Did you find yourself in Oxford without anything to do? Is the isolation getting to you and you’d like a low-risk excursion? We put together a list of activities you can participate in safely. No crowds, no enclosed spaces, but still plenty of things to do!
1. Private Tour of Oxford
Regardless of what you are interested in we can create a custom tour for you! Would you like to know more about Inspector Morse, Harry Potter or J. R. R. Tolkein? Or are you interested in a specific theme, like the Reformation or ghost stories perhaps? We currently have excellent rates on all of our private tours, let us know what you have in mind and we’ll set up the perfect excursion for you. Contact us at Oxford@footprints-tours.com
2. Botanic Gardens & Arboretum
The Garden and the Harcourt Arboretum cover 4.5 and 130 acres respectively. Plenty of space to spread out and safely discover one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world! While events and large gatherings may be cancelled the garden has a lot to offer regardless. It contains over 8000 different species, most of which will begin to bloom soon. There are two trails for children and a range of spectacular landmarks such as the Walled Garden, which is home to the Garden’s oldest tree.
3. Christ Church Meadows
Another spacious outdoors destination for you and your family. Why not explore it on our University & City Tour? Normally, these grounds are not covered on our 2-hour tours, but now we are able to use the time which would have otherwise have been spent inside the College, to cover Christ Church College, and walk around it’s grounds.
Don’t worry, in responses to the Coronavirus we are proactively ensuring that this tour has the smallest group sizes of any tours we offer. Currently there will be less than 10 people with the guide. We certainly feel this therefore makes it the safest way to experience Oxford on a group tour.
4. Port Meadow
Would you like to venture a bit further away from the city? Port Meadow is the perfect destination: large open common land besides the River Thames. The meadow is ancient grazing land. According to legend it has not been ploughed for around 4,000 years. Supposedly the Freemen of Oxford were given this 300-acre meadow in return for helping to defend the kingdom against the marauding Danes. Take advantage of the sunshine and wander this legendary meadow. Why not pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it away from the crowds?
5. Virtual Tours
Even though Colleges at Oxford have decided to close for visitors, you can also wander them virtually! Here is a collection of the virtual tours available at the University!