Oxfordshire has a rich history spanning centuries. It is also home to one of the oldest universities in the world, Oxford University. The town has a splendid medieval atmosphere that is both charming and irresistible for first time travellers. It also has a number of attractions both medieval and modern that will offer you a truly unique British experience. If you are visiting the place for the first time, it’s important that you have an itinerary prepared in advance or else you might fall short of time.

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there” Source: Alice in wonderland

Ashmolean Museum

This museum is one of the oldest public museums in the entire country. It is also the most important of the four university museums in the area (The others include Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of Oxford and Story Museum). It was initially built in order to accommodate Elias Ashmole’s collection of art and antiquities.

Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum is home to more than 20,000 cultural pieces and art from around the world. It was created in honour of Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers, a lieutenant general cum anthropologist who collected unique cultural pieces from different postings in the British Empire.

Oxford Castle

This castle has been in existence for over 1,000 years making it one of the oldest buildings in UK. It served as a prison during the entire period until its closure in 1996. At the moment, parts of the quarters have been transformed into a hotel (Malmaison Hotel) while the other half is a museum.

The museum part of the castle gives out tours to visitors where they get to learn about the history of the prison and its most prolific inhabitants.

Botanic Garden

The Botanic garden is among the oldest in Britain. It’s located right at the centre of the city centre of Oxford thereby providing a peaceful haven away from the busy streets. It is also home to a number of traditional plants and herbs that have medicinal benefits. During chilly days, the heated greenhouses can provide a place of refuge while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Oxford City Centre

Oxford city centre is not as large as some other centres around Britain, however there’s plenty that you can do here. The best starting point when touring the city is from the Carfax intersection where the city’s four streets meet. Some of the best places to visit in the city centre include the Carfax tower, St. Aldate’s church, the town hall and Pembroke College (started in 1624). There are also a number of art galleries that you can visit as well.

Christ Church Building

The building was built in the 12th century and is home to one of the oldest colleges in Britain, Christ Church College. Lewis Carroll, the writer of Alice in Wonderland, once lectured mathematics here. For the millenials, Christ Church College is one of the main locations in Harry Potter films as well as Brideshead Revisited.

St. Giles Street

If there’s any street worth visiting, then this is the one. You will find the cross that represents the martyr’s memorial spot. It’s the spot where three Christian reformers were burnt at the stake. The event is usually commemorated every year. You will also find the Oxford University Museum of Natural History that houses a number of archaeological and anthropological collections.

Radcliffe Square

The square is a great illustration of the magnificent architecture that existed in medieval times. It is surrounded by the Bodlenian Library built in the 15th century, University church of St. Mary the Virgin and Radcliffe Camera; a trio of architectural jewels. All three places, including the Radcliffe Square, are open to the public.

Abingdon On Thames

The Abingdon on Thames is a town located on the banks of river Thames. It is home to a number of historic and natural attractions. While here you can visit the Abingdon County Hall Museum, the Benedictine abbey as well as a number of parks located in the area such as Southern Town and Tilley Park.

Sheldonian Theatre

This theatre is located in Broad Street, Oxford. This architectural masterpiece was built in 1664 and serves as the ceremonial hall for Oxford University events. Its 32 panel ceiling was redecorated and refurbished using the 32 original colours that were used by the original designer, Christopher Wren.

You can also check out other places that you can visit from this list made by the lads at PlanetWare.