Cycling holidays in Oxford

Oxford is a fantastic corner of England to explore by bike, and we offer a number of cycling holidays that start, finish or freewheel through the city. These run southwards, along the Thames all the way to London if you want and also northwards, into the glorious Cotswolds. Oxford itself is one of the most bike-friendly places in Britain, so anyone who chooses to travel around on two wheels tends to feel more like a local and less like a tourist in this city. There’s a huge amount to discover and absorb in this world famous “city of dreaming spires” - history by the bucket load, fascinating museums, beautiful old college buildings, amazing gardens, an extraordinary tradition of cultural, artistic and academic pursuit… and let’s not forget the breathtaking countryside that surrounds the city.

Unlike other tour operators, we personally research all our routes and put a lot of care into designing our itineraries so that our customers have the opportunity to discover the hidden gems and lesser-known local favourites, as well as the headline attractions. We also provide all our customers with a special Carter Company Adventure Handbook, packed full with interesting nuggets of information and insider tips on the best things to see and do, according to the people that live here (rather than the guide books). Oxford is full of quirks, secrets and back lanes if you know where to find them!

Our Oxford highlights

Wytham Woods

A treasure trove of a woodland dating back to the Ice Age with 800 species of butterfly and 500 species of plants.

Included in our Ramble and ride in the Cotswolds holiday

Radcliffe Square

Iconic cobbled square in the heart of Oxford with the domed Radcliffe Camera library and the colleges of All Souls and Brasenose adjacent

Included in our Ramble and ride in the Cotswolds holiday

Thames meadows

You’ll find the dreamy water meadows in the heart of the city. Oxford residents still have an ancient right to graze their animals freely here

Included in our Ramble and ride in the Cotswolds holiday

Punting

Head to Magdalene bridge and hire a punt - a flat bottomed boat propelled by a metal pole. A true Oxford pastime, splashing about on the Thames backwaters.

Included in our Oxford and Thames royal palaces holiday

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a World Heritage Site with over 300 years of history and home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family.

Included in our Cotswold villages and Oxford holiday

Oxford Canal

You will find this rural canal right in the centre of Oxford with its adjacent towpath once used by the horses pulling the barges full of coal bound for the Thames.

Included in our Shakespeare country and the Cotswolds holiday