What's on in Oxford, United Kingdom through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Port Meadow under water (1 Dec – 28 Feb (usually))

Busy — February half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Port Meadow under water (1 Dec – 28 Feb (usually))

Peak crowds — Torpids, Oxford Literary Festival

• Festival

  Torpids

  4–7 MarSporting eventCrowded

  Four-day college bumps-rowing races on the Isis during Hilary term's seventh week; crews chase the boat ahead in single file, watchable free from the towpath. Source ↗

• Festival

  Oxford Literary Festival

  21–29 MarArts festivalBook earlyCrowded

  Nine-day festival of author talks and panels across the Bodleian, Sheldonian Theatre and colleges, affiliated with the Sunday Times; headline events sell out weeks ahead. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Easter bank holidays

  3–6 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedClosures

  Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK and Easter Monday everywhere but Scotland. The long weekend opens the domestic touring season: popular towns, coasts and parks get busy, rooms cost more, and rail engineering works often cut or replace train services. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Easter bank holidays, Easter / spring holiday in United Kingdom

• Closure

  Colleges shut for exam term

  20 Apr – 20 Jun · usually

  Through Trinity term most colleges close their quads to visitors or cut the hours hard, and the ones that stay open charge. Christ Church and Magdalen publish their own days; check before you queue. Source ↗

Still on: Easter bank holidays (3–6 Apr)

Peak crowds — May Morning, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

• Festival

  May Morning

  1 MayMajor festivalCrowded

  Magdalen choir sings from the top of the tower at six in the morning on 1 May and several thousand people stand on the High to hear it. Pubs open early; the bridge is closed to jumpers. Source ↗

• Festival

  Summer Eights

  27–30 MaySporting event

  Four days of bumps racing on the Isis at the end of May, watched from the college barges and boathouses. Crews chase each other rather than race in lanes, which is why it is worth an afternoon. Source ↗

Still on: Colleges shut for exam term (20 Apr – 20 Jun (usually))

Busy — Late-May half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Colleges shut for exam term (20 Apr – 20 Jun (usually)), Summer Eights (27–30 May)

Peak crowds — Language schools and coach season, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

• Holiday

  Language schools and coach season

  1 Jul – 31 AugSchool holidaysCrowded

  Summer schools take the empty colleges and the coach tours take the centre, so Broad Street and the Bodleian queue are at their worst exactly when the colleges are most open. Source ↗

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Language schools and coach season

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Language schools and coach season (1 Jul – 31 Aug)

Busy — St Giles' Fair, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  St Giles' Fair

  7–8 SepMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  Two-day traditional funfair of rides and stalls filling the wide St Giles' street, run by the city council with the Showmen's Guild since the 17th century; the road closes to traffic. Source ↗

Busy — October half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — Oxford Christmas Market, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Oxford Christmas Market

  21 Nov – 31 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Wooden huts down Broad Street from late November to the new year, with the Sheldonian behind them. It is one street, so it is congested rather than large. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Oxford Christmas Market, Christmas holidays in United Kingdom

• Hazard

  Port Meadow under water

  1 Dec – 28 Feb · usuallyFlood season

  The Thames spreads across Port Meadow most winters and the towpath north of Walton Well goes under. It freezes some years, which is the only time Oxford skates. Source ↗

Still on: Oxford Christmas Market (21 Nov – 31 Dec)