All Saints' Headington

The golden weathercock atop All Saints' Church in Headington catches the light from miles around - a genuine oddity that's been sparking conversations since 1999. Artist John Minton mounted a life-sized fibreglass rooster on the roof, and it's caused absolute uproar ever since. Locals either love it or think he's mad. You'll probably find yourself firmly in one camp.

The church itself is medieval and proper worth seeing if you're in the area, but let's be honest: people come for the cockerel. It's a five-minute detour from central Oxford, making it an easy addition to a day spent wandering the city's college courtyards and riverside towpaths. The whole thing takes twenty minutes maximum, which is exactly how long this attraction needs.

This works best for architecture enthusiasts with a sense of humour and anyone staying at Common Leys Farm, which sits just four and a half miles away across pleasant Oxfordshire countryside. The farm holiday park gives you a proper base for exploring both Oxford's grand architecture and these stranger local curiosities. Kids find the rooster amusing rather than educational, so don't expect them to spend long examining it, but the novelty factor keeps it entertaining.

Access appears to be free and open to visitors outside the church building itself. The real joy is the eccentric story - a genuine reminder that not every statement needs to be serious or respectful. Headington's golden cockerel proves the point beautifully.