Destination Oxford

Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England. It is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Oxford is known as the city of dreaming spires, a term coined by Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of the university buildings.

• Discover Oxford at-a-glance

» Ashmolean Museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is the world's first university museum. Its first building was built in 1678-1683 to house the cabinet of curiosities Elias Ashmole gave Oxford University in 1677. On New Year's Eve, 1999, thieves used scaffolding on an adjoining building to climb onto the roof of the Ashmolean to break through a skylight, stealing a painting by Cézanne …

» Blackwell's Bookshop

The original Blackwell's Bookshop, much expanded behind an unassuming front, still stands on Broad Street, Oxford; the company owns two bookstores on the same street covering different specialities (art and music), and several others in the city. Other Blackwell's bookshops also tend to have an academic emphasis and they are often located close to universities …

» Bridge of Sighs

Hertford Bridge, popularly known as the Bridge of Sighs, is a skyway over New College Lane in Oxford, England. The bridge is often referred to as the Bridge of Sighs because of its similarity to the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice. However, Hertford Bridge was never intended to be a replica of the Venetian bridge, and it bears a closer resemblance to the Rialto Bridge in the same city …

» Carfax Tower

Carfax is located at the conjunction of St Aldate's, Cornmarket Street, Queen Street and the High Street in Oxford, England. It is considered to be the centre of the city. The tower is 23 m (74 ft) tall, and no building in central Oxford may be constructed higher than it. It still contains a ring of six bells, recast from the original five by Richard Keene of Woodstock in 1676 …

» Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which includes the City of Oxford, England, and the surrounding countryside as far north as Banbury. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, the largest college of the University of Oxford. The cathedral was originally the church of St Frideswide's Priory …

» Cornmarket Street

Cornmarket Street (often called just Cornmarket by Oxonians) is a major shopping street and pedestrian precinct in Oxford, England that runs north-south between Carfax Tower and Magdalen Street. To the east is the small Golden Cross arcade of small jewellery and craft shops in a historic courtyard, leading to the Covered Market. To the west is the indoor Clarendon Shopping Centre that connects in an L-shape to Queen Street …

» Covered Market

The Covered Market is a historic market with permanent stalls and shops in a large covered structure in central Oxford, England. The market is located to the north of the High Street towards the western end between Cornmarket Street and Turl Street. To the north is Market Street. Most of the entrances are from the High Street and Market Street. Originally opened in 1774 …

» The Isis

The Isis is the name given to the part of the River Thames above Iffley Lock which flows through the city of Oxford, England. The name is especially used in the context of rowing at the University of Oxford. Historically, and especially in Victorian times, gazetteers and cartographers insisted that the river Thames was correctly named the River Isis from its source until Dorchester-on-Thames, where the river meets the River Thame and becomes the 'Thame-isis' …

» Logic Lane

Logic Lane is a small historic cobbled lane through University College in Oxford, England, so-called because it was the location of a school of logicians. It links the High Street at the front of the college with Merton Street to the rear, which is also cobbled. Logic Lane covered bridge is a short covered bridge over the lane at the High Street end …

» Magdalen College

Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Magdalen College was founded in 1458 by William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester. The founder's statutes included provision for a choral foundation of men and boys (a tradition that has continued to the present day) and made reference to the pronunciation of the name of the College in English …

» Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a narrow island (about 800 yards long by 30 yards wide) that forms part of the University Parks, Oxford, England. It lies between the upper and lower levels of the River Cherwell. The name Mesopotamia in Greek means between the rivers and originally referred to the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq …

» Oriel College

Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford. In recognition of this royal connection, the college has also been known as King's College and King's Hall. The original medieval foundation set up by Adam de Brome, under the patronage of Edward II, was called the House or Hall of the Blessed Mary at Oxford …

» Oxford Castle

Oxford Castle was a large Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy. Most of the castle was destroyed during the English Civil War and by the 18th century the remaining buildings were used as Oxford's local prison …

» Queen's College

The Queen's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, England. The college was founded in 1341 by Robert de Eglesfield (d'Eglesfield) in honour of Queen Philippa of Hainault (wife of King Edward III of England). The college is distinguished by its predominantly neoclassical architecture, which includes buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor …

» Radcliffe Camera

The Radcliffe Camera is a building in Oxford, England, designed by James Gibbs in the English Palladian style and built in 1737-1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library. It was known that John Radcliffe, physician to William III and Mary II of England, intended to build a library in Oxford at least two years before his death in 1714 …

» Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge (or formally but less used, High Bridge) is a curved footbridge over the River Cherwell in the University Parks, Oxford, England. The bridge is made of concrete with metal railings, in the shape of a rainbow, hence the name. The bridge was constructed in 1923-4, through a project for the unemployed. The bridge was financed by the University of Oxford, colleges at the University, and individual subscribers …

» St. Clement's

St. Clement's is a district in Oxford, England, on the east bank of the River Cherwell. Its main road, St Clement's Street (often shortened to just 'St Clement's'), links The Plain (a roundabout) near Magdalen Bridge with London Place at the foot of Headington Hill at the junction with Marston Road to the north. St Clement's Church, the area's Church of England parish church, is off the southern end of Marston Road …

» Sheldonian Theatre

The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1668 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, chancellor of the university at the time and the project's main financial backer. It is used for music concerts, lectures and university ceremonies, but not for drama …

» University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the University of Oxford grew. It is surrounded by university and college buildings. St Mary's possesses an eccentric baroque porch facing High Street, and a spire which is claimed by some church historians to be one of the most beautiful in England …

» University of Oxford

The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University, or simply Oxford) is a university located in Oxford. It is the second oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Although the exact date of foundation remains unclear, there is evidence of teaching there as far back as the 11th century …

» University College

University College (in full The Master and Fellows of the College of the Great Hall of the University of Oxford, colloquially referred to as 'Univ"', is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It was founded in 1249 and is the oldest Oxbridge college. Some claim the college was founded by King Alfred in 872. However most agree its foundation was in 1249 by William of Durham …