Eat, Stay, Wander: An Oxford Itinerary for Couples

First and foremost, for Harry Potter fans, head to Christ Church College to see the place that inspired the Great Hall in the movies. This is also where Lewis Carroll taught mathematics and befriended Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Local tip: Wander the meadow behind the college, say hello to the cows in the pasture. It’s said the “boat trip” that inspired Alice began on the river there.

Go by the round library of Rad Cam, full name The Radcliffe Camera. Built in the 1700s, it’s the most iconic and most photographed building in Oxford! The only way to get in to see it is to book a tour that includes spots around the area, like the Bodleian Library—which, I’ll add, is another great place to explore. Take an in-depth tour of the reading rooms—it’s incredible! One of the oldest libraries in Europe (used as the library in the Harry Potter films) it’s a true literary temple. It’s where authors like Oscar Wilde, Philip Pullman, and T.S. Eliot studied.

If you’re like me, you’ll think that Oxford only holds Oxford University…This would be very wrong! Make sure to visit these other amazing universities, take a tour, or wander through them yourself.

• Magdalen College: Beautiful grounds and Addison’s Walk—authors like C.S. Lewis loved it!

• New College: Ancient walls are beautiful and the “Harry Potter tree” is here

The Ashmolean Museum is a must for art and archaeology buffs—it’s Britain’s oldest museum. Make sure to see the rooftop cafe—it’s definitely one of the most underrated views of the city.

For something off-the-beaten-path, try the Pitt River Museum, weird, but wonderful, housing more than 500,000 objects from all over the world and from all points in human history.

For those of us nature lovers, Oxford has so much to offer—especially if you’re visiting in the spring or summer! Punting on the River Cherwell is a classic Oxford activity. For those that don’t know, punting is a rite of passage. It’s basically canoeing but in a flat bottomed boat and you get pushed along by a long pole instead of paddles. Imagine a Venetian gondola, but instead the punter stands on the back with a long pole instead of a paddle. If you’re looking for the best picnic area or just looking for a great place to get outside and wander, I recommend University Parks, but especially Port Meadow. It has lots of wild open space by the Thames River and grazing horses with epic sunsets.

Iconic spots in Oxford you must see because they are so photographed and in many TV shows and movies is Bridge of Sighs, an iconic photo stop—quick, but beautiful, and New College Lane best to walk through in the early morning calm.

Now don’t get overwhelmed with the city center—there is so much more to Oxford than the center of town. There are some amazingly charming towns, including Jericho and Sumertown that have such a small village vibe with cute cafes, and independent bookshops. Cowley Road has a great night life, very local and eclectic.

If you have the time, find these historic streets and take a stroll through history:

Carfax Tower → Cornmarket Street → Radcliffe Square → Broad Street → Parks Road.

You’ll pass famous colleges, bookshops (including Blackwell’s), and that quintessential “gothic spires” view.

The essential literary trail

I love a destination with great history, but when it also has great literary history is when I get really excited! C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien and others have so much history throughout Oxford! This is my Essential Literary Trail if you’re interested in Oxford’s literary history.

The Eagle and Child Pub:

Where J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the rest of The Inklings met every Tuesday morning to read and critique each other’s writing—yes, parts of The Lord of the Rings and Narnia were first shared here. The pub’s small back room still has plaques and photos of the group.

This pub is going through renovations at the moment (2025), but cross the street to Lamb and Flag—this is another one of these authors favorite haunts.

Local tip: Order a pint and sit by the fireplace—you’ll feel like you’re eavesdropping on genius.

Blackwell’s Bookshop:

A must. Founded in 1879, it’s one of the world’s most famous independent bookstores. The Norrington Room downstairs stretches beneath several college quads and holds over 160,000 books.

Local tip: Head upstairs to the café for a coffee among the students—it’s where many Oxford writers still work.

Alice’s Shop:

Oxford is known as the birthplace of Alice in Wonderland, so if you’re a fan, this beautiful little shop is a must-visit! The tiny 19th-century shop appears in the book itself as “The Old Sheep Shop” in Through the Looking Glass. The shop is so cute and is packed with books, paintings, and more memorabilia than you could ever imagine. I got the most beautiful hand-painted postcard from my visit and it’s framed on my wall in my office.

Local tip: Chat with the shopkeepers—they’re true enthusiasts with quirky local stories about visitors, authors, and hidden details in the city.

• The Turf Tavern is a classic spot, great for a pint, so cozy!

• The Bear Inn is claimed to be one of the oldest pubs, with that classic charm that the locals love.

• The Eagle and Child/Lamb and Flag, just to experience the weight of great literary masters that once worked there.

• The White Rabbit for classic pub grub with a modern twist.

• Alice Bar, located inside the Randolph hotel, a local favorite for afternoon tea or a cocktail. This Alice-themed bar is classy but still gives off that Oxford sophistication as well.