Oxford is the home to the world famous Oxford University. The oldest University in the English speaking world, having been founded in 1096 AD.

It has long enjoyed an uncivil rivalry with Cambridge on all points of success – number of UK Prime minister graduates, Nobel prizes and victories in the Boat Race being particular points of contention.

An easy day trip from London or a worthwhile destination in its own right. Oxford is a wonderful visit and also provides easy access to the nearby Cotswolds, with Blenheim Palace especially close.

A collection of Colleges make up the University, which are spread across the city. Christchurch considers itself to be the premier (a point of constant debate) but does have stunning buildings in the centre of the city, expansive grounds with the Christchurch Meadow on the river and is home to the city’s Cathedral. To the east of the city Magdalen College considers itself to be the main competition, with its own 100 acre deer park in the centre of the city. There are numerous Colleges that would claim to be unfairly omitted from this list.

Oxford is blessed with some of the world’s most impressive galleries and museums including; The Ashmolean, Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museums.

Architecturally, the Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and the Bridge of Sighs stand out in a city of beauty.

Oxford is famous for its pubs, many of which are frequented in the TV series Morse which was set in the city, including The Trout in Godstow. The Turf in the city centre is well known for where future Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke set the world record for drinking a yard of ale in 11 seconds. It is also where Bill Clinton famously claims to have smoked but not inhaled marijuana.

The upper stretches of the Thames flow through Oxford, where it is locally referred to as “The Isis”. The tributaries of this lend themselves to punting, form of boating where you use a stick to propel you, also practiced in Cambridge. It was rowing on the ISIS that Lewis Carroll told the story of Alice in Wonderland to the three daughters of The Dean of Christchurch, including his second, Alice.

Just outside of the city, to the north west, is Port Meadow. The Thames runs through this 300 acre meadow, which has not been ploughed in over 4,000 years.

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