Bucks &amp; Oxon

Blimey, Oxford&#8217;s busy at this time of year. Between hopping from shop to shop, dodging tourists and jostling for a spot to sit with your coffee, the hustle and bustle can a get a leetle too much. Luckily, there are plenty of hideaways and quiet spots to escape to – just as long as you know where to look. Here are a few of our favourite pockets of calm in Oxford &#8211; from Oxford colleges to churches, galleries and gardens (wrap up warm!).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soulful-spaces">SOULFUL SPACES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/SHELDONIAN.jpg" alt="The Sheldonian Theatre" class="wp-image-179159" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/SHELDONIAN.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/SHELDONIAN-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/SHELDONIAN-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/SHELDONIAN-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



You&#8217;d be hard-pushed to find a more central respite spot than the <a href="https://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University Church of St Mary the Virgin</a>, which is right in the middle of the high street. Obviously this is a church, so not a place to let rowdy kiddos loose. But if you want a moment of calm contemplation away from the madness, then – hallelujah! – it&#8217;s free to enter. There&#8217;s also the church tower with 127 stairs, which offers fabulous views but will cost you £6 to enter. Stomach rumbling? Hit the garden café for a hot drink and some locally sourced nibbles.



For uninterrupted views, summon the energy up to walk up several floors of the <a href="https://www.sheldonian.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sheldonian Theatre</a>. It will set you back a princely £4.75 to access the entire theatre and the cupola at the top (that&#8217;s a dome to you and me), but boy it&#8217;s worth it at the top. There&#8217;s another slice of olde-worlde calm a five-minute stroll away on Cornmarket at the Saxon Tower of <a href="http://www.smng.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Michael at the North Gate</a>, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford. It&#8217;s £3.50 to tackle the 97 steps, and en route you&#8217;ll find all kind of historical curios, including the door of Archbishop Cranmer’s prison cell from Bocardo Prison.



<a href="https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford Castle</a> is a tourist magnet and will set you back £16.20 per adult – ouch. But if you&#8217;re a wily local, you can take a moment away from the madding crowd for free in the courtyard. The Castleyard Café is open to the public and has outdoor seating, free wifi and power sockets for customers if you need to recharge – literally. Or head up the mound next to the castle for a moment&#8217;s calm above the bustle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blissful-books">BLISSFUL BOOKS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/BODLEIAN.jpg" alt="Bodleian Library" class="wp-image-179154" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/BODLEIAN.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/BODLEIAN-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/BODLEIAN-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/BODLEIAN-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bodleian Library&#8217;s Old Quad</figcaption></figure>



If you&#8217;re a literature lover, you&#8217;ll know there are some seriously impressive bookshops in Oxford – but <a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blackwell&#8217;s</a> takes some beating. The subterranean Norrington Room is a sight to behold, not to mention a world-record-breaker, thanks to the three MILES of bookshelves with over 150,000 books on offer. The ideal grotto for bibliophiles needing a break from the outside world.



Speaking of books, Bodleian Library&#8217;s <a href="https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/weston" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weston Library</a> is free to enter, and many of the events and exhibitions there won&#8217;t cost a penny either &#8211; plus, free wi-fi is a bonus. The shops are great to browse if you get bored of books (*gasp never*!), and the café is usually quiet and great for people-watching. While you&#8217;re at The Bodleian, we also recommend a visit to the <a href="https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/tours" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Divinity School</a>. You&#8217;ll have to pay and it&#8217;s rarely quiet, but it&#8217;s worth it to gaze on that ceiling in person.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mindful-museums">MINDFUL MUSEUMS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Picture-Gallery-Flexhighlight-1000x667.jpg" alt="Christ Church Picture Gallery" class="wp-image-179098" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Picture-Gallery-Flexhighlight-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Picture-Gallery-Flexhighlight-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Picture-Gallery-Flexhighlight-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Picture-Gallery-Flexhighlight.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Christ Church Picture Gallery</figcaption></figure>



Breathe in the calming atmosphere at The <a href="https://www.ashmolean.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashmolean</a> in the centre of town. Meander quietly through the bottom gallery (most people tend to hoof it to the top-floor headline exhibition) and then head to the glassy Rooftop Restaurant. It&#8217;s a great way to elevate yourself above the madness, with a lovely outside space and a view over the college rooftops.



Art galleries and museums are obviously rife in Oxford too, but the high street location of the <a href="https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/picture-gallery/christ-church-picture-gallery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christ Church Picture Gallery</a> makes it a handy escape. Plus (top tip), you don&#8217;t have to pay the full £20 entrance fee for the college itself, you can just pay £6 for the gallery alone. 



A stone&#8217;s throw from Westgate is <a href="https://www.modernartoxford.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Modern Art Oxford</a>, a light and airy gallery space that&#8217;s free to enter – an absolute must-do in our books, especially since it&#8217;s just reopened after major renovations and looks better than ever. As well as the requisite café (we hear great things about the homemade cakes), there are also events that range from curating workshops to &#8216;creatives socials&#8217; and children&#8217;s sensory play. The events will cost a little extra but are a fantastic entertainment option, and the ticket prices help support the gallery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calming-colleges">CALMING COLLEGES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="760" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/WORCESTERCOLLEGE.jpg" alt="Worcester College Oxford" class="wp-image-179161" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/WORCESTERCOLLEGE.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/WORCESTERCOLLEGE-800x608.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/WORCESTERCOLLEGE-400x304.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Misty November morning over the lake at Worcester College</figcaption></figure>



With so many colleges dotted about the city centre, it&#8217;s sometimes easy to forget that they make excellent day trips – or just an excuse to breathe deep and get your mojo back amongst the ancient quads and architecture. <a href="https://www.asc.ox.ac.uk/visiting-the-college" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">All Souls College</a> on the corner of High and Catte Sts, which dates back to the 15th century, is an oasis from the high street hustle, and access to the Great Quadrangles and Chapel is free of charge from 2-4pm on weekdays and Sundays. <a href="https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/visit-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St John&#8217;s College</a> has some of the most beautiful quads in the city, and members of the public can visit for free between 1-5pm, or until dusk in winter. Ideal for combining with a visit to the The Ashmolean over the road.



<a href="https://www.worc.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Worcester College</a>, a 10-min walk from the centre of town on the edge of Jericho, it&#8217;s quieter and less of a tourist trap than the more central colleges. The lake inside the college&#8217;s idyllic grounds, overhung by weeping willows, is one of the calmest places in the entire city. It&#8217;s free to visit between 12:30pm and 4pm, as long as you tell the lodge that you (or a child of the right age) are considering an application to the college. Sneaky perhaps, but they won&#8217;t let you pay your way in so it&#8217;s well worth the subterfuge.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n-1000x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-178929" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/82837873_109253490498707_4314514274250982044_n.jpg 1353w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Instagram @magdalenoxford</figcaption></figure>



<a href="https://www.new.ox.ac.uk/visiting-the-college" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New College</a> is easily one of the most impressive Oxford colleges and there&#8217;s a bonus quiet spot there if you can find it. There&#8217;s a staircase up the side of a big mound in the gardens – head up there and you&#8217;ll disappear into the trees, where you&#8217;ll find a single bench, set apart from the rest of the world. Bliss. It&#8217;s open 10:30am-5pm daily and costs £8 for adults (or pull the prospective student card again for free entry).



But my favourite is<a href="https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/discover-magdalen/visiting-magdalen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Magdalen College</a> – a gloriously peaceful escape from the traffic-heavy bustle of Magdalen Bridge. You can visit all year-round (except 20 Dec to 1 Jan) between 10am-dusk or 5pm, whichever is earlier. Explore the Fellows&#8217; Garden, one of only few places in Britain where fritillaries – delicate, bell-like flowers with purple chequered petals – still grow in the wild. Or spot wildlife in the Deer Park before heading to The Old Kitchen Bar and Riverside Terrace for a light lunch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tranquil-terraces">TRANQUIL TERRACES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/VICTORS.jpg" alt="Victors Oxford" class="wp-image-179167" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/VICTORS.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/VICTORS-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/VICTORS-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/VICTORS-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Victors </figcaption></figure>



While The Rooftop Terrace at <a href="https://westgateoxford.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Westgate</a> may feel right in the middle of all the action, it can be a surprisingly calm retreat from the rest of the city buzz. There&#8217;s more food and drink options than you can shake a stick at up here. On the terrace alone there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.victors.co.uk/venues/oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victors</a> with its rooftop igloo pods, <a href="https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/restaurants/oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mowgli</a>, <a href="https://thebreakfastclubcafes.com/oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Breakfast Club</a> and <a href="https://thealchemistbars.com/venues/oxford-westgate-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Alchemist</a> (among others). Yoga lovers should know – <a href="https://www.buzzgym.co.uk/oxford/classes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buzz Gym</a> has been known to run rooftop classes with a view across the dreaming spires (albeit this may be more or a draw in the warmer months). Now that&#8217;s what I call zen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grounding-green-space">GROUNDING GREEN SPACE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THEPERCH.jpg" alt="View from The Perch " class="wp-image-179170" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THEPERCH.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THEPERCH-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THEPERCH-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THEPERCH-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">View from The Perch </figcaption></figure>



Even in mid-winter there&#8217;s no excuse not to explore Oxford&#8217;s abundance of beautiful gardens and green space. Quite a few will need a paid ticket – but never fear, you don&#8217;t need to shell out for a little peace and quiet, as there are a couple of free secret spots squirrelled away. Wellington Square off Little Clarendon Street is a perfect little pocket of greenery, and feels a bit like being in London, with people lolling on the grass and eating their lunch quietly. <a href="https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/visit-garden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Botanical Gardens</a> you&#8217;ll know, but did you know that you can visit the Rose Garden Maze at the front without paying the £7.20 entry fee? Ideal for entertaining little ones without putting your hand in your pocket.



Further afield, Tumbling Bay, a former open-air swimming pool behind Botley Park, is a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city and makes a lovely waterside spot to take a break (or even an icy dip!). A little further North still is Port Meadow, which is one of our favourite escapes from the city. You&#8217;d never know it was only a 10-minute drive (or a half-hour walk along the canal) from the hubbub. This enormous riverside meadow is home to plenty of wildlife (including the resident ponies and cows) and is ideal for a brisk winter walk (it&#8217;s seven miles round).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/CHRISTCHURCHMEADOW.jpg" alt="Longhorn cattle in Christ Church Meadow" class="wp-image-179172" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/CHRISTCHURCHMEADOW.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/CHRISTCHURCHMEADOW-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/CHRISTCHURCHMEADOW-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/CHRISTCHURCHMEADOW-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Longhorn cattle in Christ Church Meadow</figcaption></figure>



Our recommendation? Pop into <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/the-perch-oxford-review-best-pub-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Perch</a> while you&#8217;re there for a bite to eat and a drink in their excellent garden, or swing by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_medley_oxford/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Medley</a> for a gorgeous handmade pizza. Then wind your way back through the beautiful streets of Jericho and indulge in some chocolate-box cottage fantasies. Cutesy churches and pubs pop out from around corners – don&#8217;t resist the urge to poke your head in. You won&#8217;t be able to punt until February at the earliest, so in the meantime you can head into Christ Church Meadow on foot. It&#8217;s one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city but still has a host of quiet corners in beautiful natural scenery. If you head down to Folly Bridge, you can access a path along the river which takes you past all the college boathouses. 



Feeling calmer yet? You&#8217;re welcome.

Beat the festive frazzle with these pockets of calm in Oxford

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