Oxford

Oxford has a compact city centre with twisting lanes, buildings and hidden places to explore. Broad Street provides a good feel of the city with Trinity and Balliol College, the tourist information centre and Blackwell's bookshop. The main central street is the High Street with its shops stretching down from the Carfax to the River Cherwell at Magdalen Bridge. Surrounding Oxford is the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside with villages and historic houses to visit.

Dating back to the 8 th century, Oxford has been a military frontier (10th century), a religious center (12th century), a royal favorite (King Henry II, 12th century), and of course, a center of higher learning (11th century on). Remnants of this prestigious timeline can still be found throughout the city and it's indeed Oxford 's past that continues to draw visitors.

This being said, Oxford has also emerged a cosmopolitan city, thanks to its student culture and growing economy. Found in the South East England county of Oxfordshire, its suburbs/neighborhoods are quiet, yet industrial. Cowley is perhaps best known, thanks to its manufacture of the BMW MINI.

The mainline railway station serving Oxford is also called Oxford (OXF) and is managed by First Great Western. Located a mere 10 minutes (walking) from the city center, it's only two minutes from Osney, where you can explore the former seat of an Augustinian abbey. A bit further along is Botley Road , where you can past the time shopping. Speaking of which, if shopping is your aim, note that to the north you'll find Summertown, to the south Rose Hill, and to the east Cowley's Templars Square.

As for Oxford 's main attractions, though the city is becoming more industrial and high-tech modern, it's still a city very much about its storied past. History is alive in Oxford and it doesn't take much more than a quick look around to see this is so. It is with this foundation, that it moves forward.

When in Oxford , you'll want to explore it on foot. Being small, it's a town best experienced by walking, as it affords you the time to linger. In a square, near a building, in the center of it all. To start your tour, it's a good idea to get an overall view of Oxford and from the Carfax Tower , you'll find a terrific one.

Most visitors start at the city's center, which just so happens to be where the University of Oxford (c. 1096) is. There's something magical in walking its hallowed halls, once home to some of the most famous scholars in history (and near future). Among the learning institution's famed buildings, you'll find the oldest in Oxford and perhaps the entire country. All are within walking distance. From Radcliffe Camera to the Ashmolean Museum (the oldest museum in the United Kingdom ), you'll have a remarkable time simply looking around.

In addition to the university proper though, Oxford is also where you'll find religious sites, such as Christ Church Cathedral, which is both the diocese of Oxford and the largest college of the university. Travel to the intersection of St. Giles', Magdalen Street , and Beaumont Street , and you'll find the stone monument Martyrs' Memorial, dating back to 1843.

Then there are the wonderful open spaces that bloom in the spring and are dusted with soft snow in the winter. From the University Botanic Garden to Cutteslowe Park to the island of University Parks, charmingly named Mesopotamia (as it lies between the upper and lower levels of the River Cherwell), you'll want your camera at the ready. Christ Church Meadows is also a great place to catch boat races and Wellington Square , a quiet haunt where you can have a relaxing lunch.