The Ultimate Oxford Girls’ Trip Mega-Guide: Spas, Spires, & Secret Speakeasies

Hey everyone, it is your girl Alyssa back again!

Grab your group chat, because we need to talk. We all know the struggle of trying to plan the perfect girls' trip. One person wants to relax in a spa for 48 hours straight, another wants to go full-on tourist and see the historic sights, and someone else is just aggressively researching where to get the best rooftop cocktails. It usually ends in endless WhatsApp polls and no one actually booking anything.

Well, I am here to rescue your group chat from purgatory. I have put together the absolute mega-guide to Oxford. Yes, Oxford. I know you might be thinking of old professors and dusty library books, but trust me, this city has had a major glow-up. It is currently boasting some of the sleekest boutique hotels, the most aesthetic brunch spots, insanely cool interactive bars, and spas that will literally make you forget what stress feels like.

Because you guys loved my previous weekend guide, I decided to go massive for this one. I am breaking down everything—where to sleep, where to eat, where to get those flawless Instagram shots, and where to dance until your feet hurt.

Send this link to your besties, sync your calendars, and let’s get into the ultimate Oxford girls' getaway!

🧳 Part 1: The "Treat Yourself" Stays

If you are doing a girls' trip, the hotel is not just a place to sleep; it is the pre-game headquarters, the outfit-planning studio, and the recovery zone. You need aesthetic mirrors, good lighting, and preferably a bar downstairs. Here are the absolute best spots to drop your weekender bags.

The Store Oxford This is the new kid on the block and it is stunning. Located right on Broad Street in the historic Boswells department store building, they have completely transformed it into a modern, plush paradise. The rooms are incredibly chic with velvet accents and massive beds. But the real selling point for a girls' trip? They have a subterranean spa (which we will talk about later) and an incredible rooftop bar. You can literally roll out of bed, get a massage, and take an elevator to the roof for cocktails.

The Randolph Hotel, a Graduate by Hilton If your group’s aesthetic leans more toward Bridgerton or Dark Academia, you have to stay here. The Randolph is an Oxford institution. It is dripping in sweeping Victorian Gothic architecture, grand staircases, and historic charm. But Graduate Hotels recently gave it a massive, quirky makeover, so it feels incredibly fresh and vibrant. The location is completely unbeatable (right across from the Ashmolean Museum), and you will feel like absolute royalty walking through the lobby.

Malmaison Oxford Okay, if you want a hotel with a serious story, book a room here. Malmaison is actually a converted Victorian prison located in the Oxford Castle quarter. I know what you’re thinking—"Alyssa, why would I want to sleep in a jail?"—but trust me! They have knocked the old cells together to create these incredibly moody, luxurious, boutique rooms. The heavy iron doors are still there, the catwalks are still there, but now everything is covered in velvet and mood lighting. Plus, you can grab drinks at the Malbar before you head up to your "cell."

Old Bank Hotel If you want breathtaking views, this is the one. Located on the famous High Street, many of the rooms here look directly out over Oxford’s iconic dreaming spires. It is independent, highly luxurious, and has a very sophisticated, artsy vibe. They also offer complimentary bicycles if you and the girls want to recreate a rom-com montage and cycle through the city streets.

🥂 Part 2: The Brunch & Aesthetic Dining Scene

A girls' trip runs on two things: iced coffee and bottomless brunch. Oxford’s food scene is incredibly photogenic, so make sure your phone is fully charged before you head to these spots.

The Breakfast Club Located on the Westgate rooftop, this place is an absolute explosion of 1980s nostalgia. If you woke up needing a serious hangover cure, this is your sanctuary. We are talking massive, syrupy stacks of pancakes, fully loaded breakfast burritos, and strong coffee. The decor is wild, colorful, and completely unpretentious. (There is also a secret, hidden bar in here if you know where to look, but I'll let you figure that one out!).

Victors Oxford When it is time for dinner and you want to put on heels and a nice dress, you march straight to Victors. Also located on the Westgate rooftop terrace, this restaurant is designed to look like a wildly expensive Hamptons beach house. The ceiling is completely covered in dripping wisteria flowers—it is arguably the most Instagrammable room in the entire city. The food is modern American with amazing sushi rolls and small plates designed for sharing, which is perfect for groups.

Dirty Bones Oxford If you want a cooler, edgier vibe for dinner, head to Dirty Bones. They serve up NYC-inspired comfort food. I am talking crispy fried chicken, loaded mac and cheese, and burgers that will require a lot of napkins. The best part? They play old-school hip-hop and funk all night. It’s the perfect place to get the energy up before a night out.

Crosstown Oxford You will need a mid-afternoon sugar hit to keep your energy up while shopping. Crosstown on Ship Street makes award-winning sourdough doughnuts. The sourdough gives the dough a slight chewiness that perfectly balances the incredibly extravagant glazes. Grab a matcha latte and a Tongan Vanilla Bean Glaze doughnut to go.

🛶 Part 3: The "We Should Do Something Cultural" Itinerary

You are in Oxford, so you have to do at least a few wholesome, cultural activities to tell your moms about. But we are doing them the fun way.

Magdalen Bridge Boathouse - Punting You absolutely cannot come to Oxford on a girls' trip and not go punting. It is basically the law. Head down to the boathouse and hire a punt (a flat wooden boat). You have two choices here: you can hire a chauffeur to do the hard work for you while you recline with strawberries and prosecco, OR you can rent it yourselves and take turns trying to steer with a giant metal pole. I highly recommend doing it yourselves because the chaos of trying not to crash into the riverbanks is hilarious and creates the best memories.

University of Oxford Botanic Garden After you survive the river, take a stroll over to the Botanic Garden. It is the oldest in the UK and it is stunningly beautiful. Wandering through the giant glasshouses filled with exotic plants and water lilies feels like you have stepped into a tropical oasis. It is so peaceful and makes for a gorgeous, relaxed afternoon activity.

The Oxford Covered Market This historic market has been operating since 1774, and it is a labyrinth of cute independent shops and food stalls.

• Stop by Georgina's for a hearty Mediterranean wrap in a quirky, poster-covered cafe.
• Browse the vintage clothes, grab some artisan Oxford Blue cheese, and then just for a laugh, pop into the Space Store to literally hold a meteorite or do a virtual reality spacewalk.

Westgate Oxford Okay, shopping is culture, right? The Westgate is Oxford’s massive, modern shopping center. It is sleek, outdoorsy, and packed with all the premium brands you could want. You can easily lose three hours here browsing through the racks and treating yourselves. Be sure to stop by Hotel Chocolat for one of their famous velvetized hot chocolates while you browse.

🧖‍♀️ Part 4: The Ultimate Glow-Up (Spa Time)

After carrying shopping bags and walking miles along cobblestone streets, your group deserves to be pampered.

The Spa at The Store Remember that gorgeous new hotel on Broad Street? Well, underneath the bustling city streets, they have built a sanctuary. The Spa at The Store offers an incredible thermal suite to sweat out the cocktails from the night before, plus luxury bespoke treatments using Oskia products. Booking a group massage here is the ultimate luxury reset.

Wellness at The Randolph If you decided to stay at the gothic Randolph hotel (or even if you didn't, you can book day treatments!), you need to visit their wellness center. They have aromatic steam rooms, saunas, and incredible facials.

Alyssa's Perfect Spa Day Pairing: After you get your facials at The Randolph, walk upstairs and indulge in their famous Afternoon Tea. They do a whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-themed tea service in their stunning drawing rooms, complete with delicate pastries, warm scones, and a pianist playing in the background. It is elegant, refined, and makes you feel incredibly classy.

🍸 Part 5: Cocktails, Chaos, & Nightlife

When the sun goes down, Oxford sheds its academic robes and gets surprisingly wild. Here is exactly where you need to go for the best drinks and vibes.

The Alchemist Oxford Start your night here. This isn't just a cocktail bar; it is basically a science experiment. The mixologists here use dry ice, blowtorches, and color-changing liquids to create drinks that bubble, smoke, and literally catch fire at your table. It is ridiculously fun, very theatrical, and the ultimate content for your Instagram stories.

The Mad Hatter Ready for something a little weirder? Head down Iffley Road to find this quirky, Alice in Wonderland-inspired speakeasy. You actually have to answer a riddle at the door to get in! Once inside, expect drinks served in teapots, live jazz, karaoke rooms, and an atmosphere of delightful, eclectic madness.

Flight Club Oxford If your friend group is a little competitive, you have to book a booth here. Flight Club has reinvented the game of darts. It is "Social Darts"—so everything is electronic, the games are fast-paced and hilarious, and you don't actually need to be good at darts to win. You get your own private booth, they bring pizzas and cocktails right to your table, and it is phenomenally good fun.

Junkyard Golf Club If darts isn't your thing, how about crazy golf? But not the boring windmill kind. Junkyard Golf is a massive, neon-lit wonderland built entirely from scrap yard junk. There are crashed cars, creepy clown statues, pulsing club music, and a bar at every single hole so you are never without a drink.

Sandy’s Piano Bar To cap off the night, make your way to Sandy's. This is Oxford's best-kept late-night secret. It’s a chic, underground speakeasy vibe where incredibly talented musicians play live piano. It starts off relaxed and classy, but by midnight, the whole bar is usually singing along to absolute anthems. It’s the perfect, joy-filled way to end a night out with your best friends.

TVC The Varsity Club If you don't want to sing around a piano and just want to dance, TVC is the spot. Spread across four levels, you can start on the rooftop with 360-degree views of the city, and then head downstairs to the nightclub levels where DJs spin house and R&B until the early hours.

👑 The Final Verdict

Oxford is honestly the ultimate chameleon city. You can spend the morning feeling like an elegant Victorian aristocrat, the afternoon shopping like a VIP, and the evening drinking smoking cocktails on a rooftop.

So, copy the link to this mega-guide, drop it in your group chat, and tell the girls to block off their calendars. The dreaming spires are calling!

Stay fabulous,

Alyssa ✨