Romantic Things to Do in Oxford
Romantic things to do in Oxford
A couple’s day in Oxford runs well from late afternoon into the evening: a river, walled gardens, college grounds and a few old pubs and dining rooms. Prices are in pounds sterling, and cards are accepted nearly everywhere.
On the water
Someone else can do the work if you book a chauffeured punt at Magdalen Bridge Boathouse. It costs about £50 for 30 minutes and takes up to four people, so a couple has plenty of room. The boathouse is open daily until 30 November, 09:30 to 21:00 or an hour before sunset, so a late slot catches the evening light. You can book on the boathouse website .
Self-hire is £35 an hour for up to five. Punts have no brakes or rudder, so a first-timer should expect to be steering constantly.
Gardens and college grounds
Oxford Botanic Garden combines a walled garden and glasshouses. It opens 10:00 to 16:00 from November to February, 10:00 to 17:00 in March, April, September and October, and 10:00 to 18:00 from May to August, with last entry an hour before closing. The glasshouses sometimes close for maintenance. Look at the garden’s hours page for the current ticket price, and note that a joint ticket with Magdalen costs £17 for adults.
Magdalen College has grounds that include Addison’s Walk and deer. Adult entry is £10, paid by card, and the college is open daily from 10:00 to dusk or 17:00 (18:30 from July to September). Check the college’s visiting page for the few closure days.
A walk to a thatched pub
Port Meadow is free, flat and grazed by horses and cattle. Walking across it to The Perch at Binsey takes you to a thatched pub with a garden. Winter floods cover parts of the meadow, so this works best in spring and summer.
Dinner
Reserve ahead at any of these:
- The Turf Tavern on Bath Place, a medieval pub that has a courtyard.
- Gee’s, 61 to 63 Banbury Road: dining in a Victorian conservatory.
- Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant on Bardwell Road, which serves all year apart from 24 to 30 December.
- Quod inside the Old Bank Hotel on the High Street (numbers 92 to 94).
A pub with a literary past
The Lamb and Flag at 12 St Giles reopened in October 2022 as a community-run pub, and it makes a good last drink. Across the road, the Eagle and Child at 49 St Giles, a haunt of the Inklings, has been closed since 2020. Its owners aim to reopen it in 2027 but have given no date, so admire it from the pavement only.
Where to stay
Central rooms cost more in term time and at graduation weekends, so reserve early. Browse stays on Booking.com .
Read more: couple activities in Oxford and the Oxford city guide .