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Things to do in Oxford this Christmas
Oxford is esteemed for its academic excellence, rich history, and urban beauty. With winding cobbled streets and intricate architecture, the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ is a remarkable place to visit any time of year, but its magical ambience truly comes alive in the festive period.
As the nights draw in and we cross our fingers for a white Christmas, there are many fun festive activities across Oxford to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Whether exploring the city alone or with family this holiday season, our guide to Christmas in Oxford will help you experience all the magic the city has to offer!
Discover Oxford this Festive Season
City Sightseeing Oxford Bus Tour
With historic landmarks, towering spires, and festive events sprawled across the city, there is no better way to experience Oxford this festive season than with the City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-on Hop-off bus tour.
This award-winning open-top tour follows a route of 20 stops around the city centre so you can hop on and off as you please to get the most out of your city break. With stops at a range of landmarks, museums, and university colleges, you are never too far from seasonal activities to get you in the Christmas spirit! Get on the top deck and experience the magic of Oxford this Christmas.
All bus tour tickets include a Stepping Through Oxford Walking Tour with additional ticket options available. Why not experience the festive magic with the Bus Tour + Panorama package? Climb Carfax Tower’s 99 steps to get a panoramic view of Oxford’s iconic skyline in all its festive glory!
For more information and to book tickets, see www.citysightseeingoxford.com/visit-oxford-bus-tours.
City Sightseeing Oxford Walking Tours
Discovering Oxford by walking its winding cobbled streets is a must at any time of year, but the festive season is when the city really comes alive; Christmas lights illuminate the city’s characteristic warm yellow buildings and add a unique festive charm that is sure to spark your excitement for the Christmas season.
Alongside the open-top bus tour, City Sightseeing Oxford offer a variety of walking tours provided by highly trained, knowledgeable, and experienced guides so you can truly immerse yourself during your Oxford experience. Why not learn about the fascinating history of the city of dreaming spires on the Town & Gown Walking Tour, or raise a Christmas pint as you explore the city’s oldest pubs on the Pubs & Taverns Tour? With a range of tours of different lengths and difficulties, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
For more information and to book tickets, see www.citysightseeingoxford.com/oxford-walking-tours.
Christmas Family Trails and Tours
Christmas is a time for celebrating family, so why not gather the cousins and grandparents for a festive family trail at one of Oxford’s many museums or gardens?
Possibly the most well-known museum in the city of Oxford, the Museum of Natural History houses over seven million historical and modern specimens, and hosts many exciting events that provide an incredible insight into the deep past of our fantastic planet. On 2nd December, families are invited to join a guided tour A Little Look at Winter Animals around the museum to learn how different animals cosy up for the winter months.
Fancy Christmas at a castle? Throughout December, all of Oxford’s Castle and Prison tours will be led by lantern light and include a visit to an underground 900-year-old crypt. There’s also a lantern-lit Christmas trail for little ones, accompanied by Santa’s elves and packed with festive activities, tasty treats, and an opportunity to meet the big man himself. The Christmas Trail at Oxford Castle and Prison runs from 23rd November to 23rd December.
The Great Outdoors
If adventures are more your style, Harcourt Arboretum is running a The Twelve Trees of Christmas Trail. Discover the festive tree-traditions around the world on this unique trail that combines culture, nature, and a dash of fresh air.
This Christmas, Blenheim Palace is pulling out all the stops with a swashbuckling adventure inspired by the magical world of Neverland®. Take your little pirates on a spectacular after-dark illuminated trail on an unforgettable journey to see the big man himself. Plus, there’s a covered market, traditional fairground rides and a spectacular covered ice rink. Too cool for the rink? You could pass on the skates and drink a hot chocolate instead. Christmas at Blenheim runs from 15th November to 1st January.
Don’t miss the Christmas Light switch-ons in Oxfordshire throughout November, including in Kidlington on 28th November, Thame on 29th November, and Abingdon on 30th November. Alternatively, enjoy a Dickensian-themed evening in Wantage on 1st December, so grab your bonnet or top hat and enjoy a huge range of festivities.
And finally, how about a festive spectacle that travels to you! This December, Oxford will be illuminated with festive cheer as a twinkling Christmas Light Bus winds its way through Oxfordshire, accompanied by a soundtrack of Christmas classics. The Oxford Christmas Light Bus will be running on 7th, 14th, and 21st December.
Carols and Concerts
Choral Music
If you’re hankering for a bit of tradition, why not join a candlelit Advent Carol Service at Christchurch Cathedral, one of Oxford’s most iconic landmarks. The cathedral is running a busy schedule of carols and concerts, including a Music at Oxford: Children and Families concert on 7th December and a series of Nine Lessons and Carols services in the days immediately preceding Christmas.
For a smaller yet atmospheric experience, St Barnabas in Jericho is hosting an evening of champagne, canapés, and carols by candlelight for The Mulberry Bush Carol Service on 5th December.
For a spectrum of choral sounds through the ages, from medieval carols to contemporary masterpieces, you could do a lot worse than attending The Sixteen’s “A Mother’s Love” concert. This event, featuring one of the world’s greatest choral ensembles, will be held at SJE Arts on 14th September.
Christmas Concerts
If you love Christmas movies, then don’t miss The Christmas Orchestra, a travelling chamber orchestra playing nostalgic classics from festive films, accompanied by a gorgeous lighting show. The orchestra will be performing two concerts on December 2nd at Oxford Town Hall.
Embrace the Christmas spirit with Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert” at the New Theatre, Oxford, featuring a screening of the complete film with the musical score performed live.
Well-known for attracting interesting musicians from around the world, SJE Arts will be hosting a wide range of festive-themed musical events.
On 6th December, the Mike Viner Christmas Concert (part of 12th SJE Arts International Piano Series) may just transport you away to a snowy wonderland with classics such as Beethoven’s lovely ‘Moonlight’ Sonata and Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy among the pieces played.
If folk music is more your niche, the venue is also hosting the farewell tour of “Carols & Capers” with Maddy Prior, originally the lead singer of the British folk-rock band Steeleye Span, and The Carnival Band.
And then there’s Handel’s The Messiah on 22nd December, a semi-dramatic oratorio that’s typically played at this time of year, performed by the Orchestra of St. Johns.
A little further afield, The Central Band of the Royal Air Force will be playing an evening of festive music in the magnificent setting of Dorchester Abbey. It’s for a good cause too—donations for each booking will go towards the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
And finally, for some supercalifragilisticexpialidocious fun with the family, consider Zoe Gilbert’s Festive Family Jazz Show on 22nd December at The Snug in Dorchester. Whether you’re 2, 22, or 102, this is your opportunity to sing along to some much-loved classics such as Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and Let It Snow.
Pantos, Puppets, and Plays
Looking for some traditional panto? Sleeping Beauty is taking to the stage – oh yes, it is – with all the glitter, bubbles, and sweets you could ever wish for. Sleeping Beauty runs from 22nd November to 5th January at the Oxford Playhouse.
Ever wonder how a humble street seller with not a penny to her name ended up as a multimillionaire businesswoman with her own ice cream empire? Find out in this exciting new spin of a fairytale classic that blends magic, storytelling, and music. Cinderella Ice Cream Seller runs from 21st to 29th December at The Story Museum.
Puppets play a starring role in the National Theatre’s production of War Horse where audiences will be taken on a journey from the fields of Devon to the trenches of First World War France. Experience a story about courage, loyalty, and love, featuring life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company. The National Theatre is staging War Horse from 10th December to 4th January at The New Theatre, Oxford.
For something a bit different, why not see The Elves and The Shoemaker at the Pegasus Theatre? This enchanting sing-along, interactive show is packed with clowning, puppetry, and puns. Perfect for children aged two to seven and their families, this show will have you wondering: Will the shoemaker manage to ‘heel’ all the problems in fairy tale land? Join the fun and find out!
Festive Workshops
Speaking of elves, if you’re on the lookout for activities for the kids, look no further than Millets Farm, where Christmas magic is in full swing. Join their Elves Workshop from 21st to 23rd December, where children can stuff their very own snowman to take home. The adventure continues with a trip to the Story Museum, where the head elf will entertain with song and dance.
Fancy a handmade touch to all your holiday decorations? You could book one of the Christmas crafting workshops run by The Maker Space in Nuffield. From folded fabric baubles to quilted Christmas placemats, it’s an opportunity to deck your halls with some personal flair. The Maker Space also has a crafty shop on site and a café selling hot and cold drinks, and tasty snacks and cake.
Christmas Markets
Oxford Covered Market
Although it is open all year round, the Oxford Covered Market is a must-see during the festive period. With over fifty specialist independent traders offering everything and anything from food and drink to flowers and toiletries, it is the perfect opportunity to get warm and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of a historic market, whilst finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
Artisan Craft Fairs
On Sunday 8th December, Oxford Botanic Garden will play host to a range of local craftspeople, suppliers, and producers, and delicious food and drink. There’ll be music aplenty and a special Christmas Pudding Trail that guides visitors through the Garden’s glasshouses and flowerbeds. The Christmas Fair runs on Saturday, 7th December and Sunday, 8th December.
If you fancy something on a smaller scale, Sunnyhill Vineyard’s Christmas Craft Fair offers a picturesque setting with its backdrop of picturesque vines. The event will showcase local crafters and artisans, providing a lovely opportunity to purchase some unique handcrafted items. There’ll also be an opportunity to purchase some Oxfordshire rosé wine and even select a Christmas tree to take home. The craft fair is scheduled for 2nd December.
For our comprehensive list on things to do in Oxford please visit oxfordbus.co.uk/things-to-do.
Getting to Oxford
Oxford is well connected by road and rail to major cities, including London. For the most convenient and eco-friendly travel, we highly recommend using the various bus services. The Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel operate high-frequency services throughout Oxford and to surrounding areas such as Abingdon, Didcot, Wheatley, Wallingford, Wantage, Thame, and Reading. If travelling from London, the Oxford Tube offers frequent connections to central London. Additionally, the Oxford airline coach service provides daily connections from Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as High Wycombe.
For those who prefer driving, please note that parking options in Oxford City Centre are limited. Therefore, using one of the four Park&Ride car parks is a convenient option to get into the city centre easily and quickly.
Plan your journey: www.citysightseeingoxford.com/getting-to-oxford.