Travel Budget for Oxford Visit Oxford on a Budget or Travel in Style

The most affordable highest rated hotels in Oxford include:

• The Old Bank Oxford starting at $298
• Old Parsonage Hotel starting at $296
• Remont Oxford Hotel starting at $95
• St Margarets Hotel starting at $89
• Voco Oxford Spires starting at $140

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Oxford

You can save money on accommodation by staying outside the college town in Oxford thanks to a good public transit system, though your transportation costs and time spent commuting may rise.

If you plan your trip outside of summer and during the low or shoulder season, you'll find better accommodation rates and fewer tourists.

Since Oxford is small, the choices for hotels can be limited, so flexibility is key when planning your stay.

Walking is a common way to explore Oxford, so look for a place right in the heart of the action. This might, however, come at a higher price.

Transportation Tips

Ensure that your hotel has easy parking arrangements if you're planning to drive.

Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:

• Stansted Airport to London Transfer for $238 details
• Private Transfer from Gatwick city hotels to Dover Cruise Port for $54 details
• Oxford Private Departure Transfer - Oxford Hotel/Accommodation to Oxford Airport for $69 details

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Oxford is around $92 (£71) per person, with previous travelers spending from $41 to $174. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Oxford are as follows:

• Breakfast: $9 to $28
• Lunch: $14 to $37
• Dinner: $28 to $65
• Coffee: $7
• Fast Food or Street Food: $14

Like most cities, Oxford has a rich and varied dining scene. Traditional fare of England consists of anything you might find in a British pub-fish and chips, bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), stews, soups, and just about any kind of meat pie you could ask for (often called pasties). A few additional specialties include black pudding (black sausage), steak and kidney pudding, pickled eggs, and plenty of coffee and tea shops. With England's imperial history, curry is also a very popular specialty in many British cities, including Oxford. English pubs can be found just about everywhere, as well as kebab and pizza shops, but there are also plenty of restaurants serving Asian, Indian, Italian, American, and more.

Food & Dining Tips

Many hotels include breakfast in their price, while some add it on as an extra charge. The price and quality can vary depending on the hotel. Knowing ahead of time can help you decide if you need to spend even more money. Maybe it's worth your money for the delicious buffet at the hotel. Or, perhaps you should just go to a nearby bakery or cafe that's much cheaper.

Make a picnic for a budget-friendly way to enjoy the scenery. Visit a nearby grocery store or market, stock up on fresh goodies, and find a beautiful park or scenic spot to have your meal.

Bring a water bottle to avoid frequent drink purchases. It's also a sustainable choice.

If you're planning to take a tour, make sure you know which meals are included beforehand. You might be on the hook to pay for some of the food yourself which can add to your budget.

Rather than being contained within a campus, Oxford University is rather spread across the city itself with around 40 colleges and associated buildings. One of its landmark buildings is the Bodleian Library, the University's main research library and one of the oldest in Europe, having opened in 1602 with the collection of Thomas Bodley. Other University landmarks include the Hertford Bridge or "Bridge of Sighs" (a pedestrian bridge for the use of Hertford College students), the Sheldonian Theatre (iconic for its collection of busts surrounding the building), the Taylorian Institute (for the study of European languages), and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Some of the best views of Oxford can be seen from the 13th-century tower of the church.

Oxford University also has a vast number of colleges, some of which are open to tourists during certain times of the year. One of the best-known is perhaps Christ Church, especially due to its associations with Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, as well as its use as a film location for the first Harry Potter film. Other notable Oxford colleges include Magdalen College, Exeter College, New College, the Queens' College, All Souls, Worcester College, Lincoln College, and University College-all unique and admirable in architecture ranging from 18th Classical style to Victorian Neo-Gothic.

In addition to sightseeing and admiring the medieval architecture of the colleges and churches of Oxford University, the city also features a number of important museums. The Ashmolean Museum is one of the most impressive, and one of Britain's oldest public museums, opening in 1683. Collections from the museum feature ancient art and artifacts from Egypt, the Near East, Greece, and Rome, as well as Western examples and a vast Eastern Art exhibit. A few other museums include the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the Pitt Rivers Museum, and the Christ Church Picture Gallery.

Oxford also features plenty of green spaces with a number of Oxford University Parks located mostly along the River Cherwell, as well as the University of Oxford Botanical Gardens-Britain's oldest, with both indoor and outdoor plants from around the world.

Additional activities can be found in a variety of tours from touring specific university colleges to walking tours around the city as a whole to a number of ghost tours-all of which give different perspectives on the history and architecture of Oxford.

There are also plenty of opportunities for dining, entertainment, and shopping, for example at oldest covered market in England, which hosts a collection of small shops selling things like chocolate, cakes, flowers, glassware, meat, hats, and more.

Sightseeing Tips

Museums and Attractions:
Oxford is celebrated for its prestigious museums and historical landmarks. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Oxford. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

• Oxford Time Tours for $26 details
• Terrarium Making Experience in Cirencester for $39 details
• Spencer's Tour of Oxford - 2 hour (25% of fee to local charities) for $178 details

Nightlife Tips

While nightlife can be a blast, skipping a few rounds can significantly lower your travel expenses.

Be aware of your surrounding and stay safe if you're out at night and drinking. You could become a target for pickpockets or other crimes. Stay in groups and with people you trust.

Tasting tours and nightlife activities are very popular in Oxford. A few of the favorites from previous visitors include:

• Eccentric Oxford 3-Hour Pub Tour for $142 details