What to do in Oxford when it rains
Oxford's college halls, world-class museums and ancient bookshops are tailor-made for a grey, drizzly afternoon.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK
- Ashmolean Museum Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH, UK
- Oxford Castle & Prison 44-46 Oxford Castle, Oxford OX1 1AY, UK
- Pitt Rivers Museum S Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PP, UK
- Weston Library Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BG, UK
- Oxford Town Hall St Aldate's, Town Hall, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1BX, UK
- The Story Museum 42 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP, UK
- History of Science Museum Broad St, Oxford OX1 3AZ, UK
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Ashmolean Museum Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH, UK
- Modern Art Oxford 30 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP, UK
- Old Fire Station 40 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ, UK
- The North Wall Arts Centre Oxford S Parade, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7JN, UK
- Ovada 14 Osney Ln, Oxford OX1 1NJ, UK
- Castle Fine Art, Oxford 118, The Westgate, Queen St, Oxford OX1 1PB, UK
- Inkora Art & Tattoo 33 Walton St, Oxford OX2 6AA, UK
- Kendrew Barn City Centre, Oxford OX1 3JP, UK
Historic houses
Tour the grand historic interiors — opulent rooms and not a drop of rain.
- Bodleian Library Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG, UK
- Radcliffe Camera Radcliffe Camera, Radcliffe Sq, Oxford OX1 3BG, UK
- Carfax Tower Queen St, Oxford OX1 1ET, UK
- Alice's Shop 83 St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1RA, UK
- Tom Tower Christ Church, Oxford OX1 1DP, UK
- Martyrs' Memorial 13 Magdalen St, Oxford OX1 3AE, UK
- Oxford Illusion Museum 133 High St, Oxford OX1 4DN, UK
- Blue Plaque: Oxford Park & Ride Abingdon Rd, Oxford OX1 4XP, UK
Bookshops
Lose an hour in the city's bookshops — the best kind of shelter.
- Blackwell's Bookshop 48-51 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BQ, UK
- The Story Museum 42 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP, UK
- Blackwell's Bookshop Westgate Shopping Centre, Queen St, Oxford OX1 1PE, UK
- Blackwell's Sci-fi, Manga & Games 27 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BS, UK
- Gulp Fiction Unit 28, 29 Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DU, UK
- TGJones 22 Cornmarket St, Oxford OX1 3HE, UK
- Daunt Books 247 Banbury Rd, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7HN, UK
- Last Bookshop Jericho 25 Walton St, Oxford OX1 2HQ, UK
Tearooms
Find a snug tearoom and wait it out over a pot of tea and something baked.
- Blackwell's Bookshop 48-51 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BQ, UK
- Marks & Spencer 13-18 Queen St, Oxford OX1 1AB, UK
- The Story Museum 42 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP, UK
- Vaults & Garden 2 King Edward St, Oxford OX1 4HS, UK
- Gallery Bouldering The Gallery, 54 Marston St, Oxford OX4 1LF, UK
- Oxfam Superstore Oxford PQMR+9X Oxford Business Park North, Oxford Business Park, 6500 Alec Issigonis Wy., Oxford OX4 2JZ, UK
- Society Café 12-16 St Michael's St, Oxford OX1 2DU, UK
- The Handlebar kitchen 30-32 St Michael's St, Oxford OX1 2EB, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 40 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.