Perfect Weekend Getaway: Explore Historic Oxford, England
Are you looking for a perfect city for a weekend? Not too big, but with many attractions? Here comes the city of Oxford, the college town with museums and colleges, where many famous politicians, philosophers, authors and scientists passed through and where are hundreds of years of academic and literary history.
Hello there and welcome to my Oxford travel guide with some tips how to spend one weekend in this student city. Maybe Oxford is not a big city, but it has a huge history behind, many great buildings and historical sites and awesome restaurants and pubs. I will write here about the most interesting places I've visited. Enjoy.
Christ church, Oxford University
It's a constituent college of the University of Oxford, which has produced Lewis Carroll, Albert Einstein and thirteen British prime ministers. It was built by Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor of England and Cardinal Archbishop of York in 1525 and was refunded in 1532 by Henry VIII. During the next centuries, major additions have been made to the buildings.
This is probably the most famous building in Oxford, mostly because many Harry Potter scenes were filmed here. Not only Harry Potter but also The Golden Compass, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Brideshead Revisited.
Ashmolean Museum
Fully called the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology. It's placed on Beaumont Street and it's the world's first university museum. Ashmolean's building was created in 1683.
Many people say that it's the answer to the British Museum. You can find here many archaeological or art exhibitions from Roman or Greek statues to Canaletto or Turner paintings. You can also find here glass-walled dining room on the rooftop of the Ashmolean Museum, from where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Oxford city.
The Covered Market
This is the historic market with over 50 unique shops, vendors and restaurants in a large covered structure in central part of the city.
You can find it following High Street to the north towards the western end of Cornmarket Street and Turl Street.
Oxford Castle
I love historical places and castles, so I wouldn't be me if I don't describe any castles. Oxford castle is a large (unfortunately also partly ruined) medieval castle placed on the western side of the city.
The stone structure has been built in the 11th century and from the 14th century, when it lost its defensive purposes, the castle was used mostly for administrative purposes.
A huge part of the castle was destroyed in the English Civil War - other buildings became an Oxford's prison. Nowadays the prison has been changed into a hotel (you can sleep there by the way).
Magdalen College
This awesome building is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. It's very worth to visit it, but make sure you check what time they open it for tourists, because it's an open college in the first place, then Oxford's tourist attraction.
Bridge of Sighs
Originally called Hertford Bridge. It's a bridge that joins two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane. It's similar to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. The bridge it very beautiful, but it's still just a bridge, that's why I wrote about it at the end of this article.
Conclusion
Oxford is a beautiful small city perfect for the weekend. I can assure you won't regret, as the whole city is one big historical site full of tourists attractions.
This is a college town, so there are many pubs and a great atmosphere with awesome people. Weekend in Oxford can be not only full of fun but also quiet historical trip. Or both, you choose.
