Overview to Oxford: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Known throughout the world for its university, Oxford is a charming city, at once tiny and full of things to see and do. A lively, modern student town set in the dreamiest of surroundings, Oxford is a must-see for backpackers traveling in England.
Founded in the 12th century, Oxford University is made up of thirty-nine colleges, of which Christ Church and Magdalen are arguably the most attractive. The Bodleian Library – with its stunning Radcliffe Camera – completes the list of unmissable buildings.
In addition to its ravishing colleges, the city has an excellent range of museums in the Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers and Natural History Museum. For something less cultural, meanwhile, there are countless trendy clothes shops and a bustling Covered Market.
In terms of nightlife, Oxford is not so hot on clubbing but does specialize in British pubs. The city center has some of the country’s oldest and most atmospheric examples – some of which were even haunts of authors J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll.
Although Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street now have swanky restaurants and cocktail bars, the heart of Jericho still has a couple of cozy old pubs. For a truly studenty vibe and all manner of reasonable ethnic food, though, the Cowley Road (to the south of the city) is the place to head.
Surrounded on all sides by stunning areas of greenbelt, Oxford is one of the country’s greenest cities. The University Parks (to the north of the center) are typically full of students playing sport or, on summer days, simply lounging on the grass.
For yet more open spaces, Port Meadow is a broad stretch of communal land outside the city, bound in by the River Thames. At one corner lie the evocative ruins of Godstow Abbey, part of a great walk (particularly on misty winter mornings) around the meadow.
While many people go for the more obvious choice of punting off Magdalen Bridge, the canal - lined with its quaint boats - is easily found off Hythe Bridge Street. As it creeps past Jericho, it, much like Oxford as w whole, is both utterly picturesque and uniquely English.