There is much to see around the City of Oxford and County of Oxfordshire, with a full selection to be found on the
Oxfordshire tourist information website, while highlighted
below is a small selection of activities we would particularly recommend.
In addition, we have arranged a unique private walking tour for Festival attendees, conducted by a highly-qualified Oxford Blue/ Green Badge guide,
and highlighting some of the particular connections between Oxford and Freemasonry. Tours will last approximately two hours and include a visit to a College.
Cost: £17 Start Time(s): 10:30am or 2pm (TBC) Start Point: Outside Trinity College, Broad Street (TBC)
The Bodleian Libraries is the library service supporting the University of Oxford. The mission of the Bodleian Libraries is to provide an excellent
service to support the learning, teaching and research objectives of the University of Oxford; and to develop and maintain access to Oxford's unique collections for
the benefit of scholarship and society.
Founded by Elias Ashmole, who was also the first documented English Speculative Freemason, this world-leading collection is like a British Museum in miniature. Admission
is free. We will look to arrange guided tours by request.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum
Oxford University Museum of Natural History includes the world's first scientifically described dinosaur and the world-famous Oxford Dodo, the only soft
tissue remains of the extinct dodo.
The adjoining Pitt Rivers Museum is one of the world's leading museums of archaeology and ethnography, with a uniquely-presented collection spanning all
quarters of the globe.
There is no more quintessentially Oxonian activity than punting, either along the Isis (as the Thames is known as it runs through Oxfordshire), or its shallower and therefore
preferable tributary the Cherwell. This is an ideal way to see the green heart of Oxford, passing Magdalen College (alma mater of Oxford's most famous Mark Mason, Bro Oscar Wilde), the
Botanical Gardens (where Science and Nature meet), and The University Parks, an oasis of calm that has provided inspiration to generations of Europe's greatest thinkers. The other key
Oxonian inspiration to generations of Europe's greatest thinkers is of course Pimm's, and we suggest stocking up on supplies before setting out.
Punt hire will be busy in July, so book in advance to avoid disappointment.
We recommend any of the following punt hire companies: cherwellboathouse.co.uk/punting/ (the best place to punt from but a bit out of the City Centre),
www.oxfordpunting.co.uk (the most central base, but fewer route options).
Oxford Treasure Hunt
'Treasure Trails' have produced several entertaining treasure hunts around Oxford that involve finding clues around the city to solve a puzzle. You can
download one for £9.99 from their website.
Using a range of rare ancient grains in its distillation of gin, whisky and vodka, the Distillery offers a range of tours, bookable in advance for those
seeking to enhance their knowledge of cutting-edge archeobotany.
Situated about 20 minutes out of Oxford, Blenheim is a jewel of English Baroque architecture and the country's only non-royal Palace. It was also the birthplace of
Bro Winston Churchill. Those visiting will want to take most of the day, and will need to arrange transport there and back.
