About Oxford
Situated in South East England, Oxford is a popular tourist city. Known for its striking gothic and baroque architecture and its prestigious university, Oxford is a cultural hub that receives approximately seven million visitors every year. Additionally, the city has been home to several prominent individuals, including poet T.S. Eliot, physicist Stephen Hawking, actor Hugh Laurie and author John le Carré.
If you’re planning a birthday party, Oxford is the ideal location. Not only are there several excellent birthday party venues available for hire, but you’ll also be able to head out into Oxford city centre for afterparty drinks! Sounds like a plan to us.
Birthday Party Options in Oxford
Planning a birthday party is an exciting prospect, but it can also be a stressful experience without careful planning. But don’t worry, with the help of several excellent local vendors, you’ll host a birthday party that won’t soon be forgotten!
- Entertainment
In terms of birthday party entertainment, there are plenty of options to choose from. Will you hire a DJ, or perhaps a magician if you’re feeling a bit adventurous? Alternatively, if you’re a music lover, you may consider hiring a local band to come and play live music at your birthday party. Whichever entertainment you choose, we know your guests will thoroughly enjoy themselves!
- Catering
The theme of your birthday party is likely to dictate the food you’ll offer party guests. Perhaps you’ll decide to cater the event yourself by providing a cold buffet of sandwiches, crisps, sausage rolls and other similar foods. Alternatively, you may decide that you don’t want the stress of catering for the event yourself. In that case, you can hire a caterer to do the work for you!
- Birthday Cake
One of the best things about a birthday party is the cake! Suppose you’re throwing a themed birthday party. In that case, you may consider hiring an experienced baker to create a personalised cake for you. Thankfully, Oxford is home to several outstanding bakers who will make the perfect cake for your bash!
Birthday Party Vendors in Oxford
- Jonny Ross Music
Jonny Ross Music offers a selection of bands and acoustic acts for events, including birthday parties. The company’s DJ service enables you to throw a party that all your guests will enjoy, regardless of their music preferences. Your chosen DJ will bring the best quality sound and lighting systems, setting the scene for a truly epic party where you and your guests can dance the night away!
- Truly Scrumptious Catering
Truly Scrumptious Catering is an Oxford-based family-run catering company servicing various events, including birthday parties, weddings, christenings, corporate events and barbecues. The expert team has a passion for great food and believe in providing dishes with only the highest quality ingredients. Menu options include sandwich lunches and finger buffets, hot and cold buffets, street food, canapés, picnics or lunches to go and a coffee and tea service.
- Rebecca’s Kitchen
Oxford-based baker Rebecca Chapman creates elegant, mouth-watering cakes tailored to your requirements. Covering Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, Rebecca makes cakes fresh to order and uses only the best quality ingredients in the process. She offers a range of delicious flavour combinations, including but not limited to vanilla, chocolate, white chocolate and raspberry, lemon and red velvet. Furthermore, once Rebecca has created your personalised cake, she will deliver it to you herself!
Pros and Cons of a Birthday Party in Oxford
Advantages
- Architecture
Oxford is home to some of the most striking buildings in the UK. For example, Radcliffe Square is possibly one of the most photographed areas of the city containing the iconic Radcliffe Camera building. So after your guests attend the birthday party, they should head out into the city and snap photos of some of the city’s most iconic buildings.
- Museums
History lovers will find themselves at home in Oxford. The city contains several fascinating museums, including the Ashmolean Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum, the Museum of History of Science and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Sounds like a great way to entertain yourself if you’re looking for something to do aside from attending the birthday party!
Disadvantages
- Tourists
Oxford attracts around seven million visitors each year. As a result, the city centre can feel crowded at times. So if you’re not a big fan of crowded spaces, try to avoid the city centre on weekends.
- Traffic
Like all of the UK’s major cities, Oxford has its fair share of problems with traffic. So if you’re planning to travel around the city to get to the birthday party venue, make sure to avoid the roads during the morning and evening rush hour!
Famous Locations in Oxford
- Bodleian Library
Situated within Oxford University, Bodleian Library is a world-famous cultural destination located in the heart of the city. The spectacular library has appeared in various films and television series, including Harry Potter, A Discovery of Witches, Mary Queen of Scots and The Favourite. Bodleian Library also contains several fascinating exhibitions covering various historical periods and themes. So if you’re looking for an interesting way to spend a few hours, we recommend a visit to the fascinating Bodleian Library.
- Oxford Castle and Prison
Oxford Castle, which first opened in 1073, is a popular tourist attraction in the city. The 1000-year-old castle and prison provides a wide variety of things to do, such as exploring the underground candlelit crypt or climbing the 101 steps of St. George’s Tower. Inside the spectacular castle, you’ll delve deeper into the history of individuals with links to Oxford Castle, including Empress Matilda, the first queen of England that never was. So whether you’re venturing out alone or going on a family day out, exploring Oxford Castle and Prison is a great way to spend an afternoon.
- Ashmolean Museum
Located in Oxford city centre, the Ashmolean Museum is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology. The institution was founded in the late 17th century, and collections include contemporary art, Egyptian mummies and much more. Once you’ve spent a couple of hours exploring the many exhibitions on offer, why not stop for a quick drink and something to eat at the museum’s café? Alternatively, the Rooftop Restaurant offers beautiful views across Oxford and is the perfect place to stop for a delicious bite to eat after a busy day of exploring the city.