10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Oxford That You Shouldn't Miss

Think about those books, the ones that you'll always go back to, those moments in life where you think 'that's a bit like that chapter' or 'you're just like that character', those are the stories we love. We don't just want to leave those books on the shelf though, we take them down, hand them around, share them out and bring them to life. All over Oxford we find unusual spaces - these stories aren't set in theatres so we don't put them there. Castles, antique mirror tents, college gardens, bookshops and factories... we'll go wherever the stories take us, and so far we've taken over 500,000 people with us. From the thousands of children who've told classic stories in new ways through our education programme, to our professional actors and directors, you're always most likely to find us lost in a good book. 18 years, 54 shows, half a million audience members aged 5-95...we are Oxford's own Creation Theatre Company.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery welcomes visitors to its distillery, in the heart of Oxford, for a behind-the-scenes experience where you can discover our approach to craft distilling using sustainably farmed populations of heritage grain and bespoke hand-built copper stills. You’ll see what goes into our spirits and truly understand what grain to glass craft distillery is all about. In addition we have a distillery shop open to the public daily for no charge.

Starting as early as 1096 with some form of teaching, Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world.

Founded in 1264 AD, Merton is one of the oldest colleges in Oxford. It is home to the oldest academic library in continuous use anywhere in Europe, which was built between 1373 and 1378. The buildings around the College span many time periods and illustrate several different architectural styles. The oldest buildings still standing date to the 1280s. The current student body comprises c. 700 students (equally divided between undergraduates and graduates). Open to tourists most days of the year. Charge £3. Regular tours available daily during the summer (July-September) at 2 and 3 pm. Bookings are recommended via the email address listed, though places are often available on the door. Charge £5 (£3 for Oxford University members and alumni with card), payable by cash or cheque only. If you are bringing a large group, please email us in advance. If you would like a tour of the college outside regular summer tour hours, please email in advance to determine availability.

New College, founded in 1379, is one of the larger colleges at the University of Oxford, and is particularly well-known for its Chapel and Choir.

Please visit magd.ox.ac.uk

The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Our world famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. The Museum is open every day, 10am–5pm. Admission is free.

The world-famous Bodleian Libraries is a must-see cultural destination in the heart of Oxford. It founded by Sir Thomas Bodley and officially opened in 1602. Since then the Bodleian libraries has grown to be the largest academic library system in the UK. In its reading rooms generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages, amongst them monarchs, Nobel Prize winners, British Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. At the site, you can explore historic spaces that you might recognise from popular films and TV series such as Harry Potter and A Discovery of Witches. We also offer free, inspiring exhibitions featuring the libraries’ rich collections, two unique gift shops and a lovely café.

The Sheldonian Theatre, an exquisite Grade I listed building situated in Oxford's city centre, is the official ceremonial hall of Oxford University. The Theatre is a popular tourist attraction particular because it offers one of the best indoor panoramic views of Oxford's famous skyline from its Cupola. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1664 and 1669. The Theatre offers self-guided tours or guided tours. On a one hour guided tour, learn about how the University was formed, how long it's been in existence and the secrets of its past. For availability, booking and opening hours information, please visit our website. Opening hours vary depending on University events and concerts, so please do check our website before your visit to avoid disappointment.