Things to do around Oxford

The Ashmolean Museum

Visit the oldest museum in the UK and one of the oldest in the world.

It is home to collections of fine art and antiquities from the civilisations of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome to Renaissance Europe and the 20th Century. Check for special events and exhibitions.

Shop till you drop

Oxford has many great shops and markets, and you'll find all your high street favourites.

A bit further out, Bicester Designer Outlet Village attracts millions of visitors every year. Bursting with stylish stores and designer names for the ultimate shopaholic, the village caters for all your shopping needs.

There's even an award-winning eaterie, Carluccio's, a tourist information centre and a playground for the kids!

Pitt Rivers Museum

Kids will love this extraordinary museum, packed full of anthropological treasures from around the globe.

See shrunken heads from Papua New Guinea, find out more about body art and discover more about masks, to name but a few. Development work on the main entrance is being carried out at the moment, but the museum will re-open in Spring 2009.

Where to eat

The restaurant at The Randolph Hotel looks a bit dark and gloomy despite its huge windows, but the food is delicious with a retro feel.

With a good choice of starters and mains, head chef Tom Birks certainly delivers great traditional English cuisine at a reasonable price. Let Maitre D' Giuseppe Vurchio rustle you up a flambe for dessert!

If you don't mind queuing, try Jamie's Italian. You can only book tables for parties of eight or more. Our promised 40-minute wait was actually longer, but with tasty snacks, such as Parma ham and good breads available free at the bar, we happily passed the time!

As you'd expect the food was good, although on the day we visited three of the 12 mains weren't available (and it was a Friday night!) Reasonably priced.

Other family-friendly options include Brasserie Chez Gerard, Carluccio's, Wagamamas and Pizza Express.

Where to stay

The Macdonald Randolph on Beaumont Street is perfectly located in the heart of Oxford.

Built in 1864 and refurbished in 2004, this large hotel enjoys a reputation for traditionalism and comfort. It's large, with 151 bedrooms, but staff are friendly and helpful.

The rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, but it fails to stand out in terms of atmosphere. The Morse Bar is a comfortable place for a cocktail or nightcap, and is so-called because of its association with the TV character.

Paul Conway, the bartender, mixes a great cocktail and maintains the friendly atmosphere of the place.

Note the hotel charges residents £25 a day to park a car here.

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