Oxford Activities from Punting to Port Meadow
Oxford activities by weather
Oxford rewards a flexible plan. A dry day suits the river, the meadow and the towers, and a wet day suits the museums and the covered market. All prices are in pounds, and contactless cards are taken nearly everywhere.
On a dry day: the river
Punting is the classic Oxford outing. Two boathouses rent punts.
| Magdalen Bridge Boathouse | Cherwell Boathouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hire | about £35 an hour, up to 5 people | about £25 an hour on weekdays, £27 at weekends, up to 6 people |
| Day rate | not listed | about £125 on weekdays, £135 at weekends |
| With a punter | about £50 for 30 minutes, up to 4 people | not listed |
| Season | daily 1 February to 30 November | closed since 18 October, back in spring |
| Rules | opens 09:30, closes 21:00 or an hour before sunset | no hirers under 16, card deposit |
A punt has no rudder and no brakes. The person at the back steers with the pole on every stroke, and in Oxford they traditionally stand inside the boat. Going between the two boathouses by punt needs a carry over the rollers. Stay out of the rivers themselves, because the weirs and locks are dangerous. Details are on the Cherwell Boathouse punting page .
On a dry day: the meadow
Port Meadow is a flat common with free access. Horses and cattle graze it, there are no hills, and in winter it floods. Walkers often head across to The Perch, the thatched pub in Binsey.
Views from above
Three towers sell tickets for the climb:
- University Church of St Mary the Virgin: £7 for 127 steps. Children must be 8 or older, and the last admission is 16:30.
- Carfax Tower: £4 for adults and £3 for children, with no entry for under-5s. It has 99 steps and shorter winter hours from November to February (10:00 to 15:00).
- Sheldonian Theatre: the £8.25 ticket (£7.00 concession, free for ages 8 and under) includes the Cupola. The Cupola alone is £5.25 on event days. It closes for ceremonies, so check the Sheldonian opening hours .
On a wet day
The Covered Market opens Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00, with a few stalls staying open on Thursday to Saturday evenings. It shuts on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday.
The Castle and Prison tour is a good wet-weather choice. A guide takes you around the tower and crypt for 50 to 60 minutes, and then you can see the exhibitions. Expect to pay from about £16 if you book online, and see the castle ticket page for the full list.
The free museums are covered on Oxford sightseeing . Read more: Oxford attraction tours .
Evenings
Magdalen Bridge Boathouse hires punts until 21:00 or an hour before sunset, whichever is earlier. Some Covered Market traders trade on Thursday to Saturday evenings, and the Lamb and Flag on St Giles is a community-run pub that reopened in 2022.
Booking
Guided activity listings can be searched on Viator . Punt hire is booked with the boathouses directly.