Roaming with Red

Let me paint you a picture. Imagine ornate sandstone buildings throughout the centre city. Imagine grandiose buildings with spires that reach well into the sky and green fields that spread further than the eye can see. Imagine cobblestone paths with little alleyways leading you to new adventures. Can you picture it?

That is Oxford. A stunning city an hour or so from the centre of London. Oxford is well known as one of the most prestigious University towns in the UK but it is incredible to see how the city and the university become one. No matter where you walk in Oxford, you will find an old piece of history nestled away in a university or college building. It’s not often I am genuinely floored by a place I visit (Bath being the most recent exception) but Oxford really took my breath away and is a genuine must see.

Walk the Grounds of Christ Church College

Oxford University is made up 39 or so colleges and Christ Church is one of the most famous. Founded by King Henry VIII in 1546, the college campus will transport you to an era of courtesans and new ideas.

The College encircles a large quadrant from which the major building stems. The back right corner houses the dinning room for the students and it is genuinely something you would see in a movie. The walls are filled with paintings of ex-students (mainly filled with paintings of men but there is a woman or two which is a start I guess) all drawing your eye to the beautiful high ceilings. It’s genuinely fascinating to think that there are students that still have their daily meals in a building like this! Enjoy the atmosphere of the room – both the dining hall and the staircase were used as inspiration for Harry Potter if you need any help imaging. You might even spot a bit of old world graffiti from the Protestant vs Catholic era if you look hard enough.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to wander the grounds. The College Church is beautiful but there are so many hidden areas to enjoy. It’s fascinating to think of all the people who walked those halls and all the conversations that were had here.

Visit the Many Churches and Cultural Heritage Sites

Oxford is filled with churches and history and it is well worth trying to at least see most of these places from the outside. Visit the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, the site of the Oxford Martyrs, protestant bishops tried for heresy and eventually burned at the stake during the mid 16th Century and the Marian Persecution in England. See where the trials were conducted and be transported to another era during England’s turbulent past. You can also climb the spire which apparently provides a stunning view of the city if it all gets a bit heavy.

From here, you are well placed to visit some of the most famous buildings in Oxford. The Bodeleian Library sits just to the side of the church and is one of the oldest libraries in the world. Right next to it sits the Radcliffe Camera, a circular building used as a Science library. We didn’t actually enter any of these buildings but even just viewing them from the outside was incredible.

If you’re looking for a slightly less busy tower to climb, I would highly recommend the tower at St Michael of the North Gate. Although not as high as St Mary’s, there is often no queue and you still get a beautiful view of the city. This tower is widely agreed to be of Saxon origin and has some interesting artefacts on display, including the door to the cell of the Protestant Martyrs.

Walk Through the Covered Market and onto the Oxford Castle and Prison

The covered market is a quick visit but a nice one to see. It provides a combination of food and clothing/ knick knacks and has that fun, market bustle to it. I also have it on good authority that the cookie shop here sells incredible biscuits if you’re feeling like a sweet treat!

While not necessarily in the same space, it’s also worth visiting the Oxford Castle and Prison. You can pay to take a tour of the prison, which was in operation until 1996 but the outside is also nice to look at. The hill to the side of the prison is part of the remaining ruins of a Medieval castle. The ruins are from centuries ago, even potentially from the original Saxon settlement, and are a testament to the important role Oxford has played during English history.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Take a self-guided pub tour – Oxford city centre
  Unsurprisingly as a student town, Oxford is full of centuries old pubs. So here’s a list of a few you should check out:
  – Turf Tavern: one of the oldest pubs in Oxford. The pub is filled with extremely low ceilings, which says something about the average height of the day. It also has a beautiful outdoor seating area if the weather is nice. It’s also the place where an ex Aussie prime minister (cheers Mr Hawke) downed a yard of ale in 11 seconds.
  – Bear Inn: another one of the oldest pubs in the city. The interior is all low ceilings and creaky stairs but it certainly has some character to it.
• Terrace at Westgate – Oxford Centre
  The city has recently opened a rooftop area on their main shopping mall and it’s actually well worth a visit. We had dinner and drinks at Alchemist, which provided whacky cocktails (think bubbles and science experiments) and delicious tapas like food. The view was also lovely if you get a good enough day to sit outside.

All in all, I really loved visiting Oxford. It is well worth including on your list of places to visit in London, even if it’s just for a day!