How Much Does Oxford Cost per Day
A full breakdown of Oxford prices: daily budgets by tier, every itemised cost from the guide, and where the money actually goes.
The short answer
Budget travellers in Oxford spend around GBP 55 a day. Mid-range travel runs closer to GBP 115, and a splurge day lands around GBP 240. Per person per day in GBP, roughly USD 70 / 150 / 310 at rates in the second half of 2026. Figures assume an overnight stay; most visitors do Oxford as a London day trip and spend far less, mainly the return train fare plus college and tour tickets.
Daily cost breakdown
- Stay
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
| Tier | Stay | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | GBP 30 | GBP 16 | GBP 4 | GBP 5 | GBP 55 |
| Mid-range | GBP 75 | GBP 30 | GBP 5 | GBP 5 | GBP 115 |
| Splurge | GBP 160 | GBP 55 | GBP 10 | GBP 15 | GBP 240 |
A day trip from London: roughly GBP 20-35 return train fare depending on how far ahead it's booked, a college ticket (Christ Church typically runs a similar order of magnitude to other major colleges, confirm current price), a free couple of hours at the Ashmolean, a GBP 12-15 pub lunch, and a punt hire if the weather holds. A day trip runs well under GBP 100 per person outside a splurge lunch.
Every priced item in this guide
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bodleian Library (Old Library and Radcliffe Camera tours) | Weston Library ground floor free, no ticket required; Old Library and Radcliffe Camera access only via paid guided tour, price set at booking |
| Ashmolean Museum | free general admission; some special exhibitions charge |
| Sunday roast | GBP 15-22 |
| Covered Market food stalls | GBP 5-12 per item |
| Cream tea | GBP 8-14 |
| College dining hall meals | GBP 25-45 per person |
| Fish and chips | GBP 9-14 |
| Pub Sunday roast | GBP 14-20 |
What I actually paid
- Punting looks effortless from the bank and isn't; I'd tell anyone trying it for the first time to expect to look a bit ridiculous for the first ten minutes and to budget the hour accordingly rather than rushing.
How to spend less
- The Ashmolean Museum is free and one of the best value stops in the city
- Book train tickets from London well in advance; Oxford's fast, popular route rewards advance booking more than most
- A day trip avoids Oxford's overnight accommodation costs entirely, which run high relative to the city's size given constrained supply
- Some colleges offer free or reduced entry in the last hour before closing; ask at the gate
- Self-punting is cheaper than a chauffeured punt if you're willing to learn on the spot