one way or £18 for round trip on the same day. And since we are working with an Oxford One-Day itinerary, the same day round-trip ticket is a great deal.

What To Do on Your Oxford Day Trip

Christ Church

Christ Church is the largest and most popular of Oxford’s colleges and you know why. Admit it. We both know you found this post by typing ‘harry potter tour, oxford’ into the Googler. Well, I don’t blame you one bit because wanting to see one of the filming locations for Harry Potter was the sole reason I went to visit Christ Church. You will be able to see the, yes THE staircase where the rivalry between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy was born in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. You will also be able to see Christ Church’s Great Hall which was the inspiration and model for the Great Hall we all know so well.

There are other cool things about the college of course. It was founded in 1524 and quite a few people you may have heard of can call Christ Church their alma mater. You know, just a few nobodies like John Locke, Charles Dodgson, and Albert Einstein. But it doesn’t matter if you come for a bit of history or to indulge your inner nerdiness. Christ Church is, in a word, magnificent and you’ll have a great time and lots of pictures by the end.

Entrance Fee: £9

Explore On Foot

Whether you join a walking tour or you just wander around, Oxford was meant to be explored on foot. Visiting all the colleges, seeing the students dressed in their odd, cape-like things, passing by a random burrito restaurant and indulging in one of the best burritos I, you will ever taste. I had a great time just walking around and taking part in whatever struck my fancy as I went. So don’t worry too much about the guidebook or the map, just go for a stroll and take it all in.

Safety Tips

Oxford is a pretty safe place for solo female travelers but you should still beware of pickpockets. My tip is to keep your things in an anti-theft bag. This bag will secure your zippers so that sneaky sneaks can’t slip a hand in while you’re unawares.

If you’re looking for more safety tips then read Safety Tips for Solo Female Travel and Solo Female Travel Safety Items next.

Good luck and Happy Travels!