Oxford Nightlife: Top 10 things to do in Oxford at Night.
1) Food!
Oxford is blessed with lots of very nice restaurants. The pick of the bunch is surely The White Rabbit, just off Gloucester Green. Started by a group of friends 5 years ago, this busy local drinking hole has transformed into the most popular pizza restaurant in the city. Not just any pizza, mind. Using only the freshest Italian ingredients, The White Rabbit’s thin, crispy and stone-baked to perfection by Italian chef Matteo Ferrari.
Whether looking for a cosy bolthole to spend a winter’s night, or a delicious, quality takeaway for an evening in, this curious rabbit hole is well worth investigating. A credit to Oxford nightlife!
2) Pub Tour!
The Footprints Ale Trail provides a fun spin on Oxford pub tours, where you will visit some of the oldest pubs in Britain and learn their history, as well as the history of ale itself, including how beer has been blessed by Catholic popes, built the pyramids of Egypt, developed technology, and ultimately, saved the world. Like all aspects of British history, a wealth of tradition and old fashioned customs render these pubs and their stories as rich and unpredictable as the drink itself. We present the tour in the style that Footprints has become famous for, and we promise that you will think about ale in a totally new way after taking this Oxford pub tour! There really is no better way to experience Oxford Nightlife!
Book your Footprints Pub Tour now:
3) Cocktails!
Oxford is littered with lovely cocktail bars, and it can be very difficult to choose one! Our personal favourite lies down the bustling Little Clarendon Street. The Duke of Cambridge has been mixing great drinks in Oxford since 1981. Located in the bohemian district of Jericho, the bar is always bursting with atmosphere at the weekends with a more chilled vibe during the week. Fresh ingredients, cool interiors and friendly staff give The Duke genuine character and style.
Don’t want to venture so far from town? Oxford Nightlife won’t let you down! The Varsity Club can be found within the Covered Market, just off the High Street. This club spans over three floors, including it’s famous terrace. The views from here are spectacular – made all the better with a tasty, professionally made cocktail.
4) Theatre!
If dancing and cocktails aren’t your thing, don’t worry! Oxford Nightlife has something for everyone. New Theatre Oxford (formerly known as the Apollo Theatre Oxford or simply The Apollo from 1977–2003) is the main commercial theatre in Oxford, and has a capacity of 1,800 people. It is located on George Street, in the centre of the city, and puts on a wide variety of shows, from musical theatre, to stand-up comedy and concerts. Every evening, there are world famous comedians, theatre troupes and performances. Well worth a visit!
5) Dancing!
Whether you want a quiet evening in a trendy cocktail bar, or to be dancing the night away with drinks in both hands, Oxford’s nightlife has something for everyone. When it comes to Oxford Nightlife, The Bridge Bar & Club is a popular one with locals, broadcasting the finest popular music, with tasty drinks and reasonable prices. If you’re feeling a little more daring, you should consider taking the stairs down to The Cellar. Just off busy Cornmarket Street, The Cellar is one of Oxford’s finest independent music venues, flying the flags of both the cutting edge live scene and the best house, electro, drum & bass, dubstep, hip-hop, reggae, ska nights in the city.
6) Live Music!
If live music is your thing, Cowley Road is the place to be. The O2 Academy showcases the finiest live acts and DJs from around the world. The Edwardian building has been hosting live music on Cowley Rd for decades, but prior to being a music venue, it was a Co-operative party hall. It was originally known as The Venue and then the much-respected Zodiac, both of which paved the way for O2 Academy Oxford. As The Venue, it hosted some impressive live performances; a Radiohead show even went on to become the video for debut single ‘Creep’. Difficult times in the nineties saw The Venue close, but local promoters Nick Moorbath and Adrian Hicks devised a plan get support and investment from local bands Radiohead, Supergrass and Ride, and in November 1995 the building reopened as the Zodiac. The Daisies were the first band to christen the Zodiac stage and Supergrass played a sold-out show in the opening week too. Other highlights during this time were shows from Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon, Robert Plant, The Killers, The Strokes and Muse.
7) Shopping!
The stunning Westgate Shopping Centre delivers a game changing experience set to reinvent the city of Oxford and Oxford Nightlife as the ultimate retail, entertainment and lifestyle destination. With 800 000 sq. ft. of prestigious global brands, inventive and eclectic restaurants and cafes, a five screen boutique cinema and sophisticated rooftop bars and dining, Westgate Oxford will excite and delight. Expect bold and daring architecture meets innovative design and technology. Arresting rooftop views of the Oxford city skyline create an exceptional, inspirational destination like no other.
Open until 8pm every evening (except Sundays), fill your boots with products from some of the most popular brands worldwide!
8) Just Desserts!
Oxford is famous for many things. Everyone’s heard of the University, the dictionary, the architecture and the history. We’re going to let you in on a little Oxford secret..
It just so happens that we’re also famous for Ice-cream! The idea for the G&D’s Ice Cream Cafe developed out of the experience of an Oxford University student, George Stroup, who founded the business in order to provide great ice cream, reasonably priced quality food, friendly, convenient service and a bright, unpretentious atmosphere.
Before G&D’s, Oxford lacked good ice cream. Consumers were stuck with a ‘non-choice’ of low quality national brands and the ‘cheap and cheerful’ stuff sold from roving vans – typically these products contained a myriad of artificial ingredients, colours, stabilizers and softeners, and often lacked any cream at all! (Sadly, the latter was permitted by labelling laws.)
So stop off and have a hot drink and something to eat without suffering the triple insult of indifferent service, inflated prices and dire food!
9) Ice Skating!
Oxford Ice Rink is open until 10:30pm every weekday evening. Every Oxonian’s first choice for family activities, keeping fit and having fun in the heart of the city of Oxford.
Our popular ice rink can play host to fantastic activities including Skating sessions, Discos, Skate School, Specal Events plus much more! Explore the activities on offer in the Experience section and see all of our great facilities including cafe and functions room in the Discover section.
10) Cinema!
Open since 1913, The Phoenix Picturehouse cinema has for many years been a nationally leading independent art house cinema. It is located at 57 Walton Street in the Jericho district of central Oxford. Exceptionally comfortable, deep red velvet chairs, a carefully stocked bar and the sort of character you’d expect from an old cinema in a city like Oxford, the Phoenix has been a favourite with Oxford students and locals alike for over a century. There is no better place to sit down, get comfy and soak up a blockbuster!
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