A diverse range of attractions that can keep you occupied
Oxfordshire is home to a diverse range of attractions that can keep you occupied for a full week. It receives more tourists than any other city in the UK. It is also home to some of the oldest colleges in the UK (as well as the oldest university). For first time visitors, it’s easy to get lost in the labyrinth of attractions worth visiting here. That is the main reason why it’s better for you to prepare an itinerary even before you get to Oxford.
Oxford still remains the most beautiful thing in England, and nowhere else are life and art so exquisitely blended, so perfectly made one. Source: Oscar Wilde
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean museum is one of the oldest museums in the entire world. It’s actually listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the first museum in the world. The museum is home to a number of art collections as well as anthropological and archaeological treasures. Furthermore, the museum was recently refurbished to give it a huge facelift.
As part of the refurbishment, Ashmolean museum also introduced a restaurant at the top of the building. Once you are done with the museum you can visit the restaurant to enjoy a light meal while viewing the buildings around Oxford through its glass walls.
The Covered Market
The Covered Market
This market is one of the oldest in Oxfordshire (founded in 1774). It is home to over 55 shops. It’s also a great place to get a souvenir from. You can also get to see the culture of Oxford merchants as well. The goods sold here include; fruits, vegetables, flowers as well as flowers. There are also bakeries located in the market as well.
Christ Church College
Christ Church College
Christ Church College is part of the colleges that make up Oxford University. It is also one of the oldest colleges in the area having been built in the 12th century. This college is where Lewis Carroll, the writer of Alice in Wonderland, used to lecture. The main character, Alice, is said to have been named after the daughter of the Dean in Lewis’ faculty.
The college building is also the site where the famous Harry Potter films were shot at. There are also a number of other films and TV series that have been filmed here.
Enjoy the punting
Punting
You can’t go for a vacation in Oxford without enjoying punting here. There are a number of boats located at Cherwell Boathouse which you can make use of. If you want to have a chauffeured punt, you will need to book early enough. The boathouse also has a restaurant and the beauty about it is that you can go for a picnic on one of the punts after getting the meal from its restaurant. This can serve to be a romantic spot for couples who intend to go on vacation.
Oxford Castle over 1,000 years of existence
Oxford Castle
Oxford castle has been in existence for over 1,000 years. During that period it was used as a prison. It was decommissioned by the orders of her majesty in 1996 and it now serves as a museum as well as a hotel. The castle has regular tours where visitors get to learn about the history of it as well as the previous inhabitants. The tours are usually themed and each tour guide role plays a specific character who had been an inhabitant of the castle.
Most beautiful squares in the whole country
Radcliffe Square
This is one of the most beautiful squares in the whole country and probably the world. The square will give you views of the University Church on one end and Bodleian library on the other. You can also visit the Sheldonian theatre that is located around the corner.
Are you a first time visitor to Oxford? Find out the things that you can do in Oxfordshire.