Here Are The Best Things To Do In Oxford This Autumn

Situated on the edge of the Cotswolds, Oxford has a lovely blend of old city and countryside charm. Filled with cobbled streets, delightful pubs and gorgeously old buildings, it’s a wonderful city to visit year-round, but there’s something special about autumn. Whether you’re here for a staycation, a weekend break, or you’re lucky enough to call it home, here are the best things to do in Oxford in autumn.

Lovely Things To Do In Oxford In Autumn

Merton College. Oxford, England

Harcourt Arboretum Autumn Fair

Featuring live music from local performers, farmyard animals, delicious local food and, of course, lovely trees, head to Harcourt Arboretum on Saturday 14 October for the annual Autumn Fair. With 130 acres of trees – the best collection in Oxfordshire – and some of the oldest Redwood trees in the UK, Harcourt takes leaf peeping to a whole new level.

Details: 10am–5pm on Saturday 19 October 2024 at Harcourt Arboretum (Oxford Lodge Peacock Gate, Oxford OX44 9PX) – although the Arboretum is worth the visit all season (and all year). obga.ox.ac.uk

LookWhosInsideAgain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Blenheim Horse Trials

Trot out of the city to Woodstock, where Blenheim Horse Trials will bring four days of horsey action to the parkland of beautiful Blenheim Palace.

Details: 19–22 September 2024 at Blenheim Palace (Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP). Here’s everything to know before you go. If you missed it, the Palace is open year-round for picturesque strolls.

Oxford Round Table’s Annual Charity Fireworks Display

If you’re wondering where to celebrate Bonfire Night, get a head start at Oxford Rountable’s annual display on Saturday 4 November. Situated in South Park, the fun will kick off at 4:30 PM, with a funfair, family tent, and beer tent to boot.

Details: From 4.30pm on Saturday 5 November 2024 at South Park, Oxford. oxfordfireworks.co.uk

Oxfordshire Pumpkin Festival

Part of Good Food Oxfordshire, this annual festival aims to reduce the massive amount of food waste (18,000 tonnes of it!) that occurs around Halloween due to pumpkin carving. They say, ‘carve it, cook it, eat it – don’t bin it’. The 2024 events are still TBC, but there is sure to be fun for all the family – and for a good cause, too.

Details: 21 October–3 November 2024. goodfoodoxford.org

A statue of Mary Magdalen in Magdalen College Chapel

Candle-lit Evensong

If the idea of attending a church service makes you squeamish, think again: candle-lit evensong, within a cavernous chapel, is a spooky and magnificent experience. The hushed, solemn atmosphere, perfect acoustics and incredible blend of voices will have the hairs on your arms rising. Magdalen’s 40-minute service is one of Oxford’s most famous, but keep your eyes peeled as you stroll past colleges – posters outside will usually tell you when the next evensong is.

Details: Dates during term time (October–December) at Magdalen College Chapel (High Street, Oxford OX1 4AU). magdalencollegechoir.com

Foraging

There are plenty of places to forage for food in Oxford, and autumn means the apples are ripe and the berries are juicy. So what are you waiting for? Grab your wicker basket, and check out the Oxford Wild Food Map for destination ideas dotted across the city and surrounding area.

Museums

If you’re looking for things to do in Oxford in autumn, museums should be top of your list – they’re a great way to escape the rain, after all. For a comparatively small city, the rich cultural history means there’s plenty of choice to suit all tastes. Families should head to The Story Museum to bring bedtime adventures to life, art lovers can’t go wrong at the Ashmolean Museum, and science lovers will enjoy the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (as will budding photographers and Instagram lovers – the neo-Gothic building is a gorgeous backdrop).

Christ Church College is a famous Harry Potter filming location

Tour The Colleges

What’s a trip to Oxford without exploring its stunning colleges? Dating back to 1096, the University of Oxford is the world’s second oldest university still in operation, and the oldest in the English speaking world. With that extensive history comes a plethora of stunning colleges to admire and quirky traditions to learn about. Try the Bodleian’s City of Oxford Walking Tour for a comprehensive introduction to the city, or try GPS My City’s self-guided tour if you prefer to go it alone. Key colleges to visit include Magdalen with its deer park and Balliol for its gardens. Harry Potter fans shouldn’t miss Christ Church College, but the more frugal Oxford visitors should head to Worcester or Lincoln – beautiful colleges without an entrance fee on the door. (Note that most colleges have limited opening times to accommodate their students.) ox.ac.uk

The Deer Park at Magdalen College

Punting

If there’s one thing Oxford and Cambridge have in common, it’s punting. The uninitiated can opt for a guided punt tour, or careen down the river on your own if you’re feeling confident – regardless, you’ll spot the beautiful sights of colleges, wildlife, and the University Parks.

Oxford Botanic Gardens

At this point, it almost goes without saying that Oxford Botanic Garden is the UK’s oldest botanic garden. In autumn, it’s ripe for the visiting, with its lovely plants and a series of exciting events to boot. Fans of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials should keep their eyes peeled for the Daemon Sculpture and Lara and Will’s bench, and Alice in Wonderland fans will be pleased to see the Cheshire Cat smiling in the Literary Garden.

Details: Open 10am–4pm everyday. Find it on Rose Lane (Oxford OX1 4AZ). obga.ox.ac.uk