Oxford is amongst my favourite of English cities. I've posted a link to my blog post below which gives my thoughts on this beautiful city. It is less than an hour's train ride from London, so can be easily visited as a day trip, or as a destination in its own right.

http://passionforplaces.blogspot.co....d-england.html

Happy traveling! Elis

Thanks for the link, Elis! I enjoyed the Oxford trip and pictures. I am in the process of working out my itinerary for a trip to England this spring, and you reminded me that I have not really been to Oxford (twice while chaperoning high school students on tour, so needed to have half attention on them) so you have made me consider this day trip from London.
Again it will not be a real visit but at least time to wander, look and photograph.

Plan to go back to your blog and check out some others.







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I'm glad you found it useful Its certainly a really nice place to visit - you could easily cover the main sights if you spend a day strolling round the city. Enjoy your trip!
Elis

Sweet!

How about chiming in on the old debate - Oggsford vs Cambridge if one has to chose one day trip from London - how would you categorize the differences between the two?

I love Oggsford a bit moree but Cambridge is neat too?

What's your take?

Thanks for posting. I love Oxford but think I would get more from a re-visit and include a guided walk. Did you take a guided tour? Are there any? I have visited Cambridge once and didn't get the most from it. Similarly, I may need to go on a proper guided tour of the city.

That's an interesting question, but unfortunately I've not been to Cambridge before! So I wouldn't be able to give a good answer. However Cambridge does look a very interesting city to visit, and is certainly on my travel wish list!
Elis

Thank you, Elis! I liked the way you incorporated a little history into your text. We went to Oxford once in 1989 and plan on returning some day soon.

Your post on saving money on UK trains is great! Bookmarking.

www.nationalrail.co.uk is the site giving all fares for all British passenger trains - you'll see lots of varying fares all with different conditions attached. From London buses make sense to to Oxford, especially if you are staying near from where they pick up - otherwise for the train you have to go to Paddington station - a day return is cheaper than two one ways but has restrictions, etc.

Thanks! elis for publishing the information about oxford guide, you said in article about 38 prestigious university in oxford street, can i get the name of all universities.

Many thanks!
Fergus.

The link below to the university website is probably the most helpfu guide

http://www.ox.ac.uk/about/colleges

There are actually 44 in this list, but some of them are halls of residence rather than colleges. If you click on each name it will give you details about that particular college

There is a concentration of impressive colleges around the Radcliffe Camera area and the other end of town another concentration of fine college buildings around Christ Church college and cathedral, which makes it easy to see a number of different ones.

Hope this helps!
Elis

Actually, this link is probably better, as it gives prices and locations for each college

http://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors/visitin...g-the-colleges

I should also point out, some of the colleges have entry fees, but they are all free to view from the outside! The buildings are truly stunning from the outside

What are your favroite colleges for someone short on time?

Besides King's College that is!

@stevelyon - the TI offers very good walking tours.

Thank you for the link! Your pictures are beautiful. I hope to read more of your adventures!

"What are your favroite colleges for someone short on time?"

Worcester (stunning gardens) and All Souls (much designed by Hawksmoor) are free - for many visitors a more important criterion than the relatively trivial architectural differences between most colleges.

Even with 900 years to think of variations, there's a limit to how much innovation's possible on the standard template of a quad or four, dining hall, chapel and a fellows' garden visitors aren't allowed into anyway.

No-one's yet worked out how to move King's College Cambridge to Oxford. PQ's obviously moved on to the Home Depot turps.

Yes, King's College is in Cambridge. It is one of the great late gothic buildings in Europe.

As a graduate of St Catherine's College, Oxford and presently a Senior Member of Robinson College Cambridge, I am biased in favour of both of Oxford and Cambridge.

If in Oxford, one college I would recommend (I am even more biased) is St Catherine's. It is often overlooked but is a superb example of modern, precision built, architecture.It dates from the early 1960s and was designed by the Danish architect, Arn Jacobsen. In the grounds there is a Barbara Hepworth sculpture, and a bronze bust of Einstein by Jaco Epstein.It has the largest dining hall in Oxford, and the design of the cutlery even mirrors the design of the tables and benches, and the pillars holding up the roof. The gardens are impressive. The college doesn't have a chapel, but uses the near by medieval St Cross Church. The college therefore doesn't have a chaplain, Because of this the Minister of St Cross has the title of 'Keeper of the College Gardens'.(There is lots of information on the college website).

No-one's yet worked out how to move King's College Cambridge to Oxford. PQ's obviously moved on to the Home Depot turps.>

Oops Christ College - the one on the south end of town with Christ Church Meadows lovingly in view? Seems to be the main college you have to see? Like King's College in Cambridge?

Nice, i really enjoyed your blog about oxford, blog has interested pick.