Sights and Attractions in Oxford

Oxford is a center of academic excellence and outstanding architecture making it an ideal place to learn the English language. Aside from its reputation as the home of the prestigious University of Oxford, it has a lot of sights and activities for you to discover and enjoy! Whatever your preference is, this charming university town has something for everyone.

Landmarks

Oxford has a variety of structures with amazing architecture and they are considered landmarks of the city. One of the famous landmarks of Oxford is the Bodleian Library which is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and is the main research library of the University of Oxford. It is comprised of many branches spread throughout the university but the central site of the library has interesting structures in it such as the Duke Humfrey’s Library, the Clarendon Building, and the Old Schools Quadrangle with its Great Gate Tower. Another structure in the central site of the library is the Radcliffe Camera which is a beautiful building with a round layout and it serves as a reading room for Oxford students.

A sight to behold while in Oxford is the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. It was created some time during the 11th century and has additional structures added during the succeeding years making it historically and architecturally valuable. It is the largest of the parish churches in Oxford and it is the center from which the University of Oxford developed. The church is located on the north side of High Street and it is surrounded by college and university buildings. St. Mary’s has one of the most beautiful spires in England and it has a unique Baroque porch.

Another notable landmark of Oxford is the Sheldonian Theater which was a commissioned architectural work of Sir Christopher Wren built from 1664 to 1668. The theater is used for lectures, music recitals, conferences, and for other ceremonies held by the University of Oxford such as matriculation and graduation. The building can accommodate 800 to 1,000 people.

One more famous landmark in Oxford is the Taylorian Institute, also known as The Taylor Institution, which was established in 1845 and is the center for the study of modern European literature and languages of the University. The library of the institute contains the largest specialist collection in its field in the UK. The building was built between 1841 and 1844 by the University to house the Institution and the Randolph Galleries which is now the Ashmolean Museum.

Universities and Colleges

There are 2 universities in Oxford namely the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. The Oxford Brookes University is a public university which pioneered the use of modular degree courses and it has gained its reputation for quality courses in art, architecture, engineering, economics, publishing and modern languages.

The University of Oxford is known as the oldest university in the English-speaking world, it is composed of 39 colleges and 7 permanent private halls each with its own activities and internal structure. Some of the known colleges of the University of Oxford are Christ Church which was founded in 1525 and is known for its academic prestige and for its associations with Lewis Carroll who wrote Alice in Wonderland, and for being the location for filming of the first Harry Potter movie; and Magdalen College which was founded in 1458 and is frequently the first college seen by visitors if they go into Oxford on the London Road; it is known for its tower which is also one of the landmarks of the city.

Museums and Galleries

Oxford has magnificent museums and galleries showcasing art, history and natural life. Some of the notable museums in Oxford are the Ashmolean Museum which is the oldest public museum in Britain and it showcases ancient art from the Near East, Egypt, Rome and Greece, and noteworthy collections of Eastern and Western art and artifacts; the Pitt Rivers Museum which is the museum of ethnology and anthropology of Oxford; the Oxford University Museum of Natural History which holds the geological, paleontological, entomological, zoological and mineralogical specimens which are scientific collections of the University; Modern Art Oxford which is an art gallery that shows temporary exhibits of photography and art by known contemporary artists; and the Museum of Oxford which is the museum that tells the story of the growth and development of the city and the University.

Food

Eating can be enjoyable in Oxford since there are many kinds of restaurants and cafés spread out around the city offering different types of cuisines. If you are on a budget, you can try out the specialties at Café de Sofi, Jamal’s, Bombay House, Georgina’s, Wagamama and the Nosebag Restaurant. If you want to dine in a mid-range priced site, go to restaurants such as The Rose, Le Petit Blanc, Joe’s Café, Quod, Zizzi, Pizza Express, La Plaza and Hi-Lo Jamaican Eating House. When you want to splurge and eat your heart out, head to places such as The Lemon Tree, The Grand Café, Gee’s and the Randolph Hotel.

Bars and Pubs

As any English town, there are a lot of pubs and bars you can go to when in Oxford. Among the notable ones are The Jericho Tavern, the Eagle and Child, the Turf Tavern, Freud’s, Raoul’s, King’s Arm’s, The Bear, Royal Oak, and Rosie O’Grady’s.

Nightclubs

The night comes alive especially when university students unwind in numerous clubs in Oxford such as Maxwell’s, Po Na Na’s, Filth, The Bridge, Thirst, Park End, and Carling Academy Oxford.

Theater and Film

Oxford always has something for film and theater and music enthusiasts. Movie lovers can watch art films at Phoenix Picturehouse and Ultimate Picture Palace while those who look forward to watch mainstream movies can view them at Odeon.

Plays, concerts, ballets and musicals can be seen as they are performed live at the Burton Taylor House, The Oxford Playhouse, the New Theater and the Old Fire Station Theater.