Oxford Attractions
Oxford is one of Britain’s most lovely towns especially the old centre where Oxford University’s 39 colleges are located. Oxford’s attractions include museums, colleges, gardens and other historic buildings.
Tower View from St Mary’s Church, Oxford
University
The university at Oxford is one of Europe’s oldest. It has its roots in the 12th century and the rule of Henry I, the so-called “Scholar King.”
The earliest colleges were founded by wealthy English bishops. They imposed an ecclesiastical curriculum and architecture on the institutions they endowed, centred around the quad (quadrangles) with dining halls, student halls, and the library in the surrounding buildings.
Oxford professors were forbidden from marriage until 1877. Furthermore, women were not granted degrees at Oxford University until 1920 underlying Oxford’s traditional Christian heritage.
Radcliffe Camera
Carfax
Oxford’s centre is Carfax from where the High Street, Cornmarket, and St Aldgates radiate west, north, and south. From Carfax it is easy to explore the historic centre on foot or by rental bicycle.
The 14th century Carfax Tower here is the only surviving remnant of St Martin’s Church and supposedly has a historic connection to William Shakespeare. Just south of here on Pembroke Street is the acclaimed Modern Art Oxford, a gallery showcasing modern British and European art in a variety of media. Oxford Castle & Prison is also a short walk away.
A better view of Oxford than from the top of Carfax Tower can be had from The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, the Radcliffe Camera (see above), England’s earliest circular library, is clearly visible on a fine day, as is All Souls College (below).
Oxford attractions
Merton College
Merton College on Merton Street, close to Christ Church College was founded in 1264 and is one of the oldest colleges at the University of Oxford.
Alumni include the writer Angus Wilson, Louis MacNeice, the poet TS Eliot, Kris Kristofferson and Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, no less. Visitors enter Merton College into the Front Quadrangle (see below).
Merton College
The large chapel at Merton College (see below) was built from 1290 to the mid 15th century. Merton chapel features original stained glass from the 14th century and does not have a nave, thus unusually situating the choir in the main body of the church.
Merton College
The Mob Quad at Merton College is the oldest quadrangle architecture at Oxford. The Mob Quad was built between 1288 and 1378.
Ashmolean Museum
Close to the pedestrianized Cornmarket shopping precinct is the Ashmolean Museum – the world’s first university museum. The Ashmolean Museum was built between 1678-1683 to house the curiosities Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) gave to Oxford University in 1677.
These included the collections of John Tradescant, a gardener for King Charles I, and also his son of the same name. The present Ashmolean Museum building (see below) dates from as late as 1845 and underwent an expansion completed in 2010.
Emperor Heads of Oxford
Sheldonian Theatre
Christopher Wren designed the Sheldonian Theatre in the 1660s. It is named after Gilbert Sheldon, the chancellor of the university at the time. Look out for the Emperor Heads perched on the fence around the building.
Ashmolean Museum – the world’s first university museum
Accommodation in Oxford
Oxford has a number of good hotels suitable for all budgets including the delightful Holiday Inn Oxford, the exclusive MacDonald Randolph Hotel and also the boutique Vanbrugh House Hotel on St Michael’s Street.
Other recommended hotels include the four-star Jurys Inn Oxford, the three-star Hampton by Hilton Oxford and The Oxford Spires Hotel.
See a listing of hotels in Oxford.
Access – Getting There
Oxford makes for a pleasant day trip from London. The M40 and A40 connect London to Oxford. Oxford is also connected to the capital by train to London Marylebone and Paddington Station. The journey time between Oxford and London is about 1 hour and ten minutes.
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