A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Oxford vs. Inverness for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Oxford or Inverness?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oxford or Inverness, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Oxford

Oxford is a scholarly, collegiate, and beautiful college town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Inverness

Inverness is a traditional, local, and historic city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Oxford and Inverness: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oxford or Inverness?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Inverness. Although Oxford and Inverness are popular destinations, Inverness has more sights and attractions for tourists. Inverness is very popular for its food and shopping, while Oxford attracts visitors for its nightlife, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Inverness is more touristy than Oxford and is popular for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. It is also well known for Loch Ness. Oxford is famous for being home to one of the world's most notable universities.

How is Oxford different from Inverness?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Inverness and Oxford. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Oxford or Inverness?

Spend time exploring the excellent sights and museums in either Oxford or Inverness.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Oxford can be an interesting and educational experience. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Inverness. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

Is the Food Better in Oxford or Inverness? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Inverness. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Oxford. In addition to the typical British pubs and fish and chips shops, you'll find a wide diversity of ethnic food around town. Thai, sushi, Indian, and more are common dining options. Head to the Oxford Covered Market to try a traditional British breakfast or have some delicious ice cream.

Is Oxford or Inverness Better for Nightlife?

Oxford is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Oxford offers plenty to do in the evening. As a college town, you'll find an active nightlife scene with trivia nights and plenty of parties. There are pubs around town where you can grab a drink or find out if there's a concert while you're in town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Is the Shopping Better in Oxford or Inverness?

Inverness is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Inverness. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Oxford offers some nice shopping areas. Shops around town offer the perfect opportunity to pick up some Oxford gear or by a few items from the Harry Potter franchise.

Is Oxford or Inverness Better for Families?

Oxford and Inverness are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Oxford is a family-friendly college town. Families will enjoy taking a paddle boat out on the water and exploring the beautiful setting. There are also a number of sights that were influential in the making of Harry Potter. In particular, you'll find the inspiration for the "Great Hall" if you take a tour of Christ Church College. The tour must be booked in advance and they often sell out. Older kids will also enjoy exploring the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Inverness. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Is Oxford or Inverness Better for Couples?

Oxford is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Oxford is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful campus and striking architecture make this a great destination for romance. Hire a boat and explore the water or wander through one of the impressive gardens.

Inverness is a good college town for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Oxford or Inverness Better for Students?

Oxford is terrific for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Oxford. At its heart, Oxford is a college town and students are at the heart of the city and its culture.

Inverness is not popular with students.

Is Oxford or Inverness Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oxford is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Oxford has a few public transit options. There are buses available if your legs get tired.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Oxford or Inverness a more walkable city?

Oxford and Inverness are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Oxford is very walkable. The best way to explore most of the town is on foot, so you can soak up the full collegiate atmosphere.

Inverness is a very walkable college town. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Oxford Worth Visiting? and Is Inverness Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Inverness or Oxford?

How long in Oxford or Inverness?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Oxford and Inverness. In our opinion, Oxford has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Oxford than Inverness. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Inverness than Oxford. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Inverness, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Oxford than Inverness. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Oxford that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Oxford than Inverness if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Oxford.

One day in Oxford or Inverness?

Even though Oxford is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Oxford has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Inverness. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Oxford or Inverness?

Oxford is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this college town has to offer. This college town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Inverness is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Oxford or Inverness?

Oxford is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Oxford or Inverness?

Oxford is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Inverness. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oxford and Inverness, we can see that Inverness is more expensive. And not only is Oxford much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Oxford would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oxford and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness than you might in Oxford.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oxford Expensive? and Is Inverness Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Oxford or Inverness?

Oxford has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Oxford and Inverness, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Oxford or Inverness?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Oxford or Inverness in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Oxford as well as Inverness. Most visitors come to Oxford for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Oxford is a little warmer than Inverness. Typically, the summer temperatures in Oxford in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Inverness averages at about 14°C (58°F).

In the summer, Oxford often gets more sunshine than Inverness. Oxford gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Inverness receives 147 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets less rain in July than Inverness. Oxford gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Inverness in the Autumn?

Both Inverness and Oxford are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Oxford because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Inverness this time of year.

In October, Oxford is generally a little warmer than Inverness. Daily temperatures in Oxford average around 11°C (52°F), and Inverness fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Oxford usually receives more sunshine than Inverness during autumn. Oxford gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Inverness receives 84 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Oxford usually receives around the same amount of rain as Inverness. Oxford gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Oxford or Inverness in the Winter?

Both Inverness and Oxford during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Oxford this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Inverness. It's quite cold in Oxford in the winter. Oxford is around the same temperature as Inverness in the winter. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Inverness fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Oxford often gets more sunshine than Inverness. Oxford gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Inverness receives 42 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Inverness. Oxford gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Inverness in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Oxford and Inverness. Many travelers come to Oxford for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Inverness in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Oxford is a little warmer than Inverness. Typically, the spring temperatures in Oxford in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Inverness averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Oxford usually receives more sunshine than Inverness during spring. Oxford gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Inverness receives 136 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Oxford usually receives more rain than Inverness. Oxford gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Inverness and Oxford