Oxford is a city in Oxfordshire that’s sometimes referred to as The City of Dreaming Spires. It’s famous for being home to The University of Oxford, which is the oldest university in the
English-speaking world, with evidence showing that teaching was taking place as early as 1096.
Transport
This city is well served when it comes to transport with its train station being just half a mile west of the city centre. There are trains to London Paddington that take just 51 minutes, making it a fantastic location for commuters. There are also train services to Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh making it easy to travel around the UK whether it’s for work or pleasure. There are fantastic bus services here taking residents throughout the city and beyond, and there’s the Oxford Tube, which is a coach service to London and back that runs 24 hours a day. For those that travel by car, the A40 connects to the M40, providing an easy route towards London.
Education
There are plenty of good schools to choose from within Oxford. For younger children, there’s Wolvercote Primary School, Botley School and Windmill Primary School and all of these have been rated good by Ofsted. The Cherwell School is a popular secondary school with an outstanding Ofsted rating, and there’s Meadowbrook College and Oxford Spires Academy, as well as single-sex options such as Headington School (an independent school for girls). For higher education, there’s the famous University of Oxford with its 39 colleges, and there’s Oxford Brookes University here too.
Shops & Local Amenities
Oxford has a great range of shops providing something for everyone. Shoppers love heading to Westgate Oxford, which is a large shopping centre full of well-known brands. There’s a John Lewis, Hobbs, White Stuff store and much more besides. Oxford’s Covered Market dates back to the 1770s and it’s got a fantastic selection of shops, craft stalls and food and drink outlets. It’s a great place to find something unique in stores such as the women’s clothing shop Next to Nothing, Ben’s Cookies, Jemini Flowers and Oxford Soap Company.
The city has an exciting and eclectic mix of places to eat and drink. No.1 Ship Street is a stylish brasserie creating British dishes with a Gallic twist, and The Cherwell Boathouse enjoys great views as it’s a riverside restaurant set in a Victorian boathouse. Bhoomi Kitchen is one of the city’s great Indian restaurants, and The Coconut Tree provides delicious Sri Lankan food.
Oxford has lots of traditional pubs to visit for great food and drink such as The Bear Inn, which dates back to the 13th century. There are also some fun late-night bars like Angels Cocktail Bar, which serves up excellent modern and traditional cocktails.
Oxford has several hospitals in and around the city. The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is made up of four hospitals, including John Radcliffe Hospital, which is a large hospital on the edge of the city centre.
Activities
Oxford is a compact, beautiful city that’s easy to get around. If you enjoy history, visit the Saxon Tower of St Michael, which is the city’s oldest building, or the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral. The Bridge of Sighs (officially called Hertford Bridge) is a beautiful structure and got its name from its resemblance to a similar bridge that’s found in Venice.
For those who enjoy the theatre, there are several to be found within the city, including New Theatre, which hosts productions from the West End. Harry Potter fans can make the most of The Harry Potter Walking Tour, which tours parts of Oxford University including the Bodleian Library.
