Oxford recommendations

We went a few years ago - the old prison/castle is well worth a visit - although, here's a hint - don't lock yourself in the cell by mistake.

Yes, we did and yes, it was hilarious but probably not a good idea!

Blenheim Palace isn't far away either and definitely worth it. We really enjoyed it when we went!

Eating out, hmm.... we had a meal at Prezzo which is good value and nice food, but not very posh. I think we had the other meal of our weekend in the hotel so not much help to you there!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did ?

Ooh, my best friend lives just outside Oxford, I'll see what she recommends. I found the museum of natural history interesting, but then I'm a science/nature geek :-) the duke of Cambridge does some lovely 2 for 1 cocktails!

Bestie says she'll send over a load of recommendations :-)

There are quite a few walking tours that will take you around the colleges (though you may not be able to get into many of them as it's exam term), and show you the major sights. You can climb up both Carfax and St Mary's towers, I think. Punting from Magdalen bridge if the weather is good. Browse around the Covered Market for all sorts of goodies.

For drinks and food, either Jericho or Cowley Road is your best bet, depending on budget. Jericho is pricier but has some lovely places like Pierre Victoire and Al Andalus, and some great cocktail bars like Freud's, Raoul's and the Duke of Cambridge. The Malmaison is very nice, and there are several chain restaurants (Pizza Express, Slug and Lettuce etc) in the same complex. Cowley Road is a bit further out, cheaper and a slightly less nice area but has quite a few cheap and cheerful "ethnic" (sorry, I'm sure there's a more PC word for it!) restaurants and noisier bars. Both Jericho and Cowley Road have branches of G&Ds, which is an awesome ice cream parlour open until late at night - you must go!

My favourite pub is the Turf tavern, which is hidden away down a tiny alley on Holywell Street. It's famous as one of the places where the great and the good used to drink - and where Bill Clinton apparently smoked pot "but didn't inhale." The other famous one is the Eagle and Child, where I think Tolkien and CS Lewis used to meet. The Crown, tucked away next to McDonald's on Cornmarket Street, does good burgers.

Hope that helps. Have a fab time, it's a gorgeous city!

If you want to look round any of the college grounds, magdalen is beautiful - went there with my friend recently. There's a great tea shop nearby as well, can't remember the name but had a sign with the slogan 'hello - is it tea you're looking for?' which I loved (for both the tea and the pun, probably equally!)

Thanks for your all your recommendations ladies.

Now I'm used to it raining heavily on my birthday last few years let's hope it stays at bay this year!!

Hi LalaC, I have worked in Oxford for the past 10 years so I hope I can help. Pierre Victoire as Helenia mentioned is a lovely family-run french restaurant, my first choice for a special meal, but it has a lovely relaxed ambience so isn't super posh.

There are several specialist walking tours, even a Harry Potter tour, and a ghost tour, there is a lot of fascinating history so I recommend doing one of those. Punting is a great idea if the weather is nice, take a picnic and park up. I find punting a bit too much like hard work so we have been known to have a sushi picnic in a pedalo!

On your way back from punting there is a lovely cafe on the High Street called The Grand Cafe. It's a beautiful tea room and claims to be England's first coffee house. They do nice afternoon teas in there.

Going up the tower at St Mary's the Virgin allows for lovely views, though the steps up to it are narrow and steep. There is a cafe under that church called the vault which I have heard excellent things about.

Raoul's is my favourite for cocktails, though you will be spoiled for choice as there are 4 different cocktail bars in that one area of Oxford, Jericho. Head for Little Clarendon Street. Raoul's is just off that road on Walton Street.

There is also a mad hatter cocktail bar in the Cowley area. You have to answer a riddle at the door to get in!

Daily Info is Oxford's local website so this should give you an idea of what is about. There is plenty to see just walking around, it's not a big city. I hope you have a great time!

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/

If you have a car the Cotswold Wildlife Park is lovely and about 30 mins away. Blenheim Palace is a winner too, and there are some lovely Cotswoldy towns like Burford. I love that place.

Ooh, and if you are coming by train don't be put off by the area around the train station, it's a bit grubby but just 5 mins walk from the dreaming spires!