Oxford has a long-standing association with wealth and privilege, so you might assume a visit to the city of spires is going to come with a hefty price tag. But – fear not – thankfully some of your trusty friends at Daily Info have plenty of spent time living in this city on limited means, and can recommend a lovely day out in central Oxford that is manageable for those on what you might call a ‘2022 budget’ (AKA shrinking!). Here are our suggestions:
Places To Visit
Most Oxford museums and galleries are free to enter – so take your pick from the Ashmolean, the Museum of Natural History, Pitt Rivers Museum, Modern Art Oxford (depending on the exhibition), the History of Science Museum, the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, and the Museum of Oxford. There are also lots of small collections and pop-up shows at individual colleges, arts venues and private galleries, including the North Wall and The Old Fire Station.
As a city, Oxford is quite a spectacle in its own right – you can easily spend an enjoyable afternoon exploring historic streets and beautiful green spaces. Want a route to follow? Start on the corner of the High Street and Queen’s Lane, follow Queen’s Lane, which then becomes New College Lane (they do connect, don’t be put off by Google Maps), and turn right into Catte St (at this point you might want to take a little break to see the Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera). Continue on up Parks Road (you’ll pass the Museum of Natural History and Pitt RiversMuseum on your right) and head into University Parks.
Once you’ve got your fix of greenery, return to where you entered, then cross the road and head down Keble Rd. Cross Banbury Road, and walk through St Giles’ graveyard, then cross over Woodstock Road, and head towards Little Clarendon Street. From Little Clarendon St you can either go on to explore Jericho (at the far end of the street), which leads to Oxford Canal (it’ll take you towards the train station and Castle Quarter), or cut through Wellington Square and St John Street, and you’ll find yourself right by the Ashmolean Museum (on Beaumont St) and Gloucester Green (for market, food stalls and the coach station). The museums make for handy sitting down/loo break/escape the rain spots, and, if your budget allows, lovely places to enjoy a hot drink.
See our guide to riverside walks for more ideas
Food and Drink
If you’re not bringing your own packed lunch/flask of coffee, it’s good to know there are places you can refuel for less. Gregg’s and McDonald’s (Cornmarket) are budget classics for good reason – those of us who’ve had to eke out our cash truly appreciate those sausage rolls, basic burgers and sensibly priced cups of tea. There are three branches of Pret (two on Cornmarket, one in Westgate), where a filter coffee and free-range egg mayo sarnie comes in at under £5 (eat in), and Leon (Cornmarket) serves a super-tasty Brazilian Black Bean Stew for £4.49. Sausage rolls and jalfrezi slices from the Cornish Kitchen on Queen Street are another classic option for anyone doing Oxford on a shoestring (they're less than £2), plus they have a great range of pasties.
For a few quid extra you can also support local businesses: head to the Covered Market to enjoy the relatively affordable delights of places like Sasi’s Thai and Brown’s Café. ‘Street food’ can vary wildly in price, but the most dependable options in Oxford are falafel wraps from Falafel House in Gloucester Green or Najar’s Place in St Giles. Filling, tasty and decently-priced. And when Gloucester Green market is open (Weds – Sat) there are lots of other options to try.
Pub food in Oxford tends to be either £15 per head upwards - or Wetherspoons. But most places do chips as a side order for around £3 - £4, so if you spot somewhere you like the look of and they’ve got plenty of seats spare, the chips-and-soda water combo is still a classic for visitors on smaller budgets who want to soak up a bit of atmosphere.
Shopping
Charity shops in Oxford can offer some excellent finds – particularly for second hand books and clothes. Oxfam have dedicated book shops in Turl Street and St Giles – and as you might imagine from a city dedicated to learning, the selection goes beyond the usual tatty holiday reads. Clothing-wise it’s always a bit of a lottery – but the British Heart Foundation shop next to Westgate seems to get interesting donations, as does the Oxfam on Broad Street, and we’ve found some real vintage treasures in the Sobell House Hospice shop on Little Clarendon Street.
If pre-loved isn’t your bag, then the classic option is Primark – which you’ll find in the Westgate shopping centre. For toys, you might be surprised to find pocket-money options in the mini Hamley’s – also Westgate – and there are bright, bold bits for all ages at Danish chain Flying Tiger (Magdalen St). There are also lots of great independents in the Covered Market, and stalls in Gloucester Green – great if you want to find something unique. And for a special Oxford memento that won’t cost a fortune, head to Antiques On High (High St), where you can buy vintage postcards of Oxford.
Entertainment
If you want to feel you’ve made the most of your time in Oxford, why not include a concert in your plans? Although stereotypes around classical music suggest an art form for the elite, you might be surprised to find Oxford has a regular programme of free lunch time recitals, typically held in college chapels or music departments. Our concert listings are a great place to find up-to-date info on these.
Our listings also include a section for festivals, fairs and markets, and one for gigs and comedy – both include regular free or contributions-only events, particularly over summer. And if you enjoy writing about theatre, dance and music, we are always keen to have more reviewers on our team – you’ll receive free tickets to the events you cover. If you’re interested, please send a sample of your writing to [email protected] and we’ll provide more details.
Finally, you can often find talented buskers playing in Bonn Square – including visiting bands, up-and-coming singers, gospel choirs and unique performers. It’s not uncommon to find quite a crowd gathering, and a great atmosphere. We’ve enjoyed some wonderful moments listening to live music there, and if your budget allows then we recommend getting a drink from the Arts Café kiosk and sitting at one of their open air tables.
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