Oxford Travel & Vacation Guide

Bill Spectre's Ghost Trail is an entertainment walking tour of old Oxford which is conducted by a costumed professional actor. The touring activity is illustrated with props and illusions as it horrifyingly entertains the visitors through the streets of the historic city Oxford. The tour takes place every Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm and additional tours at the usual times on Sundays during July and August.

The Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house in Woodstock. It was once a home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It stands in a romantic park created by the famous landscape gardener 'Capability' Brown. The palace was built between 1705 and 1722 and distinguished by an eclectic style and a return to national roots which are perfect examples of an 18th-century princely dwelling.

The Bodleian Library is one of the greatest libraries in the world and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It is a working library and the main research library of the University of Oxford. In Britain, it is the second in size only to the British Library with over 11 million items. The library is believed to hold millions of printed items as well as manuscripts.

Broughton Castle is a medieval manor house of the 14th century and home of Fiennes family, Lords Saye and Sele. The ownership of the castle has remained in the same family since 1447 and is situated in the village of Broughton which is about two miles south-west of Banbury. Simon Jenkins selected the place as one of only twenty to be awarded five stars in his book "England’s Thousand Best Houses".

Known as "The House", Christ Church is one of the colleges of Oxford University and was founded in 1525 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. It is also the cathedral church of the diocese of Oxford, namely Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. The dining hall at the Christ Church, known as the Great Hall, will look familiar to any fan of the Harry Potter films as it inspired the set of Hogwarts. The cathedral and college complex was also used as the backdrop for numerous scenes in the popular movie series. Moreover, a portrait of Charles Dodgson can be seen upon entering the Hall. Charles Dodgson's pen name is Lewis Carroll who is a famed author of Alice in Wonderland.

City Sightseeing in Oxford is a way for every visitor to take sight of the fantastic views within Oxford. Tours also include gazing at the Hertford Bridge, Pitt Rivers Museum, William Morris’ Original Workshop and the Bodleian Library while it teaches more about the city. For souvenirs and bargains, one may hop off at Gloucester Green Bus Station at the Covered Market or Westgate Shopping Centre. There are also joint tickets available for combined Bus and Oxford Castle Unlocked.

Didcot Railway Centre was formerly known as the Great Western Railway. It has been the stabling point of engine-shed and locomotive in Didcot. Today, the place is a comprehensive railway museum and preservation engineering site. It is a recreation of Brunel's broad gauge railway and a home to unique collections of Great Western Railway steam engines, coaches, building, wagons, and small relics; and a recreation of Brunel's broad gauge railway. Didcot Railway Centre is open during Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year and daily during peak season and school holiday.

The famous two-hour free walking tour around Oxford, covering sights such as Bodleian Library, University sights, in-depth history of the town and more is hosted by Footprints Tours. But they also provide other tours like bike tours, private family Oxford tours, Harry Potter Tour and much more. Moreover, the tours are guaranteed that no visitor or tourist will fall asleep.

Angels Bar is a fancy place where good cocktails and good music are offered. The place has its own “Angels' Lab” where their bartenders create the most refreshing drinks. Whether it is a long or short cocktail preference, it is offered at a great price.

With five rooms of clubbing, the latest sound and lighting technology and a high level of customer service, you just can't go wrong at this nightclub. From the bar you can get fresh new cocktails, extraordinary spirits and exceptional champagnes. Atik, is the place to dance the night away.

The Duke of Cambridge opened its doors in 1981 and has been mixing great drinks since then. It offers only the freshest ingredients and best cocktails around. It has quite a classy interior and amazing bar staff.

Freud is an elegant café and bar located inside the majestic Saint Paul's church on Walton Street. Since 1986, they are known to serve legendary cocktails in Oxford. They also offer delicious and freshly made soups, salads and sandwiches during the day.

Kiss Bar is an independent late night bar situated on Park End Street. It has a unique venue style with 193 capacity. For over 13 years, it has been offering a wide selection of affordable cocktails and other great drinks together with its fantastic DJs.

Port Mahon is a traditional East Oxford pub with great atmosphere and delicious home cooked food. All the major sporting events can be watched here and if the sun is shining you can even enjoy your beer in the large decked garden.

Quod Brasserie & Bar is one of the best places on High Street for private and business dining. This place was formerly a banking hall transformed to become Oxfords largest and most successful restaurant. A spectacular heated terrace lets diners enjoy a morning coffee, a superb value 2 course lunch or a cocktail.

With a beautiful location, a mile north of city centre, you will find this quaint old world pub. Rose & Crown PH is a charming English pub who offers a great venue together with good British food and the best beers. Everything in here is of great value too.

Alice's Shop is a famous and original shop from Alice in Wonderland items. It is one of the most famous little shops in the city that can be found in Oxford across the road from Christ Church College. To date, this is a gift shop selling gifts, souvenirs and memorabilia all based on Alice.

When it comes to buying antiques, there is Antiques on High Street for you. This shop offers variety of antiques such as silver and jewellery, books and music, linens, vintage fashion and accessories, ceramics and glass, pictures, prints and maps, and a lot more collectibles. It even includes work by the members of the Oxfordshire Craft Guild and of the Oxford Art Society. This is Oxford's favourite shop for antiques.

Bicester Village Outlet Shopping is one of the collections of Chic Outlet Shopping Villages managed by Value Retail. This place offers the best luxury clothing brands and designs such as Alexander McQueen, BOSS, DKNY, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Marc Jacobs, Lacoste and much more.

Bury Street Shopping Centre is located on the Abingdon area and is a great family shopping destination, offering a wide spread of shops and cafés. This place also features seasonal entertainment in the mall. When shopping here, you will come across shops like New Look, Boots, WH Smith, Pandora, Clarks and Dorothy Perkins.

Castle Quay is a premier shopping centre that has more than 85 fantastic stores for everyone's need. It also has a wide variety of cafés and restaurants on site. There is even an on-site car service that will tend to your car's need while you shop. This place is easily accessible from the town centre, by bus, train, car or barge. Shops you will find here are; Accessorize, H&M, Debenhams, Claire's, GAP, River Island and much more.

Clarendon Centre is another shopping centre located in central Oxford linking Cornmarket Street and Queen Street. This centre was built in 1983 and was designed by Gordon Benny and Partners. Big shop names in Clarendon includes Zara, French Connection, Gap, Swarovski, and so much more.

Hardy's Sweet Shop specialises in confectionaries as gift ideas and treats. They offer a wide array of sweets including the finest European liquorice, chocolates, fudges, and much more.

Mallams is one of the country’s leading expert provincial auctioneers and estate agents. Mallams holds a full programme of specialist sales and further entries that are invited for future auctions of antique furniture, garden furniture, paintings and prints, carpets and rugs, clocks, silver, ceramics, jewellery, fine wines and sculpture.

For travel to the UK, citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland (except Irish citizens) need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). However, those planning to work or study in the UK for more than six months will need to obtain the appropriate visa. Additionally, residents of nine other countries — including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States — can also visit the UK for up to six months without a visa, but they will still need an ETA. To ensure a smooth journey, it is advisable to consult the UK government website for any specific visa requirements or regulations.

London Heathrow Airport is the nearest airport to Oxford, England. It is located approximately 45 miles from the city centre, and it offers both international and domestic flights. Travelling to and from here may requires you to take either a bus or a taxi. The airport is linked to Oxford by "The Airline" coach company, which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and approximately leaves every 20 minutes. The journey takes about 80 minutes. You can book your tickets on "The Airline" online booking system or via their app. Single and Return tickets can also be bought from the driver. (airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/) Another way to travel to Oxford from the airport is by renting a car. You will find car hire desks in arrivals at Heathrow. Companies such as Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget and Sixt are operating here.

There are many taxi companies working in Oxford and they are clearly marked, and are very distinctive looking. You can either call when you need a taxi or just hail one. Another way is to walk over to the Gloucester Green bus station or the Train station where you will find taxi stands. 001 Taxis +44 1865 24 00 00 www.001taxis.com Oxford City Cars:

220V - 230V. Plugs are large in shape and have three, substantial, flat prongs.

Various pharmacies are established in Oxford. Some may be open 24 hours while others are open until midnight, but still are able to cater to the needs of the customers. Rowlands Pharmacy 17 Ivy Close, Cowley, Oxford +44 1865 777 089 Monday - Friday: 9am - 7pm, Saturday: 9am - 1pm, Sunday: Closed www.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk Ahmeys Midnight Pharmacy 150 Oxford Road, Cowley, Oxford +44 1865 770 121 www.ahmeyspharmacy.com

There is a stamp machine available outside the post office as well as post boxes. The post boxes in UK are red. You will find five post office in Oxford one of them is located:

Country code: +44 Area code: 01865

The Oxford Bus Company is a network of buses and coach services that will take passengers to and from the airport and around the city centre. All of their buses are built with easy access low floor models to enable pushchair, pram and wheelchair users to ride aboard. The main bus stop is on Magdalen Street and the buses run fairly often, so you never need to wait for a long time. Single and Return tickets can be bought from the driver but make sure to have the correct change on board. Tickets can also be bought from their app. (www.oxfordbus.co.uk/app/)