Is Oxford a good place to live?
Oxford is a popular university city in England, but it also attracts people from all over the world. In this article I want to share what it’s like to move to and live in Oxford.
This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series, I interview people living all over the world but outside of their home country. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of life abroad, share tips about moving to the place the expat now calls home, and information about what to see and do here.
Living in Oxford, UK
Name: Anna
Age: 35
Hometown: Novara, Piedmont, Italy
Her Story:
“I have always loved traveling. My most treasured childhood memories are connected to excursions and trips that I took with my parents.
While attending university, I took my first part-time job just to be able to pay for my travels on my own. I visited several towns and cities in Italy and Europe: Rome, Florence, London, Paris, Barcelona…
I traveled alone, as a couple, and with friends. And I had fantastic experiences! Traveling is the perfect way to discover behaviors and personal preferences.
Now my job allows me to visit new/old cities: I’m a photo editor and art organizer, so I have the chance to discover or rediscover the locations where my expositions and courses have been.
I’m a digital nomad and I feel super lucky to have the opportunity to travel for passion, work, and other personal reasons.”
Why Did You Move to Oxford?
“My boyfriend Luca and I decided to move to Oxford after spending two years living in Paris.
He is a data scientist working in cancer research and his job has brought him around the world. Scotland for five years, Paris for two, and now Oxford.
The most difficult step for me was moving to Paris. It was my first time living abroad and I remember I was scared, I cannot deny it, about everything.
I had already been to Paris several times and I was totally in love with the city, but a relocation is something completely different. It has been a transformation of my life, but I realized that I underestimated the pros and overestimated the cons.
When I moved to Oxford, I was certainly more aware of what I was doing and I went through the relocation in a more relaxed way, open to what this new city and new country could offer.”
What Do You Like About Living in Oxford?
“I have totally fallen in love with Oxford.
Maybe you think of Oxford as an academic city with universities, colleges, and libraries everywhere. And yes, they are there. It is incredible and really inspiring to be living so close to the places where so many notable people studied. I’m thinking of Oscar Wilde, Stephen Hawkins, John R.R. Tolkien, Indira Gandhi, and Thomas S. Eliot.
All of this “culture” instills a sense of classicism and elegance into the city.
But please don’t think of Oxford as a Gothic, gloomy place. You couldn’t be more wrong.
Oxford is a lovely city, especially during spring, when the peach trees throughout the city start to bloom. They perfectly match the colored houses and shops in the city center.
Bars, candy shops, barbershops, art galleries, and peculiar restaurants surround you, creating a pleasant harmony.
And then there is the natural environment: the Botanical Garden is a charming place, full of greenhouses and plants and flowers of several different types.
And around all of Oxford you can find the beautiful English countryside: you can walk along the River Thames or bike around in Oxfordshire.”
What Do You Dislike About Living in Oxford?
“There aren’t many things I dislike about living in Oxford. But there are a few.
On Sundays practically everything closes at 5 pm. Museums, galleries, malls, public parks, grocery stores, and even some coffee shops. That’s something I had to get used to.
Furthermore, Oxford is the second most expensive city in the UK. It is certainly cheaper than Paris but… that’s it, it is not as affordable as other English cities, especially for students.
Lastly, but this might be because I am Italian, I find it a bit odd to see people having dinner at 6 pm or a cocktail at 8.30 pm. We used to have dinner and after-dinner drinks much later.
But, every country has its own peculiarities.”
Also Read: Things to Consider Before Moving to Another Country
Is Oxford a Safe City to Live in?
“Yes, overall Oxford is a very safe place to live. It’s a relatively small city with a strong sense of community, and you’ll see students, families, and professionals out and about at all hours, which helps it feel lively and secure.
Of course, like in any city, there are occasional issues such as bike theft or petty crime, especially because so many people cycle here. But in terms of personal safety, I’ve always felt comfortable walking around the city, even in the evening.
Most neighborhoods are quiet and residential, and the city center is usually busy with students and tourists. As long as you take the usual precautions you would anywhere, Oxford feels like a very safe and pleasant place to live.”
What Makes Living in Oxford Expensive?
“The biggest reason Oxford is so expensive is housing.
Property prices and rent are extremely high, largely because the city is relatively small but in very high demand. Between the university, the hospitals, and all the research and tech companies in the area, a lot of people want to live here, and there simply isn’t enough housing to keep prices down.
Because of that, many people end up living in smaller flats, sharing houses, or moving a bit outside the city and commuting in. Even then, rent can take up a large part of your monthly budget.
Day-to-day costs like groceries, public transport, and eating out are fairly typical for the UK, but when you combine those with the high cost of housing, living in Oxford quickly becomes quite expensive.”
What is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Oxford?
“I think what I love most about life in Oxford is simply the possibility to walk around and discover the city.
I like walking around while enjoying a sunny day, with no destination, taking pictures, smelling flowers, and drinking tea.
Also, I love creating photography projects which I then share on my Instagram account. They are about different themes related to Oxford, England, and my travels.”
What is Your Favorite Place to Hang Out in Oxford?
“I love The Grand Café, the first coffee house in England, established in 1650. They have a great selection of teas and sweets, including the famous scones.”
What is the Expat / International Community Like in Oxford?
“Oxford is certainly an international city, because of the universities.
I think the biggest expat communities in Oxford are French, Spanish, and Italian. But there are plenty of people from other countries living in Oxford too.
And you will also meet a lot of English people from other parts of the United Kingdom.”
Any Tips for Moving to / Living in Oxford?
“If you are thinking about moving abroad, independently of the place, my first suggestion is to have a project.
It’s not easy to emigrate without knowing what to do in your new country. Searching for a job once you have arrived can be very challenging. You may have to accept the first job that you can find, despite your studies and skills, because you’ll need to pay your rent and bills.
My second general recommendation is: learn the language. You can find many native-speaking tutors of any language and attend lessons through Zoom, for example.
I also suggest reading some books and watching movies or series in the language that you want to learn (this is also a very good way to experience the culture of the country you are going to live in).
About moving to Oxford… Oxford is an evolving city. There are many work opportunities in different fields these days. I suggest checking the job websites every day and applying online. Indeed.com is a popular one, but just do a search for ‘jobs in Oxford’ and you’ll find several other websites.
I didn’t encounter any particular bureaucratic difficulty while applying for our NIN (National Insurance Number) or opening a bank account online.
Finding a place to live in Oxford in our case turned out to be very simple. We first chose an apartment on Airbnb as a short-term rental. Because we liked the flat we asked the owner to rent it long term, and luckily he was ok with that.
But there are also many agencies and websites that can help you find accommodation in Oxford. Do be prepared to pay rather high fees if you choose to use an agency.
Oxford is a very friendly city, not as chaotic as big metropolises such as London, Paris, or New York.
You’ll surely get used to life here, meet new friends, and hopefully enjoy expat life in Oxford as much as I do.”
Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to and Building a New Life in Oxford?
“I often consult IndependentOxford.com.
The website suggests interesting places in Oxford – restaurants, gift shops, and things to do – for locals and visitors.
It also has a section called “Events” where you can find expositions, workshops, festivals, and meetups which are a great way to meet locals or other expats living in Oxford.”
Also Read: Things to Know Before Moving to the UK from the USA
Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do When You Are in Oxford?
“Definitely visit the Radcliffe Camera. This is one of the University of Oxford’s buildings, built in 1737–1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library. It’s a landmark of the city.
Climb the Carfax Tower and enjoy the view from above. And do spend a few hours in the wonderful Botanical Garden.
Lastly, and not everyone knows this, Lewis Carroll was from Oxford and many places in the city inspired his “Alice in Wonderland”. Have fun exploring Oxford and discovering the spots that inspired this incredible novel!”
About Anna – Expat in Oxford
Anna was born and raised in a village in Piedmont, Italy, with just 7000 inhabitants.
She graduated in philosophy and attended several courses in proofreading and photo editing in Turin and Milan. Today she works as an independent art organizer and photo editor.
Anna is passionate about art, reading, pizza, traveling, and taking pictures while she is jumping!
You can follow her expat life in Oxford and her travels on her Instagram account Annamola.photoeditor.
About Oxford
Oxford is a university city in south-central England, 51 miles (82 km) from London.
With a population of just over 160,000, it remains the most ethnically diverse area in Oxfordshire county with one of the fastest-growing populations in the UK.
The city is known worldwide as the home of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, dating back to the 12th century.
The University of Oxford differs from many other universities in that there is no campus as such, and no central university building. Instead, the University consists of approximately 40 colleges and associated buildings. Each college has its own individual character.
Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of every English architectural period since the late Saxon period.
Oxford is more than just a university city though. Its industries include motor manufacturing, publishing, and a large number of IT- and science-based businesses, some being academic offshoots.
Also Read:
- Interview With an Expat About Life in London (to compare living in Oxford vs London)
- Interview With an Expat About Living in Manchester
- Interview About Moving to and Living in Brighton
- 8 Things to Do in London Beyond the Obvious
- A Short Trip to Leeds: What to Do & Where to Stay
- What Travelers Love About Visiting the UK
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Thank you for your kind comment about referring to our website when looking for things to do / places to eat in Oxford :).
Hi,
I am originally from Puerto Rico but have spent most of my life in Tampa Florida. I am secondary education teacher and in the process of obtaining a sponsorship to work in the UK. I actually had an opportunity to work in Reading last year, but was taken back by moving fees. This time around I feel prepared. My wife and daughter will be coming with me as well. My wife is looking to work in an early years school and my daughter will be in her second year of high school. Oxford is one of the locations that my recruiter mentioned for employment. Your website was insightful. Do you have any pointers for a family of 3 looking to relocate to Oxford?
Hi Pablo. I realise this is a bit out of date, but with the pandemic you may have put things on hold. I moved to Oxford “by accident” a few years ago and stayed. It is a fantastic city to live in, but beware that the housing costs within the city can be very expensive. For a small family you could try for a place in Jericho, just to the north of the City (possibly the coolest place to live, and walking distance to town) or Summertown (a bit further up, with its own shops/cafes), and closer to the excellent north Oxford state secondary school, the Cherwell School. I would look in Jericho or Summertown for housing, or maybe Wolvercote for something a bit further out close to some great walking, pubs etc. All are very safe areas to live. If you can handle the housing cost, the rest of it is relatively okay – everyone travels by bike, and there is loads of stuff to do that is free. More particularly, Oxford is one of the most international cities in Europe, big enough to have pretty much everything, but small enough to have its own sense of community, and a very friendly vibe. I have lived all over, and I love it.
I am thinking of moving to England from California and I found your reply to Pablo to be so helpful.
Thank you for the great information