Oxford
Eat
Like elsewhere in England, Oxford has seen a flight of cafes and delis, particularly targeting the city’s large student population. The Covered Market in the center of town hosts several such cafes. The falafel is very good in Organic Deli Café & Whole Foods Store (sadly, the same cannot be said about much of the rest of the menu).
For good Thai food, go to Chiang Mai Kitchen. This one is set in an old 16th-century building in an alley behind High Street, complete with squeaky wooden floors. Other foreign options include Oli’s Thai and Yeti Nepalese Restaurant (both of them further to the southeast).
Transport
Town: All the colleges and sights in the historical center are easily within walking distance. The walks are filled with beautiful old Oxford architecture. Some minor sights, restaurants, or some of the cheaper hotels are located further away (e.g., Park Town in the north or Temple Cowley in the southeast). There are regular buses (cost about $2-$3 per ride).
Taxis are also available but generally expensive. Uber is usually a cheaper option.
Airport/out of town: most people visit Oxford from London. A train ride from Paddington or Marylebone station takes only one hour. Buses are slower but cheaper. Alternatively, Oxford station has good train connections with Birmingham or Southampton. There is an airport just north of Oxford, but commercial flights from there are infrequent.
Sights
- The city center itself is the main sight of Oxford. Most of the university buildings are concentrated in the east of the center, with most of the famous colleges being located there. Wherever you turn, you will see some grand old buildings.
- With 38 colleges and six permanent private halls, there are many grand old buildings. Unfortunately, most colleges have limited opening hours and charge entrance fees. Some are only available for non-tour groups. The best thing to do would be to walk around and visit whatever college happens to be open and wander around.
- Walking east on Broad Street, you will first pass Balliol College and Trinity College on your left. On your right, you will pass the Museum of the History of Science and the Sheldonian. You walk in the courtyard next to the Sheldonian to walk towards Bodleian Library with stunning grand old architecture. On your way, you will spot the picturesque archway over New College Lane.
- Continuing south, you will pass the Radcliffe Camera (the grand circular building, functioning as a library) and St. Mary’s Church (with a lovely courtyard café) on your right and All Souls College on your left (entrance just around the corner on High Street, one of the best colleges to visit).
- Following the High Street east from there, you will pass University College (right), The Queen’s College (left), Magdalen College (left, very much worth the effort), the Botanical Gardens (left), and Magdalen Church.
- Walking back west, you can turn south on Merton Street to get to Merton College (again a stunningly beautiful building). Take the alleyway to the back to get to Dead Man’s Walk (allegedly getting its name from being the route to the Jewish cemetery), Merton Field, and Christ Church Meadow with grand views of Oxford architecture. Walking further west gets you to Christ Church.
- There are several other sights in central Oxford, such as the Museum of Oxford, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford Castle, and the Castle Mound. On the north end of the center, there are two grand museums in one building with impressive collections: the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (chemistry, zoology, and mathematics) and the Pitt Rivers Museum (archaeological and anthropological collection).