What to do in Oxford when it rains
The weather needn't spoil Oxford. Its galleries, museums and indoor markets are at their best on a grey day, with cafés on every corner.
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
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
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- 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
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- The Covered Market Market St, Oxford OX1 3DZ, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco Stores Ltd, 9 Magdalen St, Oxford OX1 3AE, UK
- Tesco Express 159-161 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UT, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco Express, 75 St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1RA, UK
- Gloucester Green Outdoor Market Gloucester Green, Oxford OX1 2BU, UK
- Tesco Express Fox And Hounds Public, 279 Abingdon Rd, Oxford OX1 4TJ, UK
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- 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
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Westgate Oxford Queen St, Oxford OX1 1PE, UK
- The Covered Market Market St, Oxford OX1 3DZ, UK
- Templars Square 129 pound way, Oxford OX4 3XH, UK
- Templars Shopping Park Oxford OX4 3JP, UK
- West Way Square West Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TJ, UK
- Seacourt Tower Retail Park Oxford OX2 0JJ, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.