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South OxfordshireOxford

Oxford, the university, started 1249, with its 'dreaming spires' mixes with commerce in this city, with lots to see and do and is always busy ! Tour buses and guides ply the streets with the tourists so best to go out of season to avoid the crowds.

Shops, two shopping centers(!), and cafes, theatres and cinemas, sports facilities and clubs are all to found. Live music of most types, often in historic settings.

But the history is why most people come, to wander around the college quads, although the oldest buildings are those of the city itself, and we have to mention the effect of the car industry on the town. 

Old buildings reflect every English architectural period since the Saxons, including the mid-18th century Radcliffe Camera, the hub of the city.

You can get into most of the colleges, mostly in the afternoon, or take a guided walking tour, note that admission fees now apply to some colleges.

The colleges have built new buildings and surprisingly they tend to blend in with the older styles extremely well, even new colleges such as St Catherine¹s and  Wolfson have achieved this.

You can take a boat on the river, even a punt if you want to try your hand!

Tourist Information Center (Tel. 01865 726871)

      Location Map of Oxford
What To See -

Oxford Tourist Attractions

                      

Colleges

 
Merton: founded 1264, Gothic buildings, its chapel has 13th & 14th century stained glass, oldest library in Britain
 
Hertford: has one of the most famous of Oxford sights The Bridge Of Sighs
 
Magdalen: Quads, tower, and cloisters and a deer park you can walk around the outside of. Famous students include Cardinal Wolsey and Oscar Wilde.
 
New: founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham and largely completed by 1386, was the first college to be built in one go and is a splendid example of the Perpendicular period.  Good chapel, cloisters and parts of the city wall
 
Christ Church: founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 as Cardinal College, an architectural masterpiece, with Christopher Wrens Tom Tower with its Great Tom bell which rings 101 times every night at 9. The main hall has portraits of its great and good as well as a nice beamed roof. The chapel here is the smallest cathedral, with its stained glass and Norman origins.Palladian Peckwater Quad. Art gallery with old masters.Shop & guided tours of this most famous college.
 
All Souls: Memorial to English killed at Agincourt in 1415, St Crispins Day
 
Jesus: Quiet college in Oxford with Elizabethan period mullioned windows in the  front quadrangle.
Wadham College: Built in the Jacobean period between 1610 and 1613 and never materially changed since, nice gardens.
 
Keble College: One of the few Victorian built colleges with polychromatic brick (red and bright), chapel worth a look.
 
St Edmund Hall: The last surviving medieval college with a Norman crypt
 
University College: Nice set of buildings worth wandering around
 
St Johns: The Canterbury Quad  is in the style of the Italian Renaissance
 

Museums in Oxford

 
Bodleian Library, created in 1480, now with over 5 million books, guided tours, only, takes you around the Jacobean quad and its Tower of the Five Orders as well as the 15th century Divinity School, the first fully detached university building, in which is some of the library's best pieces, Convocation House, and the Chancellor's Court. Tours are regular and additional tours are available for the reading room, Duke Humfrey's library.
 
Museum of Natural History, Oxford, Parks Road, Gothic building with glass roof  houses worldwide collections of zoology, entomology, geology and mineralogy, including local dinosaur finds, and the Dodo, shop,etc, Tel: 01865 272950  Open: Mon.- Sat.12 -5pm , vary at Christmas & Easter
 
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, in a classically designed building in Beaumont Street, Britain's oldest public museum opened in 1683 and here since 1845, collections of British, European, Egyptian and Near Eastern antiquities, sculpture, silver, ceramics and musical instruments, coins and medals, Oriental art, and  good paintings including Impressionists, shop, Tel: 01865 278000   Open: Tue.-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun. 2pm-4pm Closed: during St. Giles' Fair in early Sept., Christmas and Easter
 
Cathedral Treasury, Christ Church, shop, etc, Tel: 01865 276154
Open: Winter: Mon.-Sat. 9.30am to 4.30pm; Sun. 11.30am- 4.30pm Easter - Oct.: Mon.-Sat. 9.30am-6pm; Sun.11.30am- 5.30pm
 
Pitt Rivers Museum, Main Museum, Parks Road, Banbury Road, ethnological with shrunken heads and totem poles, Captain Cook exhibits, objects collected from all over the world, shop, etc, Tel: 01865 270927
Open: Mon.- Sat. 1pm to 4.30pm
 
Balfour Buildings, next to Pitt Rivers, Banbury Road, musical instruments with audio guide available, Tel: 01865 270949 Open: Mon.- Sat. 1pm to 4.30pm
 
Christ Church Picture Gallery,Christ Church, via Canterbury Gate, Oriel Square, collection of  Old Master paintings and changing displays of Old Master drawings, Tel: 01865 276172 Open: Mon- Sat. 10.30am-1pm, 2pm-4.30pm Sun. 2.00pm-4.30pm Easter to end Sept.; open until 5.30pm daily Money.gif (125 bytes)
 
Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, St Aldates, comprehensive collection historical woodwind, brass and percussion instruments including the oldest playable Japanese Gamelan orchestra in Britain, shop, Tel: 01865 276139 Open: Mon- Fri 2pm-5pm
 
Oxford Museum of Modern Art, 30 Pembroke Street, good exhibitions of 20th Century painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, architecture, design, performance,talks and events, shop, etc, Tel: 01865 722733Money.gif (125 bytes)
Open: Tues/Wed/Fri/Sat 10am-6pm, Thurs.10am-9pm,  Sun. 2pm-6pm Closed Mon.
 
Museum of Oxford, in the old Town Hall,  St Aldates, local history exhibits and the story of Oxford, reconstructed Oxford interiors, shop, etc, Tel: 01865 815559 Money.gif (125 bytes) meeting point for Oxford Walking Tour
Open: Tue.-Fri. 10am to 4pm
 
Telecom Museum, 35 Speedwell Street, history of telecommunications. By appointment Tel: 01865 246601
 

Oxford City Buildings

 
Oxford Castle Mound, Paradise Street, all that's left is St George¹s Tower (1074), where Queen Matilda escaped across the frozen Thames in 1142; the Castle Mound, the chapel crypt and a 13th- century well chamber. Tel: 01865 815559.Admission Charge
 

Parks in Oxford

 
Christchurch Meadows, relaxing walks along the river, see the boathouses and river activity
 
Oxford Botanical Gardens, founded 1621 , species from all the the world, Admission Charge
 
Iffley Meadows, meadows on the river in a conservation area
 

Churches

 
City Church of St Michael-at-the-North Gate, Cornmarket Street.  Saxon church with 11th-century tower, Oxford's oldest building, once part of the city¹s defences. Good view from the top,church treasury.
Open (except during services and on Christmas Day) 10am to 5pm, Apr.-Oct., 10am to 4pm Nov.-Mar..Tower:Admission Charge
 
Carfax Tower is all that is left of the first 14th century city church, having moved around a lot reaching here in 1971. Admission Charge
 
University Church of St Mary the Virgin, with its Italian Renaissance south porch, good views. Open weekdays 9.15am-4.30pm (high summer 6.30pm). Sun. 12.30-5pm.Admission Charge
 
Iffley Church, fine Norman, one of the best in the UK
 

Theatres

 
Sheldonian Theatre, built by Christopher Wren, Open all year 10am-12.30pm, 2-4.30pm (winter 3.30pm). Closed Sundays, ten days at Easter and Christmas and during university ceremonies and concert rehearsals.Admission Charge
 

Attractions in Oxford

 
Oxford Story, Broad Street, multi media ride in cars through the history of Oxford, shop, Tel: 01865 790055 Admission Charge
 
Oxford Covered Market, High Street, stalls, crafts, cafe's etc all under cover.
 
Curioxity, Old Fire Station, Gloucester Green, theatre and interactive science gallery Tel: 01865 794494 Admission Charge
 

Where To Stay in Oxford

Call our Hotel Telephone Reservations Line: 0870 4786316

Hotels


Macdonald Randolph Hotel Beaumont Street Oxford OX1 2LN MAP
The AA 5-star Randolph is one of Oxfords leading hotels and is situated in the heart of the city opposite the Ashmolean museum. The hotel offers each guest the highest level of comfort and service in a traditional and welcoming environment.

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Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel Abingdon Road Oxford OX1 4PS MAP
Luxury 4 star hotel 1/2 a mile from city centre via a pleasant riverside walk. The range of 115 luxury en suite bedrooms consists of standard, superior, deluxe, junior & four poster.

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The Oxford Hotel Wolvercote Roundabout Oxford OX2 8AL MAP
Conveniently located on the northern outskirts of historic Oxford.

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Malmaison Oxford 3, Oxford Castle, New Road Oxford OX1 1AY MAP
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the historic city of Oxford, we have the perfect place. This one time prison is now a stunning boutique hotel, offering all the luxury you’d expect from Malmaison.

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New Property 91-94 High Street Oxford OX1 4BJ MAP
Situated in the heart of historical Oxford, The Old Bank offers luxury rooms with marble bathrooms and modern art. With free private parking, there is also a stylish brasserie and jazz bar.

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New Property 1 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 6NN MAP
The Old Parsonage Hotel is a boutique hotel set in a building dating back to 1660. It has 3 terraces, a restaurant and a bar. All rooms at the Old Parsonage have an en suite bathroom and guests can enjoy bathroom amenities.

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Cotswold Lodge Classic Hotel 66A Banbury Road Oxford OX2 6JP MAP
The Cotswold Lodge Hotel is a beautiful Victorian building recently refurbished in the style of a country manor house. It offers luxury and bedrooms in a variety of styles and sizes. The Cotswold Lodge Hotel stands out in this city.

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Guest Houses, Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Other Hotels


Royal Oxford Hotel Park End Street Oxford OX1 1HR MAP
Perfectly located, with extensive facilities, this location is suited to both vacation and business travellers. Guests will enjoy historic Oxford with the added convenience of excellent business services.

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Eurobar Cafe & Hotel 48 George Street Oxford OX1 2AQ MAP
Located in Oxford Centre close to all amenities - offering well appointed en-suite and standard rooms.

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The Bat & Ball Inn High Street Cuddesdon Oxford OX44 9HJ MAP
You feel it the moment you walk in! Welcome to the Bat and Ball, where comfortable accommodation, memorable food and quality liquor meets with informality

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New Property 367 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7PL MAP
Remont is a modern contemporary 4 star guest accommodation. Each of the 25 rooms are equipped with modern en-suite facilities finished in a minimal sleek design. Facilities include: full English and continental breakfast b

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The Sportsview Guest House 106-110 Abingdon Road Oxford OX1 4PX MAP
We are a beautiful Victorian, family-run guesthouse in South Oxford. Located just half a mile from the city centre, it is a short 10 minute walk to many of Oxford's historic buildings such as Christ Church Catherdral.

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The Tower House Ship Street Oxford OX1 3DA MAP
This 17th century guest house is situated on a quiet street in the heart of Oxford city centre, 2 minutes’ walk from all the major tourist attractions.

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Ethos Hotel 59 Western Road Oxford OX1 4LF MAP
Close to the very heart of Oxford, this stylish and contemporary hotel offers luxurious boutique-style accommodation with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and satellite TV with movie and sports channels.

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Around The Oxford Area

Travel south west and follow the Vale of the White Horse, visit Uffington, or follow the River Thames down towards London with Abingdon and Henley-on-Thames to see.

Tourist Information on Nearby Towns To Visit - straight line distance:

Abingdon (5.75 miles) Woodstock (7.73 miles) Dorchester (8.52 miles) Witney (9.85 miles) Didcot (10.15 miles) Bicester (11.03 miles) Wallingford (12.00 miles) Thame (12.18 miles) Watlington (13.02 miles) Wantage (13.35 miles) Haddenham (14.36 miles)

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Around The Area
Area Telephone Code 01865

Featured Hotel

Premier Inn Oxford
 Premier Inn Oxford
Oxford Business Park Garsington Road Oxford
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