Oxford
The Oldest University Town In The English Speaking World, With Some 40 Colleges Around A Medieval Centre Of Quadrangles, Spires And Libraries. Christ Church And Its Dining Hall (A Harry Potter Film Inspiration), The Bodleian Library, The Radcliffe Camera And The Ashmolean Museum. Most Colleges Charge Or Restrict Entry · Oxford, England
Oxford is the oldest university town in the English-speaking world, with teaching recorded here from around 1096 and some 40 colleges scattered through a medieval centre of stone quadrangles, spires, libraries and narrow lanes. The sights cluster within a 15-minute walk: Christ Church, whose dining hall inspired the Hogwarts great hall, the Bodleian Library, the round Radcliffe Camera, the Bridge of Sighs and the free Ashmolean Museum. You cannot walk into every college, because most charge or restrict entry, and many close in exam term or for lunch. It is about an hour from London by train or coach, so the centre fills with day-trippers, tour groups and cyclists, especially in summer. Expect narrow pavements and queues for the best-known college. It is a living university, not a theme park, and the quieter lanes behind the main streets reward a slow morning. Some popular sights, such as the Radcliffe Camera, can only be seen from outside.
Oxford city centre around the Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church and the Bodleian Library, about 90 km north-west of London, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
There are no single opening hours, since Oxford is many separate sites. Most colleges open to visitors for a few hours in the afternoon, some only in the morning, and many close entirely during exam term (roughly late April to June) and at other times for events. Christ Church closes its dining hall at lunchtime and during services; confirm times. The Bodleian Divinity School is entered on tour only, on set days. The Ashmolean Museum is FREE but commonly CLOSED on Mondays. The Radcliffe Camera is closed inside to the public and is seen from outside only. The Covered Market is open daily except Sunday in many shops. The streets, Bridge of Sighs view, riverside paths and the High Street are FREE and always open. Confirm every college before you go.