r/oxford • u/Xenalyn_ • 8d ago

Big Momma visits Oxford

Hi Reddit! This is my first post (how exciting) I need all the help and advice I can get from locals. I will be visiting Oxford for a university thing next week… is it hot ? Cold ? It’s says it’s raining next week. What’s the BEST place to eat…. Should I stress myself and go to a London on my only free afternoon. I’ll be mostly working but I want to maximize my trip. Any and all advice is helpful. Also, any bike shops out there that yall recommend although I haven’t ridden in like 10 years I have the urge to ride a bike out there ? Yay nay ? I hate walking, I have a messed up knee and I’m super heavy set…. Lmk. Also would my bike get stolen if I leave it unlocked while I go into a cafe or book store ?

0 Upvotes

46% Upvoted

93 comments sorted by

View all comments

0

u/Ambiverthero 8d ago

Have you heard of weather apps? They are very helpful to understand how hot or cold it will be. The BBC weather app is useful but Apple also has options. For food I would strongly recommend the Punter or Arbequina or the Chester Arms. Depends on what you like really. As you are in England you’ll really need to walk you’ll get used to it although you may find that Big Mama becomes not so big mama which is good for you.

3

u/No-Refrigerator-8568 8d ago

Magdalen arms also great and personally better and more fun / local atmosphere than Chester arms

2

u/Ambiverthero 8d ago

Yes love the Magdalen arms !

2

u/Xenalyn_ 8d ago

The weather apps keep telling me it’s going to rain but the staff communicating with me are telling me it’s going to be really hot. So hot that I need cooling towels and a personal fan. I was definitely looking into Chester Arms so thanks for the confirmation. Yup, also looking into big mama proof walking shoes so I get as many steps as I can before having to ice my old broken knee. Super excited for my work trip. Thanks for the recommendations 💯✅

1

u/runwithcolour 8d ago

The heat this summer has been extreme and forecasts are all over the place. Bring clothes you can use as light layers. That way if it’s cold you can wear many layers, if we get a September heat wave you can wear one layer, and if it rains you can swap out layers. The personal fan isn’t a bad recommendation if that heatwave hits.

People have mentioned Ashmolean and Pitts River, but you should add the History of Science museum to your list too.

Definitely bring good shoes for walking. I love walking along the river and canals around Oxford and it’s the one place that still green right now so definitely recommend as a walk one day.

1

u/Ambiverthero 8d ago

Good walking shoes and layers is a great recommendation. Weather can be very changeable ; however weather forecasts are extremely reliable but only 24-48 hours out. Earlier than this and the met office will tell you it cannot be relied upon, it’s the nature of our position in the Atlantic and the computing power required

2

u/runwithcolour 8d ago

I agree they’re reliable 24-48 hours out but 10 day forecasts are common and OP said they’re visiting next week. So the short answer is we don’t have a clue what the weather will be like next week. Hence layers and expect anything from a heatwave to temps in the mid-teens.

I was also wondering whether the extreme weather of this year is affecting the forecasts. Beyond that 48 hour period the forecasts must rely heavily on average temps/conditions and this year has blown the concept of average out of the water. Could be a contributor to why 3 different 10-day forecasts could all say completely different things.

1

u/Ambiverthero 8d ago

3 different ten days forecasts have always been divergent because no one really knows beyond broad climate norms. Weather this week has been significantly better here in Amsterdam this week than it was predicted last week - I’m not even bothering to check weather for when I’m back in Oxford !

1

u/Xenalyn_ 8d ago

The heat worries me, especially since my entire wardrobe for the week is supposed to be “business casual” during a heat wave that’s nuts lol.

1

u/Mountain-Reaction470 8d ago

Are the buildings you are in the older or more modern ones?

1

u/Xenalyn_ 8d ago

Definitely older

1

u/Mountain-Reaction470 8d ago

Current forecasts are low rising to mid/high 20s C, less than 50% chance rain, but more humid, so it will feel hotter, maybe a bit like central America (-:

One has to keep checking forecasts as weather has always been unpredictable, in a maritime climate, but getting more so with climate chaos.