Oxford
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Description
World famous historic university city
World famous historic university city
Region
Central England
Central England
Pronounced
ox-fod
ox-fod
Oxford
Oxford is most famous for having the oldest university in the English speaking world, with teaching occurring as long ago as the 11th century. The many university colleges and riverside setting give the city a great character and charm.Oxford has many literary links and some stunning film and TV locations. Its many shops are filled with local character and you can be entertained by music and drama ranging from candlelit evensong in college chapels to Shakespeare in the park.
Finally, Oxford's lively mix of restaurants, pubs, theatres and tourist attractions give this historic city an extremely vibrant and cosmopolitan buzz. The compact nature of the city means that it is very easy to explore this intriguing old city on foot.
Activities
Oxford University has 38 colleges, the most famous and largest being Christ Church College. As well as 13 British Prime ministers being educated here, it has recently gained fame as a location for the Harry Potter films. Magdalen College with its strangely carved gargoyles is one of Oxford’s most beautiful. Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean museum displays art and archaeology spanning civilisations of east and west from the Neolithic era to the present. It houses the largest group of Raphael drawings, and the best collection of modern Chinese art in the Western world.
Theatre: The Oxford Playhouse has plenty of quality drama productions, whilst The Burton Taylor Studio is the coolest, smallest place to see new work in Oxford. Music: Oxford offers the whole gamut from Classical concerts or Opera to Modern Jazz and Rock and Indie bands. Enjoy punting on the river Cherwell at Oxford's biggest punt station or take a river cruise with lunch on the river Thames.The best way to see all of Oxford's sights is to join the Sightseeing bus tour. To add a ticket to your itinerary click here.
What's nearby
Blenheim Palace - Set in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace is considered to be one of the finest baroque houses in the country. Sir Winston Churchill was born in the Palace in 1874 and a permanent exhibition about him is located next to his birth room - both are included in the Palace tour. In a state-of-the-art visitor experience called 'Blenheim Palace: the Untold Story', dramatic moments from the last 300 years of History at Blenheim are brought to life through animatronic figures and innovative film and projection technology. Surrounding the Palace are over 2000 acres of beautiful parkland, lakes, fountains and formal gardens including the recently restored 'Secret Garden', the Italian Garden, the Water Terraces, Rose Garden and Grand Cascade. A miniature train, a great favourite with all ages, connects the Palace to the Pleasure Gardens where a range of fun activities for children are located including the Marlborough Maze, the Butterfly House, the Lavender Garden, Adventure Playground and Blenheim Bygones exhibition.
Just east of Oxford, in the suburb of Headington, is the famous Shark House - a house with a 25-foot long headless shark protruding from the roof. The shark was commissioned by American Bill Heine, in August 1986 as a comment on Cold War Politics. Did you know...
Hitler was intending to use Oxford as his capital if he conquered England which is one of the reasons it was not bombed.
Hitler was intending to use Oxford as his capital if he conquered England which is one of the reasons it was not bombed.
“I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful."
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats
For more info: www.visitoxford.org
