The quick overview

Cambridge

Cambridge is home to the world-renowned and prestigious University of Cambridge, which was founded in 1209. The list of key alumni includes Prime ministers and Presidents from all around the world, as well as King Charles III! Then there are also famous scientists like Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Robert Oppenheimer.

In Cambridge, you can visit one or some of the colleges such as King’s College, Trinity College as well as St John’s College. You can also visit the Wren Library, take a river punting tour, visit some of the museums or just roam about the lovely city. Then at the end of it, you can enjoy a pint or drink at the historic pub of the Eagles, where Watson and Crick shared ideas about DNA.

Oxford

Oxford is home to the world-renowned and prestigious University of Oxford, with evidence showing its early days starting from 1096. Therefore, this makes the University of Oxford the oldest in the English-speaking world. Prime ministers and presidents from all around the world – including 28 UK Prime ministers as well as ex-US President Bill Clinton – have all walked through the streets of this city! Then there are also famous entertainers like Emma Watson and Rowan Atkinson.

Similar to Cambridge, you can visit one or some of the colleges in Oxford, with the most popular being the Christ Church College. Mainly because of it being one of the Harry Potter movie filming locations. Plus you can also visit the impressive Bodleian Library, see the World Guinness largest room used for selling books, visit the Oxford Castle and/or the museums. Then at the end of it, you can have a pint or drink at the historic pub of Turf Tavern.

Cambridge or Oxford? 

Because both have got their own selling points, the usual quick answer – as cliche as it is – is that it depends on your interests. But the next few sub-sections can hopefully help guide you towards your decision.

My personal preference is Cambridge and that is because I always love scenic and picturesque places. And Cambridge is precisely that, and very much more so than Oxford. But Oxford has much more impressive interiors – the libraries, the bookshops and the Christ Church College dining hall. Plus Harry Potter fans will love Oxford because it was one of the key filming places for the movies.

And because the travel distance and time from London, as well as the visiting costs are very much similar, we will focus on the other factors that will differentiate between the two.

1. The English-town vibes

If you are looking for a picturesque city that feels quaint and lovely to walk about, then Cambridge runs away with this. The lovely River Cam that runs through the back of the colleges, the cobbled streets, as well as the compact nature of the city all make Cambridge an incredible and charming place to enjoy. So if you are looking for a scenic place to feel being away from the city, Cambridge wins this hands down.

On the other hand, Oxford feels much more like a bustling city with higher vehicular traffic. So if you prefer a bustling and urban city vibe, Oxford is the one for you.

As a person who love exploring scenic places, capturing mesmerising photos and enjoying a quaint atmosphere, Cambridge certainly gets my vote for this.

2. Things to do

While both Cambridge and Oxford allow visitors into their many colleges, there is slightly more to see and do in Oxford.

Firstly, Oxford has got its own medieval and historical Oxford Castle and Prison, which is open to guided tour visits. Cambridge however, does not.

Secondly, the Norrington Room in Blackwell’s Bookshop of Oxford holds the World Guinness Record for the largest single room used for selling books. Although, Cambridge does have the Cambridge University Press Bookshop which is currently the site for the longest continuously running bookshop in the UK (since 1581).

Plus, in Oxford, you can also visit the Sheldonian Theatre where graduation ceremonies are held. Fans of authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis can even pay a visit to their graves!

Having said that, both Cambridge and Oxford have great museums, a market area, a main church, historic pubs and river punting rides (more on this later).

So I say, Oxford is probably a good option if you are looking for somewhere to stay for longer than a day trip. Also, due to the location of Oxford, it is also a better option if you are intending to visit the Cotswold, Stratford-upon-Avon or on your way to Birmingham (more on this later). Cambridge is good for a day trip especially if you are not staying for the day.

3. Filming locations for the Harry Potter movies

Fans of the Harry Potter movies will be excited to know that Oxford was used for a number of scenes in the Harry Potter movie series. Cambridge however, had none.

Arguably the most significant is Christ Church College in Oxford, because of the grand stairway that leads into the Hogwarts dining hall. This was the exact filming location where Harry Potter and his mates first arrived on their first day to Hogwarts.

The dining hall for the college drew inspiration for the scene, but was however not used for the actual filming because of its size (it has only 3 dining rows instead of the 4 needed in the movie).

Other notable scenes include the Hogwarts hospital wing filmed in the Divinity School, the restricted library section filmed in the Bodleian Library, as well as Hogwarts corridors and courtyards in New College.

Therefore, if you are a Harry Potter fan, Oxford is for you hands down. There is no question about that.

4. Literary and book lovers

While both Cambridge and Oxford have got their own libraries and historical bookshops, Oxford has the more beautiful of the two. That also includes the large impressive Norrington Room in the underground of Blackwell’s Bookshop, holding the Guinness World Record for the largest room selling books (see point 2 above).

Having said that, Cambridge still has a beautiful Wren Library at Trinitiy College, which is designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren himself. What’s more, Cambridge’s Wren Library is free to visit, unlike the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford where visits are by guided tours only.

However, if you have specific interests in certain subjects, that may impact your decision too. When it comes to rare book collections, Cambridge tends to side towards science. For example, Sir Issac Newton’s archives and original editions plus Charles Darwin’s papers are part of their rare collections. Oxford’s tends to be more literary – such as the drafts and first editions of the works of William Shakespeare, JRR Tolkien and Jane Austen.

Both the Wren Library in Cambridge and the Bodleian Library in Oxford display their rare book collections on a rotational basis.

So, unless you have specific interests that make you side one over the other, I think Oxford is for the general book lover.

5. River punting

Both Cambridge and Oxford offer river punting experiences. Both also offer the choice of either renting an entire boat for your own, or being chauffeured in one.

When in Cambridge, the river punting experience happens along River Cam, which is the river flowing through the back side of the main colleges (St John’s, Trinity, King’s and Queen’s). This means that during your ride you get to see what is called ‘The Backs‘ – which are lovely views of the colleges. At the same time, you can get to punt underneath some really nice bridges such as the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge.

When in Oxford, the river punting experience happens along River Cherwell, which is the more rural, off-city centre side of Oxford. Although peaceful and tranquil, there isn’t anything striking or stunning when it comes to the views.

Therefore if you want to make river punting one of the key experiences for the day trip, Cambridge would be the better option.

6. Food and historic pubs

When it comes to food and historic pubs, there is almost nothing separating between Cambridge and Oxford. In Cambridge, there is The Eagle where Watson and Crick researched, discussed and discovered the structure of DNA. Then there is Turf Tavern where Bill Clinton (as a student in Oxford) was alleged to have experimented with marijuana (in reference to his 1992 clarification statement) and where a former Australian Prime Minister set a World Guinness Record for drinking a yard glass of ale in 11 seconds.

There are a number of different eating places in both and so no matter where you are, there is surely something for you.

7. Location

Both Cambridge and Oxford are located north of London, on the northeast and northwest respectively.

But due to the proximity to other popular towns and cities in England, Oxford is arguably the more conveniently located city. I say this because if you are on a road trip around England, or are on your way up to the north side of England, Oxford is more likely to be along the way than Cambridge.

So if you are on a road trip around the Cotswolds (including Bath), Stratford-upon-Avon or heading towards Birmingham or even Manchester and Liverpool, then Oxford is the more logical stop. Cambridge however, is a little off the way. Even then, it’s not by significantly more time – it is around a 2+ hour drive between the two.

Otherwise, it takes you around the same time to reach Cambridge and Oxford from London.

Cambridge or Oxford: Conclusion

Despite Oxford ‘winning more of the battles’ in the analysis above, my personal preference is still leaning towards Cambridge. In fact, if a friend visiting me in London asks me for a day trip out together to one of Cambridge or Oxford, I’d take them to Cambridge. Unless they are Harry Potter fans, for which I’d then bring them to Oxford instead.

And my reason is because of the picturesque, charming town feel that Cambridge gives – something far different from London or my home country in Singapore.

In a quick glance, I’d choose between Cambridge or Oxford accordingly as below:

Visit Cambridge if you…

Visit Oxford if you…

On the whole, I’d generally tell my visitors to London to go for Cambridge, unless they are Harry Potter fans. That’s mainly because of the picturesque, charming and scenic vibes that Cambridge has to offer.

But as you can already see, there are also more reasons for anyone to go for Oxford instead. There are more things to do that can occupy you for more than a day, they’ve got really beautiful and amazing libraries and book shop, and Oxford is closely located to other English towns and cities.

Nevertheless, whether it is Cambridge or Oxford, you will definitely be treated to a good full day out. Visiting one of these two prestigious universities in the world is surely a must on your London itinerary!

Cambridge or Oxford: What about both? 

Of course if you can spare at least a day each for Cambridge and Oxford, definitely make the visit to both. They are both great in many different ways and you can then make the decision as to which of Cambridge and Oxford is better.

However, if you are thinking of visiting both Cambridge and Oxford within the same day, I would not recommend doing so. Even if you were driving, it takes around 2.5 hours to travel between both cities. Doing so means you wouldn’t really get the best out of either Cambridge or Oxford. I think you’d enjoy it better if you focused on just one of them.

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