Oxford vs Cambridge For Tourists - Which Should You Visit?

Oxford and Cambridge are popular destinations in the UK, but each appeals to a different type of visitor. If you only have time to visit one, this guide will help you decide which.

Oxford and Cambridge share many similarities. Both are university towns steeped in tradition. Both have grand colleges lining cobbled lanes and an energetic student population.

Conveniently, both are only one hour by train from London.

But if you are visiting the UK from the United States or other destinations, and only have time to visit one, which should you choose?

This guide gives you a quick breakdown of the highlights of visiting Oxford vs Cambridge, followed by our recommendation for which we think you should visit.

We have been to both many times and even lived in Oxford, so we have plenty of tips for seeing the best of them.

Once you know where you’re going, read our detailed day trip itineraries:

• Oxford Day Trip itinerary
• Cambridge Day Trip itinerary

WHY VISIT CAMBRIDGE?

Cambridge feels more like a market town than a city.

Grand colleges of red brick and limestone surround green lawns and flower-filled gardens. A river winds through the backs of the colleges where you’ll find guides taking visitors on a scenic punt.

On a summer’s day, Cambridge is a beautiful place to explore and we’ve included it on our top 11 places to visit in England.

The main street, King’s Parade, has imposing colleges on one side and a mix of shops and street markets on the other.

It’s easy to find good coffee and lunch in Cambridge, with pop-up stalls, on-trend cafes and traditional pubs.

CAMBRIDGE HIGHLIGHTS

The city centre is walkable, with several highlights you can easily see in one day:

• Kings College Chapel – Built from 1446 to 1515 it contains the largest fan vaulted ceiling in the world. Evensong is free and you get to hear some of the most remarkable choirs in the world.

• Punting – The River Cam winds along the backs of several colleges. A punting tour lasts 45 to 60 minutes and it’s a great way to see the best of Cambridge’s architecture.  

• Wren Library – Built by Sir Christopher Wren, the library houses Newton’s notebook, an original manuscript of Winnie the Pooh, and early Shakespeare folios.

• St John’s College – The most picturesque of Cambridge’s colleges, St Johns has a mix of cobbled courts surrounded by faded red brick residences and grand lawns sweeping up to imposing limestone facades. It also has the much-photographed, Bridge of Sighs.

PLANNING A TRIP TO CAMBRIDGE

Visiting Cambridge does not require too much planning so it’s a good choice for a last-minute trip when the weather is good.

You can walk into most sights on the day, but we do recommend booking King’s College Chapel in advance.

Cambridge is just the right size with the right number of attractions for a great day trip. You will experience both remarkable historic sights and the relaxing feel of the English countryside.

You can find all the details on our Cambridge Day Trip guide.

WHY VISIT OXFORD?

Oxford is a city buzzing with urban energy. It is not as picturesque as Cambridge and the river doesn’t run through the centre, but in our opinion, it has the more interesting and diverse sights.

While much of Cambridge is on display, Oxford is hidden down narrow cobbled lanes.

These alleyways conceal remarkable colleges and libraries, a breathtaking cobbled square, and several of the country’s best Harry Potter locations.  

With so many intriguing sights indoors, it’s a better destination than Cambridge in the rain.

Like Cambridge, it has good coffee, student-friendly cafes and traditional pubs.

OXFORD HIGHLIGHTS

The city centre is not quite as compact as Cambridge but still easily walkable. All these highlights are only 10 to 15 minutes’ walk apart and can easily be included on a day trip.

• Radcliffe Camera – The iconic image of Oxford is the Radcliffe Camera. Set in the middle of a cobbled square this circular building stands out surrounded by colleges and libraries. The best viewpoint is from the top of University Church tower.

• Bodleian Library – The research library for Oxford University, the Bodleian has over 13 million printed items, but the highlight is the rooms they are housed in.

• Christ Church College – The grandest college in Oxford, Christ Church was the inspiration and filming location for many Harry Potter scenes. The iconic sights are the dining hall, main quad, cathedral, and vaulted staircases.

• New College – Most visitors miss New College, which is a tragedy. It has a beautiful dining hall and chapel, and the moody cloisters featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

• Turf Tavern – This grade II listed pub is a warren of small rooms. Dating back to 1381, the wooden front bar has been there since the 17^th century. It’s a great spot for fish and chips and a pint.

PLANNING A TRIP TO OXFORD

Visiting Oxford requires a bit more planning than Cambridge.

Tickets for Christ Church College go on sale each Friday at 10 am for the following week and they often sell out fast, so you need to be prepared.

Tours of the Bodleian also book out in advance, but many more slots are made available on the day. You can usually pick one up at the Weston Library.

Oxford is great for a day trip, but with more sights you could easily spend a weekend. It can also be a good base for visiting Blenheim Palace (just 30-minute bus ride away) or to explore the picture-perfect villages of the Cotswolds.

Here is our Oxford 1-day itinerary to show you how to see all the main highlights in one day.

CAMBRIDGE VS OXFORD – WHICH TO CHOOSE?

So, should you go to Oxford or Cambridge?

Cambridge is more charming and more photogenic. On a summer’s day it’s prettier than Oxford and strolling around colleges and punting on the river is a very relaxing way to see it.

The chapel at King’s College Cambridge is probably the most impressive single building across both Cambridge and Oxford.

Oxford has more urban energy and in our opinion, the more interesting colleges and libraries. Christ Church college is the most impressive of all the college complexes across Cambridge and Oxford.

With many more of its highlights inside, Oxford feels older, darker, a bit moodier and more mysterious.

Essentially Oxford is for Harry Potter fans, while Cambridge is for the Midsomer Murders vibes.

MORE DAY TRIP ITINERARIES

• Visit Bath on a day trip from London.
• Take an excursion to the coast with our Brighton day trip.
• Hike the white cliffs at Seven Sisters on a scenic day out.
• Admire England’s most charming university town on a day trip to Cambridge.
• Explore the UNESCO-listed cathedral on a Canterbury day trip.
• Visit the oyster capital of the UK on a Whitstable day trip.
• Explore the libraries and colleges on this one-day Oxford itinerary.