The city of Oxford is on of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK. The university buildings are just stunning, and perfect for taking photos. But there are other photogenic spots in the countryside around Oxford as well. Here are my 36 top photo spots in and around Oxford.
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Oxford is one of my favourite cities in the UK. I lived here for several years, so I might be biased, but I absolutely love the city. I love the university architecture, with the lovely old university and college buildings. There are some lovely gardens as well, and scenic spots by the river. Oxford really does have something for everyone. And the surrounding countryside is just as beautiful.
Oxford is a fairly compact city, so you can walk around to see the best photo spots. However, it’s even better to explore Oxford with a local guide. They’ll be able to show you all of the best spots. You can take this Oxford city and university walking tour (affiliate), or this tour includes a visit to the famous Christ Church college (affiliate). Alternatively, this tour includes a local university alumni guide (affiliate), or this tour visit Christ Church College as well (affiliate).
And for any fans of Harry Potter, see the top Harry Potter filming locations on this tour (affiliate), and then take a river cruise with Afternoon Tea (affiliate) to see the best river photo spots.
For the best photo spots in the areas around Oxford, you’ll need to take the train or bus, or have a car. Driving in and around Oxford can be difficult, and public transport isn’t that frequent outside of the city centre. So to get to some of the top photo spots in the countryside around Oxford, including the nearby Cotswolds, take this day tour of the pretty Cotswolds villages from Oxford (affiliate). Or choose this private tour of the Cotswolds (affiliate) to pick your top photo spots to visit.
Keep reading for the top photo spots that you’ll see on these tours, and also if you choose to walk and drive around the area yourself.
1. Radcliffe Camera, Oxford
The first of my 36 top photo spots in and around Oxford is the beautiful Radcliffe Camera building. This library, in the centre of Oxford, forms part of the University of Oxford. It’s an amazing building, with some beautiful old Oxford colleges surrounding it.
2. Watlington Hill, Oxfordshire
For some amazing views of the Oxfordshire countryside, head up to Watlington Hill. It’s only a short drive out of Oxford City Centre, and one of my favourite places in the county for a walk. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic in the summer.
3. Punting along the river
Punting along the river is one of the top things to do in Oxford, and a great way to get some photos. But be warned – punting isn’t easy! It can be hard working trying to keep going in a straight line, but it’s super fun, and really relaxing when someone else is doing all the hard work!
4. Bodlean Library and Divinity Schools, Oxford
The Divinity Schools, in Oxford University’s Bodlean Library, is a beautiful place take photos. The architecture is so impressive. This space was used in several films as well, including in the Harry Potter films.
5. South Park, Oxford
Towards the East of the city centre, South Park in Headington, Oxford gives some beautiful views over the city. My favourite time to visit is springtime, when you can get photos of the beautiful blossom trees in the park.
6. Bridge of Sighs, Oxford
Back in the centre of Oxford, the Bridge of Sighs is a great photo spot. It’s a really unique bridge, going between two of Oxford University’s colleges.
7. Wittenham Clumps
Another great spot for stunning views over the Oxfordshire countryside it Wittenham Clumps. Climb to the top of the hill for beautiful views over the countryside and the River Thames below.
8. Oxford Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens in Oxford have some really unique and unusual plants to take photos of. I loved seeing the plants from all around the world and reading more about them. Check out the opening times of the Botanic Gardens here.
9. Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is definitely a top photo spot near Oxford. This hugely impressive stately home has beautiful grounds to explore, including a lake with great views back towards the house. You can also go inside the house and visit the formal gardens as well.
Book your Blenheim Palace tickets here for the best price (affiliate).
10. Christchurch College Hall, Oxford
All of Oxford University’s colleges have impressive dining halls. One of the most impressive is the hall at Christchurch College. This hall was used in the Harry Potter films as the Great Hall.
11. Headington Shark, Oxford
One of the more unusual photo spots in Oxford is the Headington Shark. It’s just a normal row of houses in Headington, in East Oxford. but one house has a shark sticking out the roof. I love how quirky and unusual it is.
12. River Thames, Dorchester
The River Thames is a prominent feature throughout Oxford and Oxfordshire. The small village of Dorchester is a great spot to walk along the River Thames. It’s just beautiful on a sunny day.
13. Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
The Sheldonian Theatre, in the centre of Oxford, is a beautiful building to take photos of. This large building is where the university holds its graduation ceremonies. There are also concerts here as well.
14. Uffington White Horse and Dragon Hill, Oxfordshire
The views around Uffington White Horse definitely make this one of my 36 top photo spots in and around Oxford. This site dates back to the Iron Age. And Dragon Hill is, according the English legend, where George slayed the dragon.
15. Shotover Country Park in the spring
Shotover Country Park is just outside of Oxford. It’s beautiful at all times of the year, but especially in the springtime. I love seeing all the spring flowers, especially bluebells.
16. Jericho Canal
Jericho Canal is one of the less-well known places in Oxford to visit. But it’s a lovely place for a walk to get away from the busy centre. Visiting on a cold, snowy day in winter can be a great time to get photos of the frozen, icy canal.
17. Bibury, The Cotswolds
There are many beautiful villages in The Cotswolds. Bibury is one of my favourite. There’s a pretty river, where you can see trout swimming in the water. And the row of houses, Arlington Row, is a beautiful place to take photos of the old Cotswold cottages.
18. St Catherine’s College, Oxford
Most of the colleges of the University of Oxford date back hundreds of years and have cold, cream-coloured buildings. But St Catherine’s College is a bit different. It was designed in the 1960s by the Danish architect Arne Jacobson. It’s a beautiful building with stunning grounds as well.
19. Stowe, Buckinghamshire
A short drive outside of Oxford is the stately home of Stowe, in Buckinghamshire. The views across the lake to the impressive stately home makes a perfect photo spot. And a great spot for a picnic as well.
20. River Thames, Wallingford
The pretty town of Wallingford is another great place in Oxfordshire for a walk along the River Thames. Take photos of the boats as they pass, and take the opportunity to walk up bridges to look down over the water.
21. Trinity College lawns, Oxford
Trinity College is another one of the beautiful colleges of Oxford University. The lawns, towards the back of the college, are truly beautiful. You can go inside the college to see the lawns, or alternatively you can catch a glimpse through the blue railings on Parks road.
22. Buscot Lock and Weir
There are still more places to take photos of the beautiful River Thames. Buscot is another great place for a walk along the river. Visit on a sunny day for some gorgeous views and endless photo opportunities.
23. Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire
Slightly further away from Oxford, in the neighbouring county of Buckinghamshire, is the amazing Waddesdon Manor. This is one of my favourite stately homes in the UK. Visit in the springtime to see the beautiful flowers in the formal gardens and grounds.
24. Magdalen College Cloisters, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the biggest and most impressive of the Oxford University colleges. There’s lots to see here, including a deer park and some Harry Potter filming locations. But one of my favourite parts to take photos of is the cloisters, with a view of the tower in the background.
25. Coombe Hill, Buckinghamshire
On the edge of the Chilterns, just a short drive outside of Oxford, is Coombe Hill. This war memorial stands at one of the tallest points in the Chilterns. And the views from here are just spectacular. Take a picnic and just enjoy the views. You can see red kites here as well, flying low and close to you. And this can also be a beautiful spot to watch the sunset.
26. Bourton on the Water, The Cotswolds
Bourton on the Water is one of the most famous villages in the Cotswolds. It’s a lovely place to walk along the river and take some photos. Visiting in the winter can be a great chance to take photos without the busy crowds who come here in the summer.
27. River Thames at Abingdon
The market town of Abingdon, just outside of Oxford, is a really pretty town. The bridge over the river gives a great chance for some photos looking down to the blue water. Once you’ve taken some photos, head into the town for some shopping and to try out some of the cafes and restaurants.
28. Buckland to Pewsey Walk
For some beautiful photos of red poppies, try the walk from Buckland to Pewsey in the springtime. The scenery along this whole walk is beautiful, but my favourites parts are where you can see the poppies. They add so much colour to photos.
29. Culham Lock, Oxfordshire
Culham Lock is just south of Abingdon, and brings yet more stunning views of the River Thames. For some slightly different photos, try visiting in autumn or winter. I visited on a cold, foggy winter’s day, and really enjoyed the reflections in the water and the misty atmosphere.
30. Lower Slaughter, The Cotswolds
Back in the Cotswolds, Lower Slaughter is a really pretty village. It’s a typical Cotswold village, with honey-coloured cottages and a gentle stream. There’s a really lovely walk from Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter, where you can take photos of the countryside and the villages.
31. Natural History Museum, Oxford
The Natural History Museum in Oxford is in a beautiful building, which makes it a great museum for photos. The displays are interesting as well, where you can see skeletons of extinct animals and learn more about the natural history of our planet.
32. Minster Lovell, The Cotswolds
As well as being a beautiful Cotswold village, Minster Lovell has another attraction to take photos of as well. The ruins of the old manor house, dating back to the 15th century, make a great focus for your photos.
33. The Ridgeway, Chinnor
The Ridgeway is a long-distance footpath that stretches from Wiltshire to Buckinghamshire. You can walk the whole of this footpath, or just pick a section. I enjoy walking the section at Chinnor, on the edge of the Chilterns. There are beautiful views from this part over the Oxfordshire countryside, perfect for taking photos.
34. Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is one of the prettiest towns in the area. It’s on the River Thames, like so many of the lovely towns near Oxford. I love how many boats there are in Marlow, and walking through the town and down to the river is just lovely.
35. Lyra and Will’s Bench, Botanic Gardens, Oxford
For fans of Phillip Pullman’s book series ‘His Dark Materials’, this spot in Oxford is a must-visit. The last scene of the third book is set in the Botanic Gardens in Oxford, where Lyra and Will select a bench that will be significant for them. And on a bench in the botanic gardens, someone has engraved their name on a bench. Although it’s a fictional scene in a fantasy book, there was something really moving about seeing these characters’ names on this bench.
36. Sunset at South Park, Oxford
The last of my 36 top photo spots in and around Oxford is watching a sunset at South Park, Oxford. It’s one of the best places in the city to take photos of the sunset and the colourful sky. A perfect ending to any day taking photos in and around Oxford.
Enjoy the 36 top photo spots in and around Oxford! If you’d like some more detail about the top places to explore, check out my blogs about the top things to do in a day in Oxford, the top alternative things to do in Oxford, and also the top walks in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and the Cotswolds. You can also check out my 36 top photo spots in South Wales for more photo inspiration.
Love all of these photos! It’s definitely got us daydreaming. And wondering just how they built that shark… 😉
These are all such gorgeous photo spots, but I think the botanical garden is my favorite. Thanks for giving some photo ideas – we are thinking of visiting Oxford later this year!
These spots look amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.
So many photogenic spots in Oxford! What a photographer’s dream. Thanks for putting this together.
Great post and made me reminisce about my visit. Your photo of the Bridge of Sights is beautiful. Really need another visit soon.