Coffee, Craft Beer and Indie Art on Cowley Road in Oxford, England

When people visit England, their trips often start or stop in London. Because the country’s sprawling capital has enough neighborhoods to suit the tastes of any type of traveler, Oxford, the city’s neighbor just an hour west, often receives a bit of neglect, designated as a day-trip destination. But Oxford, best known for its distinguished university, boasts more than architectural tours and century-old pubs serving fish and chips. Just take a walk 15 minutes off High Street to experience the best of the small city’s independent food, drink and entertainment offerings on Cowley Road.

1. The Bear & The Bean

Photo by Rachel Eubanks

This color-pop of a cafe opened just over a year ago, offering locally-roasted coffee from Jericho Coffee Traders and Ue Coffee Roasters, affordable vintage clothing and photography supplies. The shop’s tight-knit staff serves flat whites and pour-overs alongside sweets from Cakesmiths, an award-winning coffeecake bakery. Sip on a cup of Kenyan Peaberry coffee while listening to tunes produced by Bear on a Bicycle Records, the independent music label run by the cafe’s 20-something owner, Jordan O’Shea. After perusing The Bear and the Bean’s selection of used books, tote bags and cheeky socks, check out their wall of postcards designed by Oxford-based artists. Whether you pick up one of the shop’s small gifts or a pair of high-waisted Levi’s, your souvenir will surely beat anything you can find in the tourist traps on High Street.

2. Atomic Burger

If the Bear & the Bean’s gluten-free brownies can’t quite fill you up, a local favorite just a few doors down, Atomic Burger, will satisfy with its Man v. Food-style portions. Sit surrounded by decor raided from a Comic-Con attendee’s (parents’) basement and choose from a menu of burgers named after pop culture icons like Molly Ringwald and Dolly Parton.

3. Truck Store Records

Photo by Rachel Eubanks

Further down Cowley Road, you’ll find Truck Store Records, a well-stocked shop on a mission to sell records “to a vinyl-starved Oxford.” If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a local band on Truck Store’s small stage or an artist signing. The store also sells tickets to local shows without charging a ghastly processing fee (it’s only a pound), so you can support Oxford’s music scene without blowing your travel budget.

4. The Bullingdon

Oxford’s self-described “leading independent music venue” also calls Cowley Road home. Smaller in size than its neighbor down the road, the O2 Academy 2 Oxford, The Bullingdon focuses more on local and regional artists than the O2, a chain of around 20 venues managed by the Academy Music Group. The Bullingdon also partners with Future Perfect to bring top touring artists to Oxford, so check online before you visit to see who’s headlining.

5. Ultimate Picture Palace

This independent cinema sits just across the street from The Bear & The Bean and often works with local filmmakers to showcase art created right in Oxford. Established in 1911 as the Oxford Picture Palace, Ultimate Picture Palace is everything you wish your neighborhood Regal cinema could be—a volunteer-run, single-screen theatre showing a mix of Cannes Film Festival favorites and cult classics.

6. Big Society

Cowley Road photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

Big Society is one of the best spots in town to play ping pong or round up a group of friends for pub trivia. Take your pick from the best craft beer selection in the city, featuring a wheat beer from Camden Town and a hoppy pale ale from Brixton Brewery. If a few pints get your munchies going, check out the bar’s food specials, like chili tacos or pulled pork sandwiches. Stop by during happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m. for a rum and coke float or pint of cider at two-thirds the price. Informal and affordable, Big Society does not disappoint.

7. The Library

Tucked away toward the end of Cowley Road you’ll find The Library, a relaxed pub where you can post up in the backyard beer garden with a round of boozy slushies or drip sweat to a disco-themed DJ set in the bar’s basement venue.

8. Airbnb

When it’s time to turn down, there are a number of beautiful Airbnbs right down the road from all your favorite spots along Cowley. While accommodations in Oxford can typically cost a pretty penny (or should we say, pound), especially in high season, you can’t go wrong this 2-bed flat or this 3-bedroom apartment. Both airy, modern spaces are located at the beginning of Cowley Road just after you cross Magdalen Bridge and come in around $150 or less per night (at time of publishing).

Rachel Eubanks (@rachel_eubanks) is a writer, photographer and social media manager currently based in Monteverde, Costa Rica, where she eats beans and rice for three meals a day and captures the cultural practices of a small ecotourism town in the happiest country on earth.