Oxford Tourism Statistics

Oxford, the popular ‘City of Dreaming Spires,‘ is known for its rich history, prestigious universities, and remarkable architecture.

Over 500,000 tourists visit Oxford annually¹.

• In 2019, Oxford welcomed 581,000 international visitors.
• However, due to travel restrictions and the closure of borders, this number dropped to 73,000 international visitors in 2021.
• Oxford began recovering in 2022, welcoming over 425,000 international visitors, which was an increase from the previous year but still 27% lower than 2019’s figure.
• The city welcomed 450,000 international visitors in 2023².
• Oxford had 547,000 international visitors in 2024, which was 22% more than in 2023 but 6% fewer than in 2019.

The IPS was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no tourism data for Oxford in 2020.

Tourism in Oxford generates over £350 million annually from millions of visitors spending directly at local businesses.

• In 2019, international visitors spent over £371 million in direct tourism expenditure.
• During the pandemic, Oxford’s tourism revenue dropped to £53 million in 2021, reflecting an 86% decrease compared to the previous year.
• In 2022, Oxford saw a recovery with £313 million in tourism expenditure, marking a 491% increase from the previous year but still 16% lower than pre-pandemic levels.
• Oxford’s tourism expenditure rose to £337 million in 2023, an 8% increase from the previous year but still 9% lower than 2019 levels.
• Spending reached £399 million in 2024, 18% higher than in 2023 and 8% above 2019.

The IPS was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no tourism data for Oxford from April to December 2020. Available data for that period is based on models.

The United States, France, and Germany consistently rank as the primary sources of international visitors to the UK, where Oxford is located³.

• In 2024, the US remained the leading source of visitors, accounting for 5.1 million visits, followed by France with 3.2 million, Germany with 3 million, Ireland with 2.9 million, and Spain with 2.2 million.

• Visiting friends and relatives remained the number one reason for international visitors to Oxford in 2022, with 150,000 visits, or 35.29% of total visits.
  • This represented a 257% increase compared to the previous year and was 3% higher than in 2019 (pre-pandemic year).
• Visiting friends and relatives closely followed with 192,000 visits, accounting for 35.1% of all Oxford visits in 2024. This represented a 41.2% increase compared to the previous year and was 32.4% up from the 2019 figure.
  • This was a 123% increase compared to the previous year, but it was still 39% less than in 2019.
• In 2024, 110,000 visits to Oxford were for business reasons (20.1% of total visits).
  • This reflected a 17% increase compared to the previous year, though still 11.3% less than in 2019.
• Oxford also saw visits for miscellaneous purposes, with 48,000 visits in 2024, representing 8.8% of total visits. These include trips for sporting events, shopping, health-related reasons, religious purposes, and more.

• University of Oxford: Known for its historic buildings, tranquil gardens, and notable libraries, the university attracts over 2 million visitors annually.
• Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology: The UK’s first public museum, home to collections spanning 500,000 years of art, history, and archaeology, attracts more than 900,000 visitors annually.
• Oxford University Museum of Natural History: Featuring natural artefacts from Oxford University, this museum has more than 750,000 annual visitors.
• Bodleian Library: The second-largest library in the UK, after the British Library, and a key cultural destination in Oxford. It welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year.
• Pitt Rivers Museum: Showcasing anthropological and archaeological collections, this museum receives over 400,000 visitors per year.

How far is Oxford from London?

• Oxford is 58.3 miles away from London, it takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive via the M40, depending on traffic.

Where is Oxford University?

Oxford University is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world and is considered as one of the world’s leading academic institutions.

• Located in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, about 50 miles north-northwest of London, along the upper course of the River Thames.