Oxford

What to See: Oxford

Oxford, home of the oldest university in Britain (750 years), city of dreaming spires, is easily within reach of Windsor, either by road or by rail. Most tourists “do” Oxford in a day, but this can be an exhausting experience. A more leisurely visit, preferably not on a weekend, will make the city seem much more appealing!

Oxford’s main attraction for visitors is the University, which consists of 35 colleges plus dozens of other buildings, dotted around the town centre. Visiting the university is therefore a question of walking or taking a tour bus around the town and stopping to visit interesting sites as they appear. This is really the charm of Oxford – its surprises, its views, and the way that a centuries-old institution co-exists with the bustle of modern life.

Key places to visit are Christ Church College, Magdalen College, New College, the University Church, the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera. All are within easy walking distance of the city’s centre point, Carfax. But rather than spend the whole day pounding the streets, take some time to walk through Christ Church Meadow, visit the river, and have a go at punting on the River Cherwell (hire a boat next to Magdalen College).