Luxury holidays in Oxford

Along the River Thames, lies Oxford, an academic juggernaut and living museum where every street could feature in a period drama and the air buzzes with clever conversation. The famous university's 36 colleges shape Oxford’s character with historic buildings, grand halls, and picturesque quads. Take a punt on it — maybe literally — and you’ll discover boutique shops, art galleries and pubs older than some countries.
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When to go

As students go on break, from June to August, tourists fill the historic colleges and crowd the river with punts. The wise traveller opts for May or September, enjoying sunny days without the bustling crowds.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Heathrow and Gatwick airports are your go-to gateways for Oxford. Catch a train from Heathrow via London or from Gatwick via Reading. Alternatively, it takes 90 minutes from Heathrow and just over two hours from Gatwick on the airline bus.

  • Trains

    Frequent train services run direct to Oxford from London Paddington or Marylebone. For those arriving from further north, connect via Birmingham New Street; from the south or west, you’ll need to stop at Reading or Didcot. From the station, the city centre is a five-minute stroll away.

  • Automobiles

    The City of Dreaming Spires has limited, expensive parking, so it’s best explored on foot or via the city’s waterways.