SHOW / EPISODE

What we did in Oxford UK: And what we would do differently next time

50m | Jun 26, 2026


Wandering Works for Us Podcast


Date: 27 June 2026

Title: What we did on our trip to Oxford UK, and what we would do differently next time

Summary of Episode

Oxford was the first proper stop on our England road trip with Julie and Ann — and it nearly didn't get the time it deserved. In this episode, we talk about driving into the city in 5 o'clock traffic (on the wrong side of the road, in a rental car twice the size of ours), the 30-minute Bodleian Library tour that left us wishing we'd booked the longer one, and the completely unplanned moment that turned out to be the highlight of the whole stop: stumbling into a boys' choir rehearsal inside the chapel at New College. We also get into the Ashmolean, Oxford's literary pubs, an accidental trip to Blackwell's, and everything we'd do differently if we went back.

Takeaways

  • Two weeks is the ideal maximum for a trip like ours.
  • Driving in the UK requires patience and understanding of local road rules.
  • Oxford's architecture and history make it a must-visit destination.
  • Traveling with friends adds joy but also logistical challenges.
  • Planning for local experiences and downtime enhances travel enjoyment.


 Let's Talk

Have you been to Oxford? What did we miss? Find us on Instagram and Threads and tell us — we'd love to know.

Chapters


00:00 Introduction to the Podcast Experiment

01:01 Reflections on the Grand Adventure

04:00 Traveling with Friends: The Dynamics of Group Travel

05:00 Arrival in Oxford: The Journey Begins


Key Topics

  • Driving from London to Oxford — first time behind the wheel on the "wrong" side of the road, plus a lunch stop at a pub claiming to be over 900 years old
  • First impressions of Oxford: more spread out than we expected, and very much a lived-in city rather than a museum piece
  • The Bodleian Library and Divinity School tour — the Harry Potter hospital wing, the centuries-old "no books leave the library" rule, and why we'd book the longer tour next time
  • New College and the moment that became the whole episode: walking into a chapel mid-rehearsal and just standing there
  • The Ashmolean Museum, and our case for why you don't need to see everything to enjoy a museum
  • Pubs, Inklings, and an accidental bookshop detour at Blackwell's
  • What we'd do differently — and what we'd tell a first-timer planning their own visit

 Mentioned in This Episode

  • Where we stayed: Newton House
  • Coming up next: we head into the Cotswolds — one-lane roads, sheep, and the best gin we've had from a village store


Important Links 


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RESOURCES & LINKS


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