Smart travelers know that the most magical holiday trips are planned in the heat of summer. If you want to experience the charm of an English festive season without the stress and limitations of last minute arrangements, July is the ultimate time to secure your December vacation.
For the past several years, I have had the absolute pleasure of curating and traveling to England during the first week of December (the week right after Thanksgiving). Jetting off in early December allows you to beat the mid-month crowds while unlocking a deeply personal, local holiday magic that instantly gets you into the Christmas spirit. While London is undeniably spectacular during the holidays, escaping to the smaller, historic towns is where the real English holiday magic lives.
The Oxford Christmas Experience: Markets & Music
Stepping into Oxford during the festive season feels like walking directly into a holiday storybook. The city’s spires are framed by twinkling lights, and the historic streets echo with distant carols. It is the perfect, intimate festive ambiance.
The Oxford Covered Market
For a truly historic holiday shopping experience, look no further than the 18th-century Oxford Covered Market. This centuries-old indoor structure is beautifully arrayed in festive lights and serves as a cozy escape from the winter weather. Inside, you will find over 50 independent shops and restaurants. I loved starting our first morning with a traditional full English breakfast at Brown’s Cafe in the Covered Market. It’s a charming, unpretentious spot that has been serving up comfort food since 1924!
After breakfast, we headed over to Gulp Fiction in the heart of the market square. It’s an incredible little indie bookstore that doubles as a coffee house and bar. Much to our delight, we heard beautiful Christmas carols as we stumbled upon a choir singing “Ding Dong Merrily on High” in the corridors.
To wrap up our morning, we stopped at Wicked Chocolates to buy some unique Old English advent chocolates and stocking stuffers.
The “Follow the Stars” Macmillan Christmas Carol Concert
In my opinion, this is the crown jewel of the Oxford festive season, and the exact event I have built my travel dates around for the past years. Held annually at the breathtaking Christ Church Cathedral (typically on the first Friday of December), this 90-minute evening is pure Christmas magic.
It features world-class choral performances by the Oxford Bach Soloists interspersed with heartwarming literature readings by celebrity guests (past readers have included stars like Shaun Evans, Mary Barry and Jason Isaacs). We sat in Silver reserved seating our first year, but upgrading to Gold in the central nave or transepts is absolutely worth the splurge. These seats grant a perfect view of the celebrity pulpit readings while immersing you directly among the choir. Best of all, the concert raises vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Broad Street & Blenheim Palace Christmas Markets
Just a short stroll from the Oxford Covered Market is the larger, open-air Broad Street Christmas Market, which hosts over 50 alpine-style wooden chalets selling handmade crafts and international street food.
If you want to take the market experience to a grander scale, plan an evening visit to the Blenheim Palace Christmas Market. Held in the palace’s spectacular Great Court, this festive Christmas village features artisan gifts and coincides with their famous palace tour and evening light trail. We arrived at the Palace in the early evening and strolled the illuminated central court. Then we spent time wandering the Christmas Market stalls, picking out special ornaments to commemorate the trip. While the entire market was charming, my husband’s favorite shopping destination was the Blenheim palace gift store. It offered an incredibly curated selection of unique Christmas gifts, with an array of memorabilia, books, and keepsakes dedicated to Winston Churchill fans. Leaving the beauty of the palace and just a short journey away, we settled into a mulit-course dinner at nearby ultra luxury Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. It was the perfect culmination to our travels before taking the train back to London Heathrow the next morning.
Where to Stay in Oxfordshire
Depending on the vibe you prefer for your holiday escape, I highly recommend three distinct properties that elevate the festive spirit:
| Hotel & Location | My Experience & Highlights | The Vibe & Why You Should Go |
|---|---|---|
| The Old Bank Hotel
(High Street, Oxford) |
• Stayed here for both of my trips.
• Explored the central city effortlessly due to the prime location. |
• Seamless blend of historic Georgian architecture and timeless modern interiors.
• Ideal home base for luxury travelers who want to remain central. |
| The Randolph Hotel
(Beaumont Street, Oxford) |
• Stopped by for celebratory post-concert drinks.
• Visited right after attending the Follow the Stars concert. |
• Home to the intimate, wood-paneled Morse Bar, an absolute must-visit for Inspector Morse fans.
• Packed with historic charm and cinematic nostalgia. |
| Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
(Great Milton, Oxfordshire) |
• Indulged in an exquisite, multi-course Michelin-starred dinner.
• Strolled through the beautifully decorated and expansive grounds. |
• A world-class gastronomic haven created by legendary Chef Raymond Blanc.
• Perfect for a lavish, idyllic luxury countryside escape. (Note: Closed for an extensive renovation until summer 2027! Let us get you on the waitlist!) |
Travel Advisor Insider Tip:
Begin in London
To kick off your holiday vacation with grand city flair, I suggest spending your first few nights in London before heading out to the countryside.
For the ultimate cozy, luxury winter wonderland stay, I recommend The Stafford London in St. James’s. I stayed here during both of my holiday trips and this historic property transforms into a magical oasis adorned with over 100 glittering Christmas trees.
While staying at The Stafford, you can indulge in their legendary Festive Afternoon Tea in the elegant lounges, enjoy wine tastings in the hotel’s 380-year-old wine cellars, or enjoy a festive holiday drink at The American Bar.
Take the Train to Oxford
I highly recommend taking the train for your trip to Oxford. It’s the most stress-free route, as you can simply take a short 8-minute taxi ride from The Stafford to Paddington Station. From there, you’ll catch a quick, direct train to Oxford, running every 15 to 30 minutes.
Driving in Oxford is strongly discouraged because the city center has strict traffic restrictions and bans on private cars. Trust me—after doing multiple loops through the city trying to find an unrestricted route to my hotel parking, I’ve learned the hard way!
Once you arrive at Oxford station, simply hop in a taxi to take you straight to your hotel door.
Ready to chat with Alison about your Oxford holiday? Reach out here.
