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travel noun

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What does the noun travel mean?

There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun travel , one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun travel ?

How is the noun travel pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun travel come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun travel is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for travel is from before 1400, in Cursor Mundi: a Northumbrian poem of the 14th century .

It is also recorded as a verb from the Middle English period (1150—1500).

travel is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.

Etymons: travail n. 1

Nearby entries

• travailous, adj. a1382–
• travailously, adv. a1382–1881
• travail pain, n. 1662–
• travail pang, n. 1652–
• travailsome, adj. 1549–
• travale, n. 1798–1876
• travature, n. 1730
• travaux préparatoires, n. 1880–
• trave, n. c1405–
• trave harness, n. 1839
• travel, n. a1400–
• travel, v. c1300–
• travel agency, n. 1898–
• travel agent, n. 1885–
• travel allowance, n. 1835–
• travelator, n. 1955–
• travel brochure, n. 1908–
• travel bug, n. 1907–
• travel bureau, n. 1884–
• travel card, n. 1916–
• travel centre | travel center, n. 1883–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for travel, n..

travel, n. was revised in March 2020.

travel, n. was last modified in March 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into travel, n. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1914)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View travel, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

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Oxford Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 1, 2023

Oxford is a charming, historic city located just a short ride from London . The city is famed for its prestigious university, which is one of the oldest in the world (it was founded in the 11th century).

Oxford first earned fame in the Middle Ages as a hub for theological learning. It then expanded into medicine and law. Today, the university is home to over 24,000 students and you can study with the best and brightest in pretty much any field here.

While the city can feel stuffy and lacks the cut-loose university town feel that cities like Bristol have, visiting Oxford and seeing the old architecture more than makes up for it.

This Oxford travel guide can help you plan your trip, save money, and ensure you have an amazing visit to the historic city!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Oxford

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Oxford

1. Tour Oxford

The University is the main attraction here. 24,000 students study at the famed college and on a visit to Oxford, you can tour fascinating museums, botanical gardens, and relax in the many pristine green spaces around campus. Bodleian Libraries offers guided tours of the university, including the inside of many historic buildings, which have been featured in countless movies over the years (including Harry Potter). They provide a look at university life, the history of the school, the architecture, and more. Tours last a couple of hours and cost 20 GBP.

2. Visit Balliol College

Founded in 1263 by wealthy landowner John I de Balliol, Balliol College is one of the oldest colleges in the University of Oxford. After Balliol’s death, his widow Dervorguilla continued to fund the founding of the college. This college was one of the first to create academic opportunities for women after only admitting men for 700 years and now the walls inside are lined with portraits of female graduates. Four Prime Ministers are alumni of Balliol college, as well as influential philosophers like Adam Smith and Aldous Huxley. It’s a prestigious college within Oxford and has a student body of about 400 who study Biology, English, History, Law, and more.

3. Admire South Park

Located in east Oxford, South Park is the largest park in Oxford, with free admission and a sweeping view of the city, including the university skyline. The land was privately owned until 1932 when the Oxford Preservation Trust acquired it and transformed it into a public park. The park is a favorite spot for photographers and from the highest point you’ll be able to see the towers of Oxford College. Within the park, you’ll find a 19th-century bridge and the Oxford Artisan Distillery. On a nice day, the park is filled with locals getting a tan, playing sports, and lounging. There are also a variety of events held there throughout the year including parades, firework displays, food festivals, and concerts.

4. Stroll under Hertford Bridge

This bridge is known as the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ because college students sigh under it on their way to take exams, and because it resembles the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Hertford Bridge has an iconic design and connects the Old and New Quadrangles of Hertford College. It was completed in 1914 and serves as a convenient link between the two buildings. Visit the nearby Turf Tavern and commiserate with the students over a pint. You’ll be drinking in good company — Elizabeth Taylor, Stephen Hawking, and Margaret Thatcher have all paid a visit to Turf Tavern over the years.

5. Visit the Ashmolean Museum

Founded in 1683, this is Britain’s oldest public museum with a focus on art and archeology. It was originally constructed to house a “cabinet of curiosities” that Elias Ashmole donated to the University of Oxford in 1677. Ashmole’s collection was combined with older university treasures that supposedly included Guy Fawkes’ lantern and Jacob’s Coat of Many Colors. It recently went through a renovation in 2009 and displays Ancient Egyptian art, as well as an impressive Eastern Art collection. Today the museum is also working to preserve history, while simultaneously decolonizing the language and practices surrounding certain exhibits. Make sure to see the Amarna Princess Fresco and the Alfred Jewel before you leave. Admission is free.

Other Things to See and Do in Oxford

1. take a free walking tour.

One of the first things I do in a new city is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to get the lay of the land and connect with a local guide. Footprints Tours are run by students and offer a solid introduction to the city. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Admire the University of Oxford Botanical Gardens

When it opened in 1621, the botanical gardens here were the first of their kind in the UK. Today, the collection includes traditional English landscape designs and some of the UK’s oldest redwood trees. There are over 5,000 plant species here spread out over 4.5 acres. Admission is 6.30 GBP and pre-booking is highly recommended to guarantee entry.

3. Shop for snacks at the Covered Market

This historic 250-year-old market has dozens of coffee bars, restaurants, traditional butchers, fish merchants, and independent shops. You’ll be able to find everything from artisanal sausage to sushi. There are a lot of homemade meals served here and it’s the best place to do some cheap shopping for groceries in the city. In addition to food, there are also lots of local vendors selling handmade wares, including clothing, souvenirs, and jewelry.

4. Browse the Bodleian Library

As the main research library of the University of Oxford, the Bodleian is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and the second-largest library in the UK (after London’s British Library). Opened in 1602, its English Gothic architecture is gorgeous — so much so that it has served as a set for numerous films, including the first two Harry Potter films (its Divinity School, with its fan-vaulted ceiling and ornate decoration, was used as the Hogwarts hospital wing.) Entry is free and tours start at 9 GBP.

5. Go punting

Punting is a quirky and unique summer activity in Oxford. It’s essentially pushing a small boat around the River Thames or the River Cherwell with a pole. Punting season takes place from mid-March to mid-October when you can rent a boat or hire someone to take you. Rentals cost 30 GBP per hour and can fit up to 5 people.

6. Visit the Museum of Natural History

Established in 1850, this museum holds the University’s scientific collections of zoological, entomological, geological, paleontological, and mineralogical specimens. The exhibits are devoted to the history and diversity of life on Earth. One of their most famous exhibits is the Oxford Dodo. It has the only surviving dodo soft tissue remains in the world as well as a dodo skull (the dodo is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to Mauritius). Admission is free.

7. Learn about medieval life at Oxford Castle Prison

Originally built in the 11th century, visiting this Norman castle prison (which was in operation until 1996) is like stepping back in time. You can descend into a 900-year-old crypt and then climb to the top of Saxon St George’s Tower for a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding area. You’ll also learn about the past residents of the prison and hear stories of their crimes, which range from murder to tyranny to religious rebellion. Admission is by guided tour only and costs 15.25 GBP.

8. Get lost in Blackwell’s Books

For the bookworm, this historic shop is a must. Opened in 1879, it’s home to the Norrington Room, which holds the Guinness Record for the largest bookselling room in the world. Named after Sir Arthur Norrington, a former president of Trinity College, the 10,000-square-foot (929-square-meter) basement is just one of Blackwell’s four floors of books.

9. Take a day trip to Blenheim Palace

This underrated attraction is just 8 miles (12 kilometers) outside of Oxford. Built in the early 18th century, it is the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from the amazing Baroque architecture, the rooms are preserved with their original furniture and the grounds include a beautiful garden and a butterfly house. The entire palace is filled with statues, tapestries, priceless furniture and fine china, and huge oil paintings. Highlights include the room in which Winston Churchill was born and the Blenheim Tapestries, which are 10 large tapestries that commemorate the first duke’s conquests. Fun fact: this 17th-century palace is the only non-royal house in the UK that’s still allowed to be referred to as a palace. Admission to the palace, park, and gardens is 35.00 GBP.

10. Have a pint at the student pubs

A lot of Oxford’s energy comes from the huge student population. Around Oxford, you’ll find everything from small, quirky dive bars to romantic cocktail bars. The Eagle and Child pub on St Giles’ street is one of the most famous of Oxford’s pubs. The pub was a popular meeting spot for literary heavyweights like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

For more information on other cities in England, check out these guides:

• Bath Travel Guide
• Brighton Travel Guide
• Bristol Travel Guide
• Cambridge Travel Guide
• Liverpool Travel Guide
• London Travel Guide
• Manchester Travel Guide

Oxford Travel Costs

Hostel prices – There is currently just one hostel in Oxford and a bed in a dorm with 8 beds costs 35-40 GBP. Free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities are included.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available outside the city for 14 GBP per night. This gets you a basic tent plot without electricity.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels that include free Wi-Fi and breakfast start at around 80 GBP per night.

There are lots of Airbnb options available in Oxford. A private room costs at least 25-35 GBP per night, while an entire home/apartment starts around 60-90 GBP per night.

Avoid visiting during alumni weekend (which takes place in September) and the annual Oxford Boat Race, which draws 250,000 visitors around Easter. The city fills up fast and prices rise!

Food – While British cuisine has evolved in leaps and bounds due to immigration (and colonialism), it’s still very much a meat and potatoes country. Fish and chips remain a popular staple for both lunch and dinner while roasted and stewed meats, sausages, meat pies, and the quintessential Yorkshire pudding are all common options as well. Curry (and other Indian dishes, such as tikka masala), are super popular here too.

You can eat cheaply in Oxford if you stick to the cafes centered close to the university. Most give discounts to students, and whether you pick up a sandwich, salad, or bagel, you won’t pay more than 9 GBP for a meal (even if you aren’t a student).

You’ll find most student restaurants on and around George Street with small takeaway windows and stands selling everything from falafel to burritos. Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 7 GBP for a combo meal while a pint at a pub costs around 5 GBP.

A personal pizza can cost as little as 5.55 GBP while Chinese food costs around 8 GBP for a meal.

Expect to pay 12 GBP for a meal at an inexpensive casual restaurant, while a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant costs 25 GBP per person, including a drink.

If you’re cooking your own food, a week’s worth of groceries costs around 40-60 GBP. The best places to buy cheap groceries are Lidl, Aldi, and Sainsbury’s.

Backpacking Oxford Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Oxford, expect to spend about 70 GBP per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, public transit, limiting your drinking, cooking your own meals, and doing mostly free attractions like hanging out in the parks and exploring Oxford University. If you plan on drinking, add 5-10 GBP per day to your budget.

A mid-range budget of 140 GBP per day covers staying in a private Airbnb room or private hostel room, eating out for most of your meals, taking the occasional taxi, enjoying a few drinks, and doing some paid activities like a guided tour of Oxford or going punting.

On a “luxury” budget of about 240 GBP or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink more, rent a car or bike to explore, and do as many tours and activities as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in GBP.

Oxford Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

As one of the UK’s biggest university towns, Oxford has many free and low-cost things to do. With plenty of cheap pubs, student-focused restaurants, and lots of public spaces, cutting your costs and saving money is easy here. Here are my top ways to save money when you visit Oxford:

• Take a free walking tour – One of the best ways to learn about Oxford is with a free walking tour. Footprints Tours runs free walking tours that can introduce you to the city. Just be sure to tip your guide!
• Cook your own food – Like elsewhere in the UK, eating out in Oxford will destroy your budget. Cook as much as you can to save money.
• Eat cheap food – If you do plan on eating out, head out to neighborhoods outside the city center, where most of the students live. Stick to fast food and take-out joints for the cheapest options.
• Bike or walk everywhere – Oxford is not a large city so you can pretty much walk or bike everywhere. Skip the taxis and public transportation if you can.
• See the student theater – You can see cheap and cutting-edge student theater for a couple of pounds at the Burton Taylor Studio (near the bus station). It’s a small theater, but because it hosts student and independent productions, you can find a good deal on the ticket prices — even for last-minute tickets.
• Stay in an Oxford University dorm – When classes aren’t in session, it’s possible to stay in a dorm on the university campus. Exeter College is located in the center of the city and offers bed-and-breakfast-style accommodation in the dormitory. Rooms are only available during the Easter, summer, and winter vacations. (Not currently available due to COVID).
• Stay with a local – If you’re on a budget you’ll definitely want to try Couchsurfing . It’s a great way to cut costs while connecting to the local scene. Many students are away in the summer, however, so be sure to apply early.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Oxford

Oxford currently has just one operational hostel. Fortunately, it’s a good one!

• Central Backpackers

How to Get Around Oxford

The easiest way to get around Oxford, especially if you stick to the central tourist areas, is by walking. Oxford is compact enough to get around on foot.

Bus – There is an extensive bus network through Oxford to get around if you choose to take public transportation. Three separate bus companies operate public transport in Oxford, with single trip fares as low as 1.20 GBP and day passes costing around 3.90 GBP.

Bicycle – Oxford is very bike-friendly if you stick to the bike paths. Pony Bikes and Donkey Bikes are dockless bike companies operating in Oxford, meaning the bikes can be picked up and left anywhere on the sidewalk. Download and rent directly from their respective apps.

If you’d rather pay for a full day of access, you can rent a bike from Summertown Cycles for as little as 18 GBP for your first day (6 GBP for each following day). Brompton Bike Hire offers folding bikes for 5 GBP per day, which you can pick up from the self-serve bike locker next to Oxford Station.

Taxi – Taxis cost around 4.60 GBP to start and 2.40 GBP per mile, but the price depends on the time of day and traffic. You can also use an app like MyTaxi to order your ride. Given how expensive they are, I wouldn’t take one unless absolutely necessary.

Uber – Uber is available in Oxford, but again, walking or cycling are the easiest way to get around in the compact city so I’d skip them if you can.

Car rental – Car rentals can be found for as little as 25 GBP per day for a multi-day rental. Keep in mind you’ll be driving on the left and that most cars have a manual transmission. Drivers need to be at least 21 and have had their license for at least one year.

When to Go to Oxford

Summer (July-August) is peak tourism season in Oxford, and temperatures are the warmest during this time — but rarely do they go above 22°C (72°F). It’s perfect weather for exploring, punting, and relaxing in the many parks.

Spring (May-June) and autumn (September-October) are also fantastic times to visit as the city is abuzz with student life and temperatures are mild. This is my favorite time to visit.

Winter lasts from December through February, and tourism crowds thin out dramatically during this time. Temperatures can dip below freezing, and prices are slightly lower. The days are cold and grey, however, so I wouldn’t suggest visiting during this time if you can avoid it.

How to Stay Safe in Oxford

Oxford is safe and the risk of violent crime is low. The biggest risk here is petty theft and pickpocketing, especially in the busy student pubs and clubs (however, it’s still quite rare).

Solo travelers, including female travelers, should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

If you’re partying in the student pubs, be aware of your surroundings and avoid dimly lit alleys and pathways when heading home. Pickpockets tend to work in teams, so stay alert and keep your valuables tucked away.

Scams here are rare, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 999 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Oxford Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Oxford Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling England and continue planning your trip:

The 14 Best Things to Do in Bristol

Where to Stay in London: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 8 Best Hostels in London

How to Spend a Week in London

The 9 Best Walking Tour Companies in London

Oxford Travel Guide (Practical tips, itinerary + map)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: December 6, 2022

Our Oxford Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for one of the most famous university cities in the world. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Oxford!

Plan your visit to Oxford

Located only 60 miles (90 km) north-west of London in the county of Oxfordshire is the city of Oxford, home to arguably the world’s most famous and prestigious university.

Nicknamed the ‘City of Dreaming Spires” Oxford is a compact city with many of its main sights situated close to each other.

Oxford is one of England’s most beautiful cities and a popular day trip from London easily reached by train from the capital. Plan to spend the day exploring the University’s famous colleges, magnificent medieval buildings & museums.

What you will find in this complete Oxford Travel Guide

Map of Oxford

When is the best time of year to visit oxford, how many days do you need in oxford, what is the best way to explore oxford, which city should i visit – oxford or cambridge, by train from london, by car from london, take a tour from london to oxford, attractions and things to do in oxford and the surrounding area, accommodation in oxford, tickets, tours & attractions in oxford, best day trips from oxford, books to read before visiting oxford, enjoy your visit to oxford.

Oxford travel guide – Visiting Oxford FAQ’s

Oxford is a beautiful destination whatever time of year you plan to visit.

The summer months are busy with visitors from the UK and abroad flocking to explore the sights.

If you plan to stay in Oxford we recommend booking accommodation in advance during peak season.

During the winter Oxford is quieter but a truly magical experience when frost or snow covers the city.

Spring heralds in blossom-covered trees and colourful flowers across the city whilst visitors during the Autumn will be greeted by multi-coloured leaf displays of golds and reds. Oxford is simply stunning whenever you choose to visit.

It is possible to see the main sights and attractions of Oxford in a day but if you are an art or history lover we recommend 2 days to fully explore the cities museums and colleges.

Oxford is also a great base for further exploration of Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds by car or tour.

The historic centre of Oxford is easy to explore on foot. Alternatively consider buying tickets on the Oxford hop-on-hop-off bus tour and enjoy unlimited hop-on hop-off for 24 or 48 hours.

I would say visit both if you can fit them into your itinerary. Both cities have their own unique charms.

Oxford is the larger city and has lots of things to see and do so could easily fill 2 days if you wish to explore all its colleges and museums. It is also the perfect destination to visit if you are considering a road trip to the Cotswolds. If you are a Harry Potter fan head to Oxford where you will find several film locations used in a number of the movies.

Cambridge is a smaller city than Oxford. There is less to do and see but it is a beautiful and easy city to explore in a day and well worth visiting. Enjoy a stroll along the river Cam, try punting, and enjoy the cities stunning architecture. Read more about Cambridge in my Cambridge Travel Guide .

As I have mentioned both cities are doable day trips from London by train. If you only have one day and want to see both cities take this Oxford & Cambridge Day Tour from London .

What is the best way to travel to Oxford from London?

Oxford is an easy day trip from London but with so much to do and see it is worth considering spending a few days there to fully appreciate the city.

It is also the perfect base for exploring the beautiful Cotswolds . The UNESCO World Heritage listed Blenheim Palace is also close to Oxford.

For timetables and tickets, we recommend the trainline . Take the train to Oxford for the day or incorporate it into your UK train travel itinerary.

Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.

• Distance from London: 52 miles / 83 km
• Time taken by train: 1 hour
• Leave from: London Paddington/ London Marylebone

Although located only 54 miles and an hour drive from London I recommend taking the train! Oxford is one of the least car-friendly cities in the UK and it is not worth the hassle if you can avoid it.

If you are planning to visit Oxford as part of a UK road trip and it is your first destination after London I recommend travelling to Oxford by train and picking up a rental car at the station.

If you are travelling to Oxford by car from other UK destinations note that car parking in the city centre is limited and expensive. 5 Park and Ride sites are available if you plan to visit for the day but do take into consideration the additional time you will need. Alternatively, if you plan to stay for longer book accommodation which includes parking.

There are many day tours available which include Oxford in their itinerary. If you are pushed for time we recommend considering booking a tour from London to see the highlights of the city.

• Day Trip to Highclere Castle and Oxford – Relive scenes from Downton Abbey at Highclere Castle, set in 1000 acres of beautiful countryside, followed by a visit to the university city of Oxford.
• Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip – Escape the hustle and bustle of London and spend the day exploring the historic city of Oxford and the traditional stone villages of the Cotswolds. Travel in comfort through the countryside on a small group tour with a knowledgeable guide.
• Harry Potter Studio Tour & Oxford Day Tour from London – Depart London for a magical day out on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour–The Making of Harry Potter, followed by a visit to the University of Oxford. The full-day trip includes admission to the studio tour and a professional guided walk in Oxford.
• Warwick Castle, Stratford, Oxford & Cotswolds Day Trip – Discover Oxford on a guided walking tour from London. Visit Stratford-upon-Avon to see William Shakespeare’s birthplace as well as his schoolroom and guildhall. Explore inside Warwick Castle.

Click the links for more information about the best things to do in Oxford plus places we recommend visiting in the surrounding area.

ONE DAY IN OXFORD ITINERARY – BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO

COTSWOLDS TRAVEL GUIDE

VISITING BLENHEIM PALACE

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN OXFORD

Find more special stays in my Accommodation Guide for England.

There are numerous walking tours of Oxford available. Choose the tour that interests you the most – for fans of Inspector Morse and Harry Potter there are excellent themed tours available.

If you prefer to tour the city with a university graduate this is also possible and a great way to learn about life for students at this hallowed university.

• University and City Walking Tour with Alumni Guide – Learn about life at the prestigious university from your student guide. This tour is also available as a private walking tour if you prefer to customise your tour.
• Making of Harry Potter Tour – Explore Oxford through the eyes of Harry Potter and other characters from the Harry Potter movies on a 1.5 to 2-hour tour. Discover how student life at Hogwarts compares with an Oxford education. Test your knowledge with a Potter-mania quiz.
• Morse, Lewis and Endeavour Walking Tour of Oxford – Follow in the footsteps of the fictional Inspector Morse and his sidekick Lewis on a TV locations tour of Oxford. See sites from the books and TV shows created by the author Colin Dexter.
• Private Punting Trip with Optional Walking Tour – Enjoy a relaxing 1-hour outing on the river and learn all about Oxford university, student life, and its proud rowing traditions. Have the option to also add on a guided walking tour afterward.

Oxford is the perfect base for day trips to surrounding areas including the Cotswolds and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace.

I have handpicked the best tours available from Oxford through Get Your Guide (we book most of our day tours and organised activities through Get Your Guide due to their great customer service and cancellation policy)

• Cotswold Explorer Full-Day Tour – Take an unforgettable drive through the glorious Cotswolds, visiting sleepy stone villages, hidden valleys, and breathtaking scenery. Enjoy hearing the history and stories of the old wool and market towns and browsing in the quirky shops and cafes.
• Cotswolds & Blenheim Palace Small-Group Tour – Meander through the quaint villages of Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water, and explore the rich history of Blenheim Palace.
• Blenheim Palace Guided Tour – Enjoy a guided tour of one of England’s most famous palaces and gardens and home to the Churchill family and Duke of Marlborough. Learn about the events which led to the creation of Blenheim Palace. Enjoy a private tour for a maximum of 4 persons.

Oxford is proud of its literary heritage and connections with many famous authors who have studied or taught at one of its colleges. To fully appreciate and enjoy your visit to Oxford we recommend reading some of their works.

These include

• Lewis Carroll
• Oscar Wilde
• JRR Tolkien
• John Betjeman
• Philip Pullman

This guide will have provided inspiration plus practical information to help plan your visit to Oxford. You will find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your travels around England in these travel guides:

• Devon Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)
• Liverpool Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary & map)
• York Travel Guide (including essential travel tips, itinerary + map)
• Peak District Travel Guide
• Lake District Travel Guide
• 10 virtual tours of famous landmarks in the UK

Looking for more inspiration for your travels in England? Check out my England Travel Planning Guide which has lots of ideas, tips and resources to plan your itinerary.

Escape to Britain

England, Scotland, & Wales Travel and Culture Blog

South East · April 22, 2019

An Oxford Day Trip: How to Spend One Day in Oxford Itinerary

Last Updated on November 28, 2022 by Sophie Nadeau

Easy to visit as a day trip from London and well worth a visit in its own right, the City of Dreaming Spires (a.k.a. Oxford) deserves a place on any UK bucket list. And with highlights such as the oldest university in England, many a museum, and some stunning architecture, there’s no shortage of things to do in this fantastic British city. Here’s your perfect guide and itinerary for how to spend one day in Oxford !

Morning in Oxford

Start your day the right way by heading to one of Oxford’s many quaint cafés for a spot of tea or a well-brewed coffee. Personal recommendations for coffee shops in the city include The Grand Café (the oldest café in England is so old that it was even mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary of 1650) and Vaults and Garden. 

The latter café, as its name would suggest, is tucked away beneath the vaults of a 14th-century building and provides excellent views onto the Radcliffe Camera (known also as the RadCam). There are indoor and outdoor seating options available. After your morning brew, head out to explore the city.

A walking tour is often the best way to get to know a city, including its many hidden gems, secret spots, and offbeat destinations. On your stroll around Oxford, be sure to spot the Oxford Castle district, the Bodleian Library (you can enter the Divinity school for a few pounds) , and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. For the best view of the city, be sure to go up the tower of St Mary the Virgin!

Afternoon in Oxford

Feeling peckish? Oxford has no shortage of fantastic cafés, brasseries, and restaurants to suit every budget. Thanks to its status as a student city, there’s plenty of cheap eats. Some of the best speciality brunch spots in the city include The Rickety Press (67 Cranham St, Oxford OX2 6DE) and The Missing Bean (14 Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DQ) , which features literary-inspired steps to actually get inside the establishment!

Post-lunch, it’s time to explore some of the University Colleges that the city is so famous for. What you may well not know before visiting Oxford, is that you can actually visit the colleges, admire their architecture, and soak up the rich history and ambience of the buildings.

Some colleges are more expensive to visit than others, while a few colleges are actually entirely free to enter! Fancy seeking out some Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford? Well, for a glimpse of the location that inspired the Harry Potter ‘Great Hall,’ head into Christ Church College (which is also where the Cathedral that makes Oxford a city can be found) .

Otherwise, entrance into Exeter College is free and provides a glimpse of university life without the price tag of many of the other colleges! Following your visit to the University, there are a few different things you could do.

Following on from the wizarding Harry Potter theme, why not scout out some other film/ book inspiration locations such as those from Alice in Wonderland? Otherwise, there are a plethora of museums to enjoy, including the free to visit Ashmolean Museum and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Evening in Oxford

Thanks to its status as a student city, there’s no shortage of drinking establishments around Oxford in the form of bars, pubs, taverns, and inns. Many of these are incredibly historical, with the Lamb & Flag alleged to be the place where Thomas Hard wrote much of Jude the Obscure and The Eagle and Child, which was once frequented by the likes of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.

However, if you’re looking for one of the most unusual things to do in Oxford, then you should undoubtedly head to the FREVD bar. Located within the walls of a former 19th-century Neo-Classical Church, this bar serves reasonably priced cocktails and has both indoor and outdoor seating.

Things to know before visiting Oxford for the first time

The city is small and compact, making it easy to walk around and enjoy all of the major Oxford attractions on foot. With this being said, there are plenty of uneven pavements and cobbled lanes, meaning you’ll want to leave your high heels at home. Instead, wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in!

Next, if you want to enjoy the city without the crowds, then you should consider a visit during the shoulder seasons. What this means is making a trip to Oxford in the late spring or early autumn, i.e. just before/ after the summer months when tourist numbers (and prices) in the city are at their highest.

Finally, the best way to enjoy Oxford is over the course of several days, meaning that you’ll likely want to book a place to stay in the city, even if it’s just for one night. Thanks to its status as a must-see destination, many of the best places to stay fill up fast. Check here for the best accommodation rates in Oxford.

How to visit Oxford as a day trip from London

Have just one day in Oxford and don’t want to miss out on anything? Be sure to wake up early! You’ll want to catch a train as soon as you can so as to pack in as much as possible during your day trip to Oxford from London. Located around 60 miles Northwest of London, there are a few ways to reach the City of Dreaming Spires from the UK capital.

Of course, you can always take a car! However, since transport links between the city are so great, and the cost of parking a car is so high, I would recommend not using this option. The cheapest way to reach the city is via bus and both National Express and the Oxford Bus Company offer service between the cities.

Last but not least, the most convenient way to get to Oxford is by train. The journey takes around an hour each way and if you purchase open-end tickets, then you’ll be free to come and go as you please. Check this website for times, prices, and further information.

Finally, if you have a little more time to explore the area, then there are plenty of wonderful side excursions and day trips to take from Oxford. The Cotswolds is on the doorstep of the university city and provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy chocolate box villages and stunning scenery. From Oxford, you can easily also visit the villages of Witney, Burford, and Bibury!

London to Oxford day trips, tours & excursions

Oxford, stratford, and cotswolds: day trip from london.

If you’re looking to enjoy multiple cities (as well as the beautiful British countryside) as a day excursion from London, then you might consider booking this tour. Included in the ticket is a full ten-hour trip to Stratford-upon-Avon (birthplace of William Shakespeare), followed by a drive through the stunning Cotswolds, and then a visit to the city of Oxford.

Check prices and availability here.

From London: Full-Day Windsor, Stonehenge & Oxford Tour

For those who are short on time but who still wish to discover some of the most iconic day trips from London, this full day trip is for you! First up, there’s the chance to see Windsor Castle (the official residence of the Queen). Next, there’s a wander around the legendary Stonehenge and finally there’s a visit to the city of Oxford.

Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip from London

Though some of the other day trips from London are wonderful if you’re looking to see everything in one go, if you prefer to travel at a slower and more relaxed pace in order to soak up each destination, then you might consider focusing on just one or two. This day tour from London to Oxford includes a chance to see picture perfect Bibury, as well as soak up the sights of Oxford itself.

Full-Day Downton Abbey, Oxford and Bampton Tour from London

Fancy seeing the real-life Dowton Abbey? Well, Highclere Castle is where the series was filmed and this day trip will take you to the country house, as well as Bampton Village, which is also featured in the hit TV series. The excursion from London will also take you to Oxford where you can enjoy the university city!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about Oxford and spending one day in the city

Is oxford worth a day trip.

In our opinion

Oxford is worth more than a day trip and you should aim to spend a long weekend in the City of Dreaming Spires if you truly want to soak up the sights and attractions that this stunning UK destination has to offer. With this being said, if you’re short on time, then a day trip from London to Oxford is well worth it and offers an exciting insight into the historic university town.

Is Oxford walkable?

Due to its compact nature (with most of the main attractions within a short distance of one another), Oxford is easily one of the most walkable cities in Europe. With this being said, there are plenty of cobbled lanes and so you’ll want to pack a good pair of shoes which are easy to walk around in (such as sneakers). Alternatively, you can see the city via a hop-on-hop off bus tour like this one.

Is Oxford expensive?

Though perhaps not quite as expensive as strolling around London for a weekend, it’s certainly fair to say that Oxford is one of the more expensive cities to visit in England, if not all of the UK. Luckily, there are plenty of free things to do in Oxford so that you can have fun in the city, no matter what your travelling budget.

Enjoyed reading about how to spend one day in Oxford? Pin it now, read it again later:

About Sophie Nadeau

Sophie Nadeau is a travel, history, and culture writer based in the UK. With a love of all things photography-related, castles, and sweet food, she runs her popular blog, solosophie.com when she's not chasing after a sunset or hiking in the English countryside.

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Meaning of travel – Learner’s Dictionary

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travel verb ( MAKE A JOURNEY )

• It costs less if you travel at the weekend .
• We hired a car so we could travel further afield .
• I have travelled extensively in Europe .
• They travelled the length and breadth of Scotland together.
• It's a film about the adventures of two friends travelling across Africa .

travel verb ( MOVE )

• Space travel may become very common in the near future .
• The price includes travel and accommodation .
• The travel company completely fouled up our holiday .
• They offer a 10 percent discount on rail travel for students .
• Over the years I've lost my taste for travel.

(Definition of travel from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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The Travel Blogger’s Guide to Oxford

By: Author Char Taylor

Categories UK

I love reading travel blogger’s advice and guides to places when I’m planning a trip, so I thought I’d round-up some of the best based on Oxford; a UK city that you really, really need to visit.

In my humble opinion the beautiful city of Oxford doesn’t really need any introductions. It has it all; quirky pubs, hidden lanes, iconic buildings, both high street stores and independent boutiques, Harry Potter magic (yes, that’s a thing), awesome cocktail spots, glam spots, hip hangouts…need I go on?!

I lived in the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ for a little bit, got married there and regularly head back for an Oxford-fix. I can’t recommend it enough.

Don’t just take my word for it though; these fellow travel bloggers have lots of praise for the city and loads of ideas for your next trip to Oxford.

Oxford is just over an hour or so from London or Birmingham, so it’s a really easy option for a weekend break (and you know how we feel about those weekenders here at The Travel Hack!).

Oxford City Guides

Okay it’s one of our own guides, but it’s handy one! In this post we share our top picks for that perfect weekend in Oxford. We’ve listed both save and splurge options, so you can tailor the trip for your own visit.

Rosie shares a snippet of her visit to the city. This post includes loads of gorgeous photos (what else would you expect from The Londoner?!) that will have you lusting for your own Oxfordian adventure.

Emily shares her itinerary for a short break in Oxford. If you’re tight on time, but want to get a good taste of the city then this guide is for you. Emily also includes some really good tips for scoring a tour of the Bodleian Library.

Short on time? If you can’t spare a whole weekend, but still want to visit Oxford you could pack a lot into just one day like Chloe. This guide includes a handy tip for enjoying great views above the city.

This guide is themed around Alice in Wonderland. If you’re a fan of the book, this particular guide is for you. It includes lots of the iconic sites and references from Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland.

I wrote this guide for my own site. What can I say? I just love this city! I’ve included tips on where to stay, what to see and do and importantly, where to eat. This guide is essentially an itinerary for a great weekend in Oxford.

This blog post shares a little of what you can expect in the city, including rough budgets/prices. If you’re watching your pennies it’s worth having a look at his guide.

If you’re more of a visual person this post is for you. It’s full of loads of photos of Oxford from the guys at Hand Luggage Only.

I love the name of this blog, but that’s not all to love. This post contains lots of gorgeous photos of the city, as well as some tips for your own trip. I second the recommendation Gee’s.

Where to Stay

Want to wake up to a view like this? Stay in this famous historical hotel and you can enjoy that and more.

For the ultimate Harry Potter experience you need to stay in one of the colleges. Emily did just that and you can read all about it in this review.

Lucy shares what it’s like to sleep behind bars. No really! If you’re looking for a stylish, quirky stay this one is definitely worth reading.

Not convinced? Lauren shares her luxurious stay at this stylish spot too. Just check out that bath (and mandatory champagne!).

Where to Eat and Drink

If you can’t afford to stay at this hotel it’s still worth visiting for the food and probably more so the cocktails. The drinks menu is massive.

What to See and Do

Another one of my posts – see I told you I love this city! I’ve rounded up seven of my fave things to do and see in Oxford. If you only do one thing, it’s surely got to be punting?!

Planning a trip to Oxford? Pin this post for later!

Sunday 26th of June 2022

Thanks so much for all this links to these Oxford posts! We plan a long awaited trip to Oxford as our base for 14 days in the UK in September. Our September 2020 trip had to be cancelled for obvious reasons I care not to mention. :) We want to make the most of our days and trust bloggers for tips. https://happywonderer.com/

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The Meaning of Travel

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Pilar Lopez-Cantero, The Meaning of Travel, The Philosophical Quarterly , Volume 71, Issue 3, July 2021, Pages 655–658, https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqaa065

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A philosopher's inquiry on travel may take different paths. Emily Thomas follows several in The Meaning of Travel , where she uncovers novel philosophical debates such as the ontology of maps or the ethics of ‘doom tourism’. Perhaps unexpectedly for the reader, Thomas also offers accessible and engaging discussions on—mostly Early—Modern philosophy by connecting travel-related topics to the work of some well-known authors (René Descartes and Francis Bacon), some unjustly neglected ones (Margaret Cavendish) and some known mostly to specialists (Henry More). The result of this bric-a-brac approach is mostly positive: Thomas's work stands out as an entertaining, insightful read, suitable for a wide readership, whilst also having the potential to be a foundational text in the philosophy of travel. And I agree with Thomas: philosophy of travel ‘isn’t a thing, but it should be’ (p. 3).

The book has twelve short, self-standing chapters that I divide here into two categories: chapters concerning the philosophy of travel and chapters attending to other philosophical themes that Thomas then connects with travel. Let us start with the first category. Chapter 1 convincingly states the case for the philosophical investigation of travel, and introduces the idea of travelling as the discovery of the unfamiliar, the exploration of ‘otherness’ (p. 3). In Chapter 2, on maps and cartography, Thomas impeccably combines a one-page, layperson-oriented definition of ontology with the launch of an intriguing question of concern to metaphysicians: Are maps things or processes? She believes they are the latter (p. 24), a point that is illustrated by the fact that we currently rely mostly on online maps—which, arguably, cannot be static things given their constant updating. This is an excellent chapter.

The following travel-focused discussion takes place in Chapter 5, on the origins of tourism. Tourism, says Thomas, was born when people started to travel by choice and for pleasure (p. 69). More recently, we travel to open up to the world by facing our fears (p. 84), to be able to brag to our friends (ibid.), and for ‘interior voyages’ of self-discovery (p. 85). This chapter contains a lot of historical trivia about the Grand Tour (the European adventure for young, wealthy British men in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries). It is both interesting and amusing, particularly the birth of the continental trope of debauchery-prone Brits abroad (pp. 78–9), which still pervades in some parts of Europe (the examples of Magaluf or Amsterdam come to mind, although the parallel with the present seems to have escaped Thomas).

Chapter 10 reveals the other side of the Grand Tour's story by launching the question of whether travel is a male concept. Whereas men were encouraged to embark in leisure travelling from its origin, women had to disguise themselves as men or use travel as a pretext for ‘ladylike pursuits’ such as painting (pp. 170–1). Again, the chapter is mostly historical, although Thomas also offers an explanation of the concept of gender for non-philosophers and highlights that in many cultures maleness is connected to adventure and exploration, while femaleness is usually tied to ‘home’ (p. 175).

Finally, Chapter 11 explores the ethics of ‘doom tourism’, that is, travelling to places that are bound to disappear due to climate challenges. Thomas reveals a moral dilemma: while mass tourism may destroy these places faster, it may be that their precarious situation can only become known via the mouths of travellers (or ‘tourist ambassadors’, p. 183). This raises the question of what exactly it means to travel responsibly. Then, Chapter 12 delves on space tourism to reflect on the fact that travelling changes people, and specifically changes how they feel about their home places (pp. 190–1).

In the second group of chapters, Thomas connects travel to the work of several philosophers from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. This is the time of the explorers and the birth of tourism, which shape the structure of the book, and Thomas's works showcase how the work of philosophers reached beyond the armchair in the shape of Bacon's philosophy of science (Chapter 3), Locke's metaethics (Chapter 4), or More's philosophy of space (Chapter 7). Cavendish's account of matter in her fantasy short story Blazing World , which Thomas considers both a travel book and a thought experiment, receives long-deserved limelight in Chapter 6. There is also a place for discussing the sublime as an aesthetic concept (Chapter 8) and Thoreau influence on environmental thought (Chapter 9).

It is no minor feat to make the history of philosophy interesting for the non-specialist while trying to explain complex philosophical concepts in plain words. There aren’t either many philosophy books where one lifts one's head from the book to tell whomever is in the room yet another interesting anecdote (and does so often). However, the connection between travel and these authors (and, in turn, with chunks of the author's own travel diary) is not always done as seamlessly at it could be. These links often require stretches of thought, which Thomas, I believe, is too quick to endorse (More's influence on our view on mountains and Thoreau's link to the popularity of ‘cabin porn’ are two examples of this tendency).

I believe that the main strength of The Meaning of Travel is the chapters on the philosophy of travel, to the point of deserving a foundational status in the branch. Thomas launches more questions than she answers, but we must remember that this is not a book ‘for academic eyes only’. The type of answers a certain kind of philosopher may demand would have resulted in a completely different work—one with a way narrower reach. This book's academic value lies in the formulation of travel-focused questions on ontology (maps), ethics (responsible tourism), and political and social philosophy (personal change, gender), which by themselves deserve a philosophical branch of their own.

These questions that Thomas puts forward are not only of interest to people shielding in philosophy departments, but have a direct link to current affairs. I am referring specifically to the distinction between traveller and tourist, and to the notion of responsible travel (or responsible tourism, since these questions are related but independent of each other). Several local authorities (like those of Amsterdam, Barcelona, or Venice) have long raised the alarm regarding the effect mass tourism has on their homes. This is directly related to Thomas's doom tourism (in fact, Venice is in the list of disappearing destinations she reproduces in p. 181), but is put in slightly different terms by leaders in these mass destinations. Whereas travelling to environmentally challenged locations may be put in terms of responsibility, as Thomas does, the mayors of Amsterdam or Barcelona have been calling for quality tourism. But what is quality tourism? Is this a matter of the experiences travellers are seeking, of being more like those who embark on an interior voyage than the party-prone Grand Tourists? Thomas's book is definitely the place to begin with to answer this question, which I think will benefit from the input of political philosophers. After all, the lowering of the ‘quality’ of tourism seems to have followed the lowering of the cost of travelling, and hence opens a sub-debate on fairness and travelling as a human capability—this is an example of how Thomas's work opens a number of new, fascinating questions, which will shape the discipline of philosophy of travel in the coming years. (A side note here: at the time of publication of this review, the global health crisis has decimated international travel, but I believe that does not do away with these issues; if anything, it offers some space to have these debates.)

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A Dictionary of Travel and Tourism  

Allan beaver.

Over 6,500 entries

Provides over 6,500 definitions of travel and tourism terminology, including the operating language of the travel industry, acronyms of organizations, associations, and trade bodies, IT terms, and brand names. Completely up to date, this dictionary covers the implications of web technology and social media on the travel and tourism industry, as well as new products and services, such as e-tickets, home-based travel agents, awareness amongst consumers and within the industry of terror-threatened travel, recent changes in legislation, and environmental concerns.

Useful appendices include the World Tourism Organization Global Code of Ethics for Tourism , the recommended tourism syllabus content for Higher Education courses worldwide, and a list of the EC Neutral Computerized Reservation System Rules . Providing a wealth of information on one of the fastest-growing global industries of the 21st century, this dictionary is the ideal point of reference for students taking travel, tourism, and hospitality courses, as well as professionals working within these areas.

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Allan Beaver is an expert in the fields of travel and tourism, and is Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University and Director of Beaver Travel . Previous publications include Mind Your Own Travel Business (1993), Travel Agency Layout, Equipment and Design (1989), and Air Fares Guide (1995).

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The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad, by Emily Thomas

Book of the week: richard larschan enjoys a wide-ranging survey of the deep intellectual insights and disputes thrown up by the experience of travel .

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No one could ask for a more congenial companion than Emily Thomas on her 2,000-plus year journey through The Meaning of Travel for major Western philosophers from Plato to Simone de Beauvoir. Mainly addressing the uninitiated “common reader”, her book incorporates Thomas’ personal experiences in Alaska and the Arctic Circle into established philosophical perspectives on travel – everything from tourism to space exploration. Along the way, she contends, “Asking questions about travel, and exploring ways philosophy has changed travel, can help us think more deeply about our journeys.”

Most of her dozen or so chapters on the significance of travel can be classified under traditional philosophical categories – ethics, epistemology, theology, logic, aesthetics and so on – and include general discussion of the intellectual and emotional enrichment that travel provides. Thus, while Montaigne maintains that exposure to other societies “forces us to expand and rethink what we know”, Bertrand Russell argues that “living abroad diminishes prejudice”. Both, however, leave open the question of what, if any, practical benefits accrue from travel.

For increasing numbers of “natural philosophers” such as Francis Bacon, data collected by early 17th-century explorers helped produce insights based on direct observation – regardless of whether the collected data had immediate application. Margaret Cavendish, on the other hand, insisted that newly acquired knowledge was valuable only when it had practical consequences – when “we know how to Increase our Breed of Animals, and our Stores of Vegetables, and to find out the Minerals for our Use”. Thomas is at her best explaining these sorts of disputes among philosophers, often by positioning antagonists in direct dialogue.

She also recounts the disagreement between Immanuel Kant and Mary Wollstonecraft arising from ideas introduced by Edmund Burke’s Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful (1757). Kant argued for a gendered distinction between the “sublime” and the “beautiful”, insisting that “men should be sublime, and women should be beautiful”; whereas Wollstonecraft rejects (categorically!) any such idea that discounts women’s intellectual beauty. Burke had helped instigate the dispute by distinguishing between the “ pleasurable terror ” arising from the sheer magnitude of the Swiss Alps or the ocean’s depths and the quasi-erotic sensations afforded by the neck and breasts of a beautiful woman: “the smoothness; the softness; the easy and insensible swell”. (Applying Burke’s distinction, even Wyoming’s suggestively named Grand Teton Mountains would be considered more “sublime” than “beautiful”.)

As a further instance of philosophical contentiousness, Thomas examines the dispute between Ralph Waldo Emerson and his disciple, Henry David Thoreau, over the meaning and value of Nature. She reminds us that, for a student of Plato such as Emerson, “our world is merely an imperfect shadow” of another, more fundamental domain, “concealing the deeper [transcendent] reality of its creator”; whereas for Thoreau “nature is a power in itself”, attesting to the immanence of God. As throughout much of her book, she does not attempt to arbitrate among her subjects. Rather, she guides readers to where previous research has addressed the issues at hand.

The ethical implications of material objects such as maps, microscopes and telescopes also figure prominently in Thomas’ discussion of philosophers and travel. Reminding us of Brian Harley’s conclusions in his article “Deconstructing the Map” (published in 1989 and so well before the existence of Google Maps), she notes that cartographers were engaged in the “process” of guiding our perceptions, not simply representing objective reality; maps embody political and moral relativism through how they depict our three-dimensional world in two dimensions.

In her longest chapter, mainly devoted to Margaret Cavendish’s Blazing World (1666), Thomas identifies a tradition of philosophers engaging in “thought experiments” through fictional travel narratives, including Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) and Cyrano de Bergerac’s Journey to the Moon (1657). She could easily have included Gulliver’s visit to the Academy of Lagado, where crazed Projectors attempt to turn excrement back into food. Similarly, Cavendish’s tale of an abducted woman at the North Pole rescued by Bear-men includes a critique of microscopy for failing to “discover the interior motions of things” as well as for misrepresenting “ exterior shapes and motions” by magnifying distortions. Yet Thomas adds that “today, we know microscopy has oodles of uses” – the understatement of all understatements.

Her chapter on the ethics of ecotourism, on the other hand, is especially timely. Referring to a problem that has become known as “the ‘paradox’ of doom tourism”, Thomas recapitulates the arguments for and against her own decision to visit ecologically at-risk places such as Denali Park before it is too late. Here again, she recounts arguments put forward by others such as Allen Carlson, whose 1979 paper “Appreciation and the Natural Environment” weighs the costs and benefits of ecotourism: further damaging the environment versus increasing awareness of the problem.

Likewise, Thomas’ chapter on travel as an activity gendered as male reminds us of the cultural bias against female travellers. This is one of the few instances where she strikes out polemically – and literally – on her own, arguing that the male gendering of travel is problematic because it discounts the experiences of significant female travellers such as Mary Kingsley (who published Travels in West Africa in 1867). It thereby discourages women from experiencing the world beyond their assigned domestic sphere – something Thomas’ own travel adventures help to combat.

On occasion, she travels somewhat beyond her own comfort zone – and not just when she plods through a waist-high snowdrift along Alaska’s Dalton Highway. Among the book’s dozen playful illustrations is one of Gulliver representing the idea that relative size is not an index to moral understanding because “small things can be just as valuable as large ones” and “the size of a thing need not affect its value”. While some male readers will undoubtedly find this reassuring, Thomas mistakenly views Swift’s Lilliputians as sympathetic miniature “thinking, feeling being[s]” rather than diminutive embodiments of the absurd pride and pettiness Swift was satirising.

Overall, however, The Meaning of Travel succeeds in offering an engaging primer on how travel has transformed both what we know and how we think. Occasionally, Thomas risks talking down to her readers, as when she recaps Genesis’ story of The Fall, belabours the distinction between gender and sex or defines aesthetics as “the study of beauty and art”. But even if undergraduates feel somewhat patronised by such statements of the obvious, her chapter on “Sex, Education, and the Grand Tour” will likely ring true to their own travel experiences in quest of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

From what Thomas calls her “vintage” preliminary travel tips – for example on how to “avoid being eaten” – to her “vintage” warnings in the epilogue not to “bore people with travel talk” when you get back, her breezy style prevents her account of travel philosophy from ever boring readers. Along the way, she forever puts to rest Morris Zapp’s assertion, in David Lodge’s 1975 novel Changing Places, that “travel narrows”. What bitter irony that this book should appear in the very year Brexit will be implemented and governments around the world imposed lockdowns on their citizens to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Richard J. Larschan is English professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth .

The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad By Emily Thomas Oxford University Press, 245pp, £14.99 ISBN 9780198835400 Published 27 February 2020

Emily Thomas, associate professor in philosophy at Durham University , studied for her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Birmingham , where, she recalls, “the philosophy department was exceptionally friendly: it taught me how to debate critically and amicably”. From there she went on to a PhD at the University of Cambridge , which proved “wonderful in other ways”, and she “fell into history of philosophy. I was at Christ’s College, which probably helped: it has a (freezing!) outdoor pool, overlooked by statues of 17th-century philosophers Henry More and Ralph Cudworth.”

Although her previous writing has been on more specialist philosophical themes such as theories of reality, Thomas sees many links with The Meaning of Travel , which is aimed at a more general audience. For a start, she explains, “I had already worked on many of the philosophers involved: Descartes, John Locke, Margaret Cavendish. My earlier work also fed into the book in unexpected ways. For example, I’ve worked on Henry More’s theory of space, which affected mountain tourism. I’ve also worked on issues around women in philosophy, which carried over well to women in travel.”

Always a keen traveller, Thomas looks back on her twenties as “a cycle of working, saving and spending all my money on travelling. I’ve spent several years backpacking by myself, through parts of the Middle East, Asia, the Americas…Travel has always been a privilege, but the current, worldwide travel restrictions are unprecedented. We are losing opportunities to see unfamiliar places. But real-world travel isn’t the only way of engaging with the unknown. We can also armchair-travel: learn about the world from the fireside, talk, read books. The world is changing swiftly right now, and I think we’ll need all the understanding and reflection we can get.”

Matthew Reisz

POSTSCRIPT:

Print headline: A grand tour of thinkers’ trails

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The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad

Emily thomas.

Sunday, 2 April 2023

Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room

£7 - £12.50

Philosophy professor Emily Thomas delves deep into how we think about travel and throws light on why we do it.

Thomas ranges from the 16th century, when philosophers first began thinking and writing about travel, to the 21st century and how space travel might affect understanding of our place in the universe. She looks at the thoughts of Montaigne on otherness, John Locke on cannibals, and Henry Thoreau on wilderness. Thomas examines how the philosophy of space fuelled mountain tourism and offers thoughts on ‘doom tourism’ – why we travel to doomed places such as glaciers and coral reefs.

Thomas is assistant professor in philosophy at Durham University. She has published widely on the philosophy of space and time and on philosophical issues in travel.

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R eading books brings with it numerous benefits giving people the opportunity to explore new worlds and meet new people both real and imagined. It expands our knowledge and understanding of the world around us and those far away.

To celebrate the wonderment of books and those that make them come to life, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established 23 April as World Book and Copyright Day in 1995. However, it got its start long before that in Spain.

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Fundamentally, it is a celebration of the enjoyment of books, reading and storytelling. World Book and Copyright Day is a recognition of power of books to cross space, time and generations, uniting cultures and linking the present with the future and the past.

Literature is a powerful and effective tool to transmit information and knowledge worldwide, promoting culture, education and science. The World Book and Copyright Day is a time for nations to share the message that books can help address challenges which societies around the world and as whole we currently face. Through understanding the economic and political realities that we’re presented with, it is possible to combat inequalities and misinformation.

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In 1995, the UNESCO General Conference decided to pay homage to authors and books world-wide as a way of encouraging everyone to access books. Choosing 23 April seemed a logical choice, besides being the date of Cervante’s death, it also happens to be the date William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died, among other prominent authors. Additionally, several distinguished authors were born on 23 April making it a symbolic date in the world of literature.

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The UNESCO World Book Capital

Annually since 2001, one city around the world is chosen to be the UNESCO World Book Capital for a year. The selected city is tasked with carrying out activities over its year-long designation to encourage “a culture of reading and diffusing its values in all ages and population groups in and out of the national borders.”

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Following those designations cities are chosen each year by the Director-General of UNESCO in consultation with an advisory committee made up of representatives from international organizations representing authors, libraries and publishers.

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Definition of tourism noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• The area is heavily dependent on tourism.
• the tourism industry
• The tourism sector is expected to grow by 9.7 percent per annum.
• have/​take (British English) a holiday/ (North American English) a vacation/​a break/​a day off/ (British English) a gap year
• go on/​be on holiday/​vacation/​leave/​honeymoon/​safari/​a trip/​a tour/​a cruise/​a pilgrimage
• go backpacking/​camping/​hitchhiking/​sightseeing
• plan a trip/​a holiday/​a vacation/​your itinerary
• book accommodation/​a hotel room/​a flight/​tickets
• have/​make/​cancel a reservation/ (especially British English) booking
• rent a villa/ (both British English) a holiday home/​a holiday cottage
• (especially British English) hire/ (especially North American English) rent a car/​bicycle/​moped
• stay in a hotel/​a bed and breakfast/​a youth hostel/​a villa/ (both British English) a holiday home/​a caravan
• cost/​charge $100 a/​per night for a single/​double/​twin/​standard/ (British English) en suite room
• check into/​out of a hotel/​a motel/​your room
• pack/​unpack your suitcase/​bags
• call/​order room service
• cancel/​cut short a trip/​holiday/​vacation
• apply for/​get/​renew a/​your passport
• take out/​buy/​get travel insurance
• catch/​miss your plane/​train/​ferry/​connecting flight
• fly (in)/travel in business/​economy class
• make/​have a brief/​two-day/​twelve-hour stopover/ (North American English also) layover in Hong Kong
• experience/​cause/​lead to delays
• check (in)/collect/​get/​lose (your) (especially British English) luggage/ (especially North American English) baggage
• be charged for/​pay excess baggage
• board/​get on/​leave/​get off the aircraft/​plane/​ship/​ferry
• taxi down/​leave/​approach/​hit/​overshoot the runway
• experience/​hit/​encounter severe turbulence
• suffer from/​recover from/​get over your jet lag/​travel sickness
• attract/​draw/​bring tourists/​visitors
• encourage/​promote/​hurt tourism
• promote/​develop ecotourism
• build/​develop/​visit a tourist/​holiday/ (especially British English) seaside/​beach/​ski resort
• work for/​be operated by a major hotel chain
• be served by/​compete with low-cost/ (especially North American English) low-fare/​budget airlines
• book something through/​make a booking through/​use a travel agent
• contact/​check with your travel agent/​tour operator
• book/​be on/​go on a package deal/​holiday/​tour
• buy/​bring back (tacky/​overpriced) souvenirs
• The town survives mainly through tourism.
• Tourism chiefs in York are drawing up plans to attract more people.
• With the expansion of air travel, tourism boomed.
• We hope that this investment will lead to increased tourism in the area.
• the world's first commercial space tourism operator
• international
• through tourism
• a decline in tourism
• a downturn in tourism
• a drop in tourism

Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press!

Other results

• medical tourism
• health tourism

Nearby words

• International

Trump criminal trial wraps for the day after opening statements and first witness

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell in the courthouse

Key takeaways from opening statements and the first witness in Trump's hush money trial

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell

Prosecutors and Trump’s attorneys delivered opening statements and the first witness — a former National Enquirer publisher — was called Monday in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of a former president.

Each side got their first chance to lay out a theory of the case for jurors. Prosecutors told jurors that the reimbursement of hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels was part of a larger conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election.

The former president’s attorneys responded by telling the jury that Trump was innocent and not involved in the creation of the 34 business records he’s charged with falsifying. They also pointedly added that there’s “nothing wrong with trying to influence an election.”

Here are key takeaways from Monday:

• Prosecutors say Trump schemed "to corrupt the 2016 presidential election": The district attorney’s office framed the case for jurors as illegal payments to try to influence illicitly influence the 2016 election that Trump then tried to illegally cover up by falsifying business records. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo walked the jury through Trump’s efforts, along with Michael Cohen and former American Media Inc., chief David Pecker, to keep damaging information from coming to light during the 2016 election.
• Defense says Donald Trump is innocent: Defense attorney Todd Blanche began his opening statement with a simple assertion: “Donald Trump is innocent.” Blanche told the jury that the story isn’t as simple as prosecutors laid out and argued that Trump was not involved with any of the business records he’s accused of falsifying beyond signing the checks. Blanche didn’t dispute the paper trail existed, but he argued to the jury there was nothing illegal about signing non-disclosure agreements — or trying to influence an election.
• Tabloid publisher testifies first: Prosecutors called former AMI CEO David Pecker as the first witness in their case against Trump. He testified for less than 30 minutes Monday morning before the trial adjourned for the day. He’s expected to continue testifying Tuesday. Colangelo teed up the former tabloid publisher as a key player in Trump’s “catch and kill” scheme to control the public narrative about him ahead of the 2016 election.
• Gag order hearing will lead off court on Tuesday: Before the trial resumes Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan is holding a hearing on allegations that Trump violated the judge’s gag order barring discussion of witnesses. The district attorney’s office asked the judge to fine Trump $1,000 for each of several gag order violations leading up to and since the trial started. In addition to the fines, prosecutors want the judge to remind Trump he could be imprisoned if he continues to disobey the order.
• Trump was thinking about the $175 million bond hearing down the street: Meanwhile, other lawyers for Trump were in a courtroom a block away arguing over the legitimacy of the $175 million bond Trump posted to appeal the judgment in his civil fraud trial. Trump, who could not attend the civil hearing because he’s required to attend each day of the criminal trial, railed against Attorney General Letitia James.

Fact check: Trump falsely claims Michael Cohen’s crimes "had nothing to do with me"

From CNN’s Daniel Dale

Speaking to reporters Monday after opening statements in his criminal trial in Manhattan, former President Donald Trump declared that the crimes committed by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen “had nothing to do with me.” 

Cohen is expected to be a key  witness for the prosecution . Trump said: “The things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me. He got in trouble; he went to jail. This has nothing to do with me. This had to do with the taxicab company that he owned, which is just something he owned – and medallions and borrowing money and a lot of things – but it had nothing to do with me.” 

Facts First:  Trump’s claim that Cohen’s prison sentence “had nothing to do with me” is false. Cohen’s three-year sentence in 2018 was for  multiple crimes , some of which were directly related to Trump. Most notably, Cohen was sentenced for  campaign finance offenses   connected to a hush money scheme  during the 2016 presidential campaign to conceal Trump’s alleged extramarital relationships -- the same hush money scheme that is central to this prosecution against Trump. Cohen was  also sentenced to two months in prison , to run concurrently with the three-year sentence, for  lying to Congress in 2017 in relation to previous talks about the possibility of building a Trump Tower in Moscow, Russia , including about the  extent of Trump’s involvement in the aborted Moscow initiative  and about when in 2016 the discussions ended. (The discussions continued into June 2016, the month after Trump  became the presumptive Republican nominee , and did not conclude in January 2016 before the first votes were cast, as Cohen had claimed.)

Referring to Trump as “Individual-1,” Cohen  said  at the time of his 2018 guilty plea for making false statements to the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: “I made these statements to be consistent with Individual-1’s political messaging and out of loyalty to Individual-1.” When Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to the campaign finance violations, he  said  he broke the law “in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office,” Trump. 

David Pecker is an important witness in prosecutor's quest to prove criminal intent, legal analyst says

From CNN's Elise Hammond

David Pecker will be back on the stand on Tuesday to continue testimony in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump. Not only is he the first witness to answer questions from the prosecution, but he is also a critical piece of how the state is trying to prove criminal intent, one former federal prosecutor said.

Criminal intent means that “not just an act happened, but an act happened for a purpose,” said Elliot Williams, a CNN legal analyst. “The defendant did something wrong to carry out some criminal purpose.”

As the then-chairman of American Media Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer, Pecker was involved in numerous “catch-and-kill” schemes he orchestrated on behalf of Trump, and he allegedly helped broker the deal with adult film star Stormy Daniels which is at the center of  the case.

“It’s not just the catch-and-kill payments, but catch-and-kill payments for the purpose of concealing information from voters in the context of an election,” Williams explained, referring to the 2016 presidential election. 

Williams said it’s likely that prosecutors will focus much of their questioning trying to uncover what was discussed in meetings between Pecker and Trump.

The question at the heart of the argument, Williams said, is if the payments were intended to conceal information from voters, “or was it just Donald Trump saying, ‘Well, you know, this is embarrassing to my wife and my kids, I really want to keep this hidden.’”

Read about the stages of Trump's criminal trial — and what they mean 

From CNN's Lauren del Valle, Jhasua Razo and Gillian Roberts

Former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trial is expected to take six to eight weeks from start to finish.

This trial, related to a  hush money payment  to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, is the first of  four ongoing criminal cases  that are expected to head to trial for the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee.

Now that opening statements are done, prosecutors are presenting trial evidence through witness testimony and exhibits. David Pecker, the ex-publisher of the National Enquirer, will resume testimony Tuesday.

Defense attorneys can cross examine the prosecution’s witnesses and typically aim to discredit their testimony. Witnesses’ responses are considered evidence, but not the questions posed by an attorney.

Read more about the stages of the trial, and what they mean here.

Michael Cohen jabs back at Trump's claim that Cohen's crimes have nothing to do with him

From CNN's Laura Dolan

Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness in Donald Trump’s criminal trial, jabbed back at his former boss in response to comments Trump made about him outside the courtroom Monday.

Speaking to reporters in the courtroom hallway after court concluded, Trump said Cohen’s crimes have “nothing to do with me."

“He got in trouble, he went to jail. This has nothing to do with me,” said Trump. “This had to do with the taxicab company that he owned, which is just something he owned — and medallions and borrowing money.”

Shortly after those comments. Cohen posted on social media, “Hey Von ShitzInPantz … your attacks of me stink of desperation. We are all hoping that you take the stand in your defense. 

Cohen, who is Trump’s former attorney, served time in federal prison after pleading guilty to breaking federal campaign laws when he facilitated the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, which is directly linked to the charges against Trump.  As for the taxi medallions that Trump referenced, Cohen was also sentenced for tax evasion related to a taxi medallion enterprise and lying to a bank in relation to a home loan. 

Trump is under a gag order and was ordered by Judge Juan Merchan not to comment about any witnesses in the trial.

CNN's Daniel Dale contributed to this post.

See courtroom sketches from today's Trump trial

No cameras are allowed inside the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump's hush money trial is underway, but a sketch artist captured the scene as opening statements unfolded and the first witness took the stand.

Biden builds early advertising edge as Trump spends millions on legal fees

From CNN's David Wright

President Joe Biden and his allies have nearly tripled Donald Trump’s network in ad spending over the last month and a half while the former president has had to devote millions of campaign funds to legal expenses — and sit in a New York courthouse for his hush money trial.

Since March 6, after Super Tuesday when Trump effectively secured the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, through April 21, Biden’s campaign and other Democratic advertisers spent $27.2 million on advertising for the presidential race, while the Trump campaign and GOP advertisers spent about $9.3 million, according to AdImpact data.

Ad spending data (presidential race, March 6 to April 21)

• Democrats: $27,153,293
• Republicans: $9,344,948

During that time, Biden's campaign has spent millions in key battleground states, including $4.1 million in Michigan, $3.9 million in Pennsylvania, and at least $2 million in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Georgia. And the Biden network has used its plentiful airtime to promote the administration’s first-term record and slam Trump, focusing on key issues such as the  cost of living  and  abortion rights .

Meanwhile, Trump’s network has failed to match that effort since he became the presumptive nominee, though a pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., recently ramped up its advertising, booking over $1 million worth of airtime in Pennsylvania to coincide with Biden’s recent campaign swing through the state last week.

Trump has also benefited over that stretch from a nearly $3 million anti-Biden campaign from outside groups aligned with the oil and gas industries, which have been  running ads  in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, criticizing California fuel standards  defended  by the Biden administration. But despite some recent signs of activity, Trump’s network has been significantly outspent on the airwaves since his general election matchup with Biden came into focus. And  the latest round of FEC filings  shows how Biden’s fundraising edge is enabling that advertising advantage, as Trump’s ongoing legal battles drain millions from his campaign coffers.  

How we got here: A timeline of the Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels hush money case

From CNN’s Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell, Annette Choi and Gillian Roberts 

The first criminal trial of a US ex-president is underway in New York, where former President Donald Trump faces charges from the Manhattan District attorney related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. 

This is the first of four criminal cases expected to go to trial for Trump, also the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee. CNN compiled a timeline of the key events leading up to the historic trial. 

Here’s how we got here: 

• September 2016: Donald Trump discusses a $150,000 hush money payment understood to be for former Playboy model Karen McDougal with Michael Cohen who secretly records the conversation . McDougal has alleged she had an extramarital affair with Trump beginning in 2006, which he has denied. 
• October 7, 2016: The Washington Post releases an "Access Hollywood" video from 2005 in which Trump uses vulgar language to describe his sexual approach to women with then show host Billy Bush. 
• October 27, 2016: According to prosecutors, Cohen pays Daniels $130,000 to her attorney through a shell company in exchange for her silence about an affair she allegedly had with Trump in 2006. This $130,000 sum is separate from the $150,000 paid to McDougal. Trump has publicly denied having any affairs and has denied making the payments. 
• November 8, 2016: Trump secures the election to become the 45th president of the United States. 
• February 2017: Prosecutors say Cohen meets with Trump in the Oval Office to confirm how he would be reimbursed for the hush money payment Cohen fronted to Daniels. Under the plan, Cohen would send a series of false invoices requesting payment for legal services he performed pursuant to a retainer agreement and receive monthly checks for $35,000 for a total of $420,000 to cover the payment, his taxes and a bonus, prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors also allege there was never a retainer agreement. 
• January 2018: The Wall Street Journal breaks news about the hush money payment Cohen made to Daniels in 2016. 

See the full timeline.  

Trump is also facing charges in 3 other criminal cases

From CNN’s Devan Cole, Amy O'Kruk and Curt Merrill 

The hush money criminal trial against former President Donald Trump is just one of  four criminal cases  he faces while juggling his presidential campaign.

The former president is facing at least  88 charges  over the four criminal indictments in Georgia, New York, Washington, DC, and Florida. Trump has pleaded not guilty to every charge in these cases. 

Here's a recap of each case: 

• Hush money:  Trump was first indicted in March 2023 by the Manhattan district attorney on state charges related to a hush-money payment to an adult film star in 2016. Prosecutors allege Trump was part of an illegal conspiracy to  undermine  the integrity of the 2016 election. Further, they allege he was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information, including the $130,000 payment. 
• Classified documents:  Trump was indicted in June 2023 by a federal grand jury in Miami for taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the government’s attempts to retrieve the materials. The National Archives said in early 2022 that at least 15 boxes of White House records were recovered from the estate, including   some that were classified . The charges were brought by special counsel Jack Smith. 
• Federal election interference:  Smith separately charged the former president last August with four crimes over his efforts to reverse the 2020 election results. The indictment alleges Trump and a co-conspirator "attempted to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol by calling lawmakers to convince them ... to delay the certification" of the election. That case is currently on hold as the Supreme Court weighs Trump’s claims of presidential immunity in the matter. 
• Fulton County:  State prosecutors in Georgia brought a similar election subversion case against Trump and others. An Atlanta-based grand jury on August 14, 2023, indicted Trump and 18 others on state charges stemming from their alleged efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 electoral defeat. A trial date has not yet been set in that case. 

Read more about  the four criminal cases  Trump faces.  

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