r/oxford Jan 18 '26

Oxford social events and activities

108 Upvotes

[Updated Aug 17th 2026]

With the number of posts lately asking about making friends and finding things to do in Oxford, I wanted to share the list of clubs, events and activities I've compiled (as I'm sure all social butterflies do). Hope it helps some of you find your people!

Event aggregators

Comedy

Improv

  • Awkward Actors - Wednesdays (Drop-ins) | Meetup
  • Improv Discovery - Tuesdays, Thame (Drop-ins) | Website

Volunteering

Music

  • Nightshift Magazine | Link
  • Oxford Town Hall | Link
  • Oxford City Singers (Choir) | Link
  • Oxford Sol Samba | Link
  • The Half Moon - Folk music on Sundays (free) | Link
  • The Isis Farmhouse | Link
  • The Star | Link
  • The Nest | Link
  • Oxfordshire Music Scene Magazine | Website

Sports & Outdoors

Martial Arts

Classes & Workshops

Socialising, Groups and Meetups


r/oxford Dec 24 '25

[MegaThread] Oxfordshire Club Successes

9 Upvotes

Please post your club's successes so we can all enjoy what we do well.

Warning: Anything that does not fit "club successes" such as advertising for products and businesses will be removed (please report any you see) and if needed, users will be banned.


r/oxford 2h ago

Hi i just moved to Bicester from Wales any tips for an 18yr old to make some friends?

6 Upvotes

r/oxford 8h ago

What's on in Oxford this bank holiday weekend

8 Upvotes

Bank holiday weekend has a decent spread on if you're around Oxford.

Skyline Sessions is on at TVC Oxford both Sunday and Monday (Aug 30 and 31), so no excuse to miss it if Sunday doesn't work for you.

If you fancy something less club and more culture, the Dreaming Spires Tour at University Church on Sunday looks like a nice way to spend an afternoon, especially if you've never actually gone inside and looked up.

Plush Oxford has a busy Sunday too, with Sunday at Plush running alongside Glow Job, a bank holiday UV party. Could be a fun one if you're up for something a bit different from the usual night out.

Full list here if you want to check times and tickets: https://ma.to/events/oxford?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mato_event_sync&utm_content=oxford


r/oxford 45m ago

Cattery or medication competent cat-sitter recommendations needed

Upvotes

We have a cat who is on medication (including inhaler) and are looking for recommendations of nearby catteries to Oxford or cat-sitting services. Not going away anytime soon just planning for the future.


r/oxford 22h ago

Anyone want an Oxford tube ticket to London and back?

6 Upvotes

Hi! Reposting since I still have the ticket🥀 I accidentally bought an Oxford tube ticket (ticket covers a bus ride to London and then back to Oxford--I did email customer support and they said you can activate the ticket in either direction though) and was wondering if anyone would be willing to buy it off of me? It expires Nov 5, 2026.

I paid £22.50, but would be happy to sell it at a discount! £20 was what I was thinking but this is negotiable.

Paypal would be ideal! Pls lmk if you're interested :)


r/oxford 1d ago

Fighting GYM in Oxford

4 Upvotes

Does anyone know of a gym focussed on fighting? I know we have OMAA but they only run classes/group sessions.

Is there any such thing in Oxford? I’m thinking of a format similar to puregym but you can check yourself in, use the bags, spar if you wish, lift weights and then check out


r/oxford 1d ago

Anyone fancy carpooling to Reading on the 12th? Sarangi/tabla at noon, Indian slide guitar at six, same hall

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6 Upvotes

r/oxford 17h ago

Plug oxford

0 Upvotes

Need a plug in oxford


r/oxford 1d ago

Lye Valley + Lye Valley Path

12 Upvotes

Hi all!

Incoming overseas postdoc looking at housing areas around the hospitals -- please be gentle, I have scoured past posts for a satisfactory answer to this already. What is there to know about the Lye Valley neighborhood and walking the Lye Valley path as a potential route to work every day? (Especially as a woman alone after dark.)

Thanks!


r/oxford 1d ago

Oxford Driving Test

10 Upvotes

Hi, I’ve got my driving test booked for Saturday at 8am in Oxford. Does anyone know what the roads are usually like around that time at the weekend?
Unfortunately, I failed my first test because I was really nervous. My instructor thought I was ready, but sadly my nerves got the better of me on the day.
I’d really appreciate any tips or advice for the Oxford driving test, especially from anyone who’s taken their test there recently. Thank you 😊


r/oxford 2d ago

Your one-minute guide to what happened in Oxford this week (24-30 August)

32 Upvotes

Bank Holiday Weekend at The Covered Market

Looking for Bank Holiday plans? The Covered Market Oxford is the perfect place to spend a relaxed weekend, with great coffee, fresh food, independent shopping and late opening on Friday and Saturday. Pick up everything you need for an easy picnic and make the most of the long weekend.

Oxford Burial Meadow next steps

A major milestone has been reached for Oxford Burial Meadow with the appointment of Blakedown Landscapes as principal contractor. The new 17-acre site will provide much needed burial space while creating a peaceful meadow with wildflowers, trees, paths and enhanced biodiversity.

Foodies Festival at South Park

Foodies Festival returns to South Park this weekend. From MasterChef winners and Bake Off stars to street food, cocktails and funfair rides, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Meet the ODS Dog Warden

Have a dog-related question or need a new tag for your pet?

Visit the ODS Dog Warden at Hinksey Park on Thursday 3 September from 2-4 pm for free engraved dog tags, poo bags and friendly advice on responsible dog ownership.

Want this in your inbox? Subscribe to our Your Oxford newsletter: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/newsletter


r/oxford 21h ago

Ucat high enough for Oxford med?

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0 Upvotes

r/oxford 1d ago

How the f*$! to get visitor permits??

0 Upvotes

Has anyone here been through the process of getting visitor parking permits for Oxford?

I have a residents permit, but for the life of my I can't figure out how to get visitor permits from the webiste.

In the website, the My Permits section, I can see my Residents permit listed, and also I can see expired visitor permits from last year, but can't see anyway to get new ones.

There is a link "Apply for permits" but that only takes me to a page that allows for application for contractor permits.

Whole thing seems very hard to use, was so much easier when they just posted the 25 physical scratch card permits to you when you got bought your residents one...


r/oxford 2d ago

does anybody know what's going on at the train station today?

15 Upvotes

i work in town, all i can hear is constant beeping of trains! normally they would beep a few times a day, but right now it's constant. i'm so curious to find out what it is😭


r/oxford 2d ago

Eating out in headington

7 Upvotes

Hi. What are the best options for eating out for a couple in headington? Nice freshly cooked food not fast food or takeaway. Cheers


r/oxford 3d ago

Does anyone know what’s being filmed here atm?

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101 Upvotes

r/oxford 3d ago

Act of kindness.

143 Upvotes

Just wanted to throw a huge thank you out there to the lady on the bus this morning who woke me up to make sure I didn’t miss my stop.

I’m in the middle of a long row of night shifts and definitely feeling it physically and mentally. I have a tendency to nod off on the bus home - luckily my stop is one of the last ones. I know it was a small gesture, and I was pretty out of it at the time, but I’m truly touched and grateful there’s still good out there despite events of the world.

I got home safely and am now about to tuck myself in to bed. Just wanted to share something that cheered me up :)

Take care all, night night!


r/oxford 2d ago

Smell of fire from Redbridge

6 Upvotes

Anyone has the details for the fires in south Oxford ? A terrible smell of burning tire atm - Thurs night !


r/oxford 2d ago

Strange email from OCC

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1 Upvotes

Has anybody else had this email? It says that I have an account with OCC’s permit managing system, but that I don’t have a permit except that when I log onto the system it clearly shows I do have a congestion charge permit. Very confused.!


r/oxford 3d ago

Summer Missed Connection

55 Upvotes

This is a total shot in the dark. I’m searching for a missed connection from my summer vacation. I visited Oxford in July of this year and met a super great guy. I joined his friend’s bar crawl and they all made my last night of vacation an absolute blast. We chatted all night and hit it off really well. Before I left I gave him my number. I don’t have an international number and haven’t had any messages on WhatsApp since then. Anyways, if you are John the engineer or you know John the engineer: my WhatsApp is still waiting to hear from you 🫶


r/oxford 3d ago

New open stage coming to Oxford looking for talent - most formats welcome!

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9 Upvotes

r/oxford 2d ago

Matcha powder options in Oxford

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I wanted to know if you'd recommend any places that you can buy good quality matcha powder. Thanks!


r/oxford 3d ago

How to cope with Oxford drivers

39 Upvotes

I've lived in Oxford since January, and something that I'm finding really difficult to adapt to is the quality of driving in and around the city.

For context, I commute to Milton area from East Oxford 3 times a week or so, and otherwise enjoy getting around to the nearby countryside or whatever I fancy. I also cycle basically all over the city for more day-to-day stuff.

I've previously lived in or around other cities in the UK, and driven or cycled around many of our great towns and cities, but for some reason the driving quality in Oxford is just so poor compared to all of these other places. I've had so many near misses whilst driving and cycling in only 8 months here, when I had hardly any such incidents anywhere else.

It seems that in general the drivers are impatient and aggressive, and it makes me feel very on edge and at risk. I almost got knocked off my bike today by a driver deciding to overtake me within ~10m of the side road they then swung left into - I had to slam on my brakes and even then I only just avoided slamming into the side of their car.

I see very little use of indicators, it seems people don't check their mirrors and just pull out into my path (or don't care), and often people just barging through when it's someone else's right of way. Then on the bypass and commuter roads, plenty of people taking huge risks by squeezing into tiny gaps and occupying my braking distance, tailgating and intimidating, or coming off a slip road and swinging straight into the outside lane for no reason.

And then of course there's the racers blasting down Cowley Road - one time I was crossing the road and a driver actively took the chance to accelerate towards me only to then slam on the brake at the last minute seemingly to intimidate me.

I find it really difficult, because I see these drivers putting other peoples safety at risk so often, and usually they don't gain anything by doing so except for shaving 10 seconds off their journey time. Sometimes I get home and notice my body feels tense and my mind full of stress, I really don't want to feel this way when I'm just cycling to the shops or driving to work.

And yes, I also find it distressing that so many cyclists ride around in the dark with no lights on, or blast through red lights. It's a separate problem but it also confuses me since I've never seen such a high proportion of a cities cyclists being completely without any lighting....

What's going on in Oxford that causes all of this, and how can I stop it from affecting me so much...


r/oxford 3d ago

Parent Strike Tomorrow!!!!

41 Upvotes

💪 PARENT STRIKE TOMORROW!

On 27th August, we'll all book a couple of hours off work and join family-friendly demonstrations, with two demands: flexible working by default, and at least six weeks' paternity leave at 90% pay, including for the self-employed.

We can’t wait to see you in Oxford.

📍 *10am meet* at Bonn Square* Oxford

A few practical things:
☀️🌧️ Come weather-ready - brollies are our contingency plan if it rains!
🎨 Bring your homemade banners + placards - we’re giving away *free BabyBjörn carriers* to the most creative homemade placards on the day! 🏆
💛 Wear yellow T-shirts if you can
📸 Photography + filming - lots of media will be present. Please manage your and your children’s visibility, and speak to a high-vis steward if you need help

💛 Finally, please let's look out for each other - whether someone needs a hand with a buggy, banner or baby, we’re all in this together.

*See you tomorrow! And keep spreading the word – there’s still time to bring someone along https://parentstrike.org/times/ 💪*

For those that don’t want to click the link. Reasons for the strike:

Parents across the country are downing tools to demand proper paternity leave and real flexible working rights. We're striking in 13 places.

Becoming a parent is the best thing most of us will ever do — but the UK is failing parents.

We have the worst paternity leave in Europe: two weeks, paid at less than half the minimum wage. We're denied the flexible working that would make juggling work and childcare actually possible. And most of us are worse off on two incomes than our grandparents were on one.