My Oxford Guide

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The Christ Church Cathedral serves as a college chapel. The Anglican cathedral is a beautiful edifice that is famed for its high arches and towering pillars. The cathedral choir is one of the finest in the city.

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Open early enough for a morning coffee and late enough for cocktails and wines, this restaurant has more than just food on offer. A bar in the middle of the room illustrates why, for many people, this is predominantly a drinking establishment. You should not miss out on the great pizzas here, however. There are also quite a few salads on offer and one or two other dishes, including a special. Wash it all down with a house wine.

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The UPP cinema, the first cinema to stream sound in the UK, is an awesome, traditional cinema that combines great films with great hospitality. Recently renovated, the pink chairs are seriously comfortable, the loos are lovely and the bar is stocked with local ciders, beer, wine and G and D's delicious ice cream. The tickets are great value too. The whole experience is intimate, relaxed and a joy compared to the massive, characterless mainstream cinemas that have killed off so many independents.

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The Turf is one of Oxford's oldest pubs. It is accessible only down a narrow alley, nestling up against a section of the old city wall. For trivia buffs, this was the scene of the hero's courting in Thomas Hardy's, 'Jude the Obscure'. Inside, the low-ceilinged rooms are arranged on two levels. Outside, there are rows of benches in the courtyard, which is warmed by braziers in the winter. The Turf offers a good range of beers, lagers and real ales, plus mulled wine on colder nights. Food is served from noon until 8pm.

Our Local Expert Says:

Sumptuous accommodation in an unusual setting. Unforgettable.

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In a TripAdvisor poll of the top 10 quirkiest hotels in the world, the Malmaison in Oxford made the list. Formerly it was for inmates detained at Her Majesty's pleasure, and many aspects of prison life, including barred windows, have been retained. In a converted Victorian building, guest rooms are remodeled "cells" that flank two sides of a large central atrium, a space that rises three stories and is crisscrossed by narrow walkways like in one of those George Raft prison movies of the '30s. The former inmates never had it so good -- great beds, mood lighting, power showers, satellite TV, and serious wines. In spite of its former origins, this is a stylish and comfortable place to stay.

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Freemen's land since the 10th century, Port Meadow is a beautiful open space to walk, bike, barbecue, swim and celebrate the beauty of Oxfordshire countryside in the heart of Oxford. Follow any one of the meandering paths and have an adventure!

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Although this is a bus journey or bike ride out of town, it's a must for anyone with time on their hands in Oxford. Next to the river with outside tables along the bank, The Trout serves a fine selection of food and wine. It gets very busy in the summer, but there can be a lengthy wait for food orders at any time of year. However, if you have to wait for your food, this is a very pleasant place to do it. The river views are delightful-why not take a leisurely stroll along the bank to walk off your meal?

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Take a step away from the hustle and bustle of the city and savour the wonderful collections inside Britain's oldest public museum. John Tradescant's collection of archaeological rarities (both man-made and natural) originally opened to the public in South London in the early 17th Century, for a charge of 6d (2.5p). The collection was inherited by Elias Ashmole and the Ashmolean opened in 1683. If you only have time to enjoy the antiquities galleries, with their exhibits dating from Paleolithic to Victorian times, your visit will have been worthwhile. You'll probably have to come back again if you also want to take in the collections of eastern and western art and the Heberden Coin Room. If time is very limited, try joining one of the lunchtime talks, which are always interesting and accessible. Admission is free.

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This is less a pub than a wine bar and certainly offers a level of cuisine rarely associated with pubs. The atmosphere is sophisticated, catering for a working crowd, and the cocktails make for excellent apéritifs. Settle down on one of the comfortable sofas around the large tables and enjoy the trendy background music and the fashionable crowd. The menu is kind to both meat eaters and vegetarians. Eggs Benedict is a particular favorite here and the sorbets are a refreshing palate-cleanser.