⚡ Entering the Wizarding World: 48 Hours in Oxford (The Real Hogwarts!)

The Oxford Chronicles

A Wizard's Guide to 48 Hours in Hogwarts

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." 🪄

Within 48 hours to enter the real Wizarding World! It was awesome. Missing Oxford already!

Thursday, Jan 2

10:40 AM London Marylebone → Oxford
Using Trainline app. £7.44
A quick 1h 18m journey to the city of dreaming spires.

12:12 PM Check-In: The Buttery Hotel £42.68/pp

Broad Street. We booked a small double room. Upstairs one floor to reception—staff were quick to help! Lovely big room overlooking a small Christmas market. Easy walking distance to all colleges and the Ashmolean.

Warning: Narrow stairs! We brought 26-inch luggage and it took tremendous effort to carry it up. Thankfully the shopkeeper next door helped us!

13:00 PM Oxford Brunch £15.27

15:00 PM Christ Church College £18.50

"Welcome to Hogwarts"
Booked the multimedia tour in advance. This was the only thing I really wanted to see. You can easily spend 2-3 hours here.

The Great Hall

Bodley Tower

Highlight: The Bodley Tower staircase (where McGonagall greeted the first years!) and The Great Hall. Stunning! Scenes from the movies kept popping into my head. A core memory for any fan!

16:30 PM Radcliffe Camera & Bridge of Sighs

Classic photo spots. The bridge was unique, completed in 1914.

A portal to another world?

Dinner Turf Tavern £16.85

Hidden historic pub. Probably had a hearty meal (steak/burger) to refuel after a day of spell-casting.

👣 . . . . 👣 . . . . 👣

Friday, Jan 3

10:00 AM Parks Road & Holywell St.

Morning stroll in Oxford

11:30 AM Oxford Castle Mound

Unlike Cambridge, this is part of the paid tour.
Lucky Moment: I actually followed a couple who seemed to know a secret code for the gate! (Shhh 🤫).

Just a small hill

Tip: Always check oxfordpreservation.org.uk for opening times. Beware: No rails on the mound!

11:50 AM Duke Humfrey's Library

The oldest reading room in the Bodleian. I captured pictures from outside as you need to book a guided tour well in advance (it sells out fast!).

12:00 PM Oxford Brunch Bar £14.06

Indulged in Black Pudding. First day was too crowded, second day successful walk-in.
Rating: 7.0/10. Good ambience, but kitchen was slow.

12:30 PM Diagon Alley Shopping £26.99

Oxford Campus Store to buy the Oxford Hoodie. 📍 Strolling along Catte Street.

Cattle Street x Broad Street

Hi, Dobbie!

13:00 PM Blackwell's Bookshop

Selling knowledge since 1879. A massive selection of books and board games. The Norrington Room is a must-see!

13:19 PM Oxford → London Marylebone £7.44

"Mischief Managed." ✨