Explore the UK
Oxford
Dreaming spires, academics, bicycles and bridges, anyone of these could describe Oxford which is only 56 miles from London, connected by the M25 and the Midlands by the M40 motorway. With these wonderful road connections, Oxford has to be one of the easiest places to access making it ideal for touring through the South East region, with direct access to the south and west coast ports of Southampton, Portsmouth and Bristol.
The city of Oxford is ideal for spending that special weekend with so much to see and to do, magnificent adjoining countryside and the rivers crossed by beautiful bridges. As the oldest university in the world, Oxford is famous for it colleges and the churches that are associated with them, with ancient architecture to wonder at. Oxford has its fair share of old pubs as well and to have a drink in one of them with perhaps a bite to eat, is to simply soak up atmosphere that other places can only wonder at. Taking in a few of Oxford’s historic buildings will take some time if you want to do them justice. Some examples worth a look at include; The Ashmolean the oldest public museum in the world, this building houses the University of Oxford's collection of art and antiquities, the Bodleian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford. On this site buildings include Duke Humfrey's Library above the Divinity School, the Old Schools Quadrangle with its Great Gate and Tower, the Radcliffe Camera, Britain's first circular library, and the Clarendon Building. University Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is believed to be the oldest university building in the world which was built around 1280 to house the University’s reference library. In 1555–56 it was the scene of the heresy trials of the bishops Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer who were burnt at the stake in Broad Street. These are but a few of the historic buildings in Oxford but should be on everyone’s itinerary when on a visit to this wonderful city.
A great way to see the city and learn something of its history is to take one of the many walking tours that are organised by the Oxford Information Centre which leave the centre daily. For a leisurely afternoon why not hire a punt or boat and travel the Thames, alternatively cruises can be booked and many offer lunchtime champagne picnics, evening dining cruises, or just an afternoon experience. You could of course take a trip on the River Thames between Oxford and London; perhaps a pedallo might make it easier to get back to your car and the friendly B&B!
What is certain is that you will never have enough time to see all that Oxford has to offer, visiting the charm of the surrounding countryside of Oxfordshire will ensure that you will want to return and seek out more of the area’s charms.
