The
City of Oxford is renowned for its University and is the main attraction
for most visitors. Its hard to get away from some aspect of the University
as you wander around the streets admiring the Oxford environment.
Oxford itself is a reasonable sized city of around 150,000. It has
manufacturing, notably the Mini factory, but in the centre where the
visitors go the University dominates. However Oxford is also a regional
shopping centre. Visitors, University life and locals share the same
compact area in the centre.
|
Bridge
of Sighs Oxford |
On
this page we focus on attractions to the visitor not directly part
of the University.
We would recommend that independent visitors to Oxford take a walking
tour of Oxford as a great way to get orientated, understand the
city, the University and what else Oxford has to offer.
There is an Oxford City Centre street map at the foot of this page
with all the places mentioned. |
Oxford
Covered Market
Today Oxford is a regional shopping centre meeting the every day needs
of the local population. Its little different to other similar sized
cities with the usual chains and mix of retail outlets.
The Covered Market takes you back in time and is worthwhile even if
shops isn't your scene. The Covered Market was opened in 1774 and
is very atmospheric with a thriving community of stall holders covering
a wide range of subjects.
Blackwells
Blackwell’s main bookshop is comprised of four old shops in Broad
Street: Nos. 48, 49, 50, and 51. All four are Grade II listed buildings.
The resulting retail shop is a maze to negotiate.
Stocking more than 200,000 titles this is Oxford's largest bookshop.
It includes as part of its basement the Norrington room which gained
a place in the Guinness Books of Records with the largest single display
of books for sale in the world.
|
Oxford
Covered Market |
Oxfam
The original Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, from which Oxfam
takes its name clearly started in Oxford. Oxfam's first ever shop
was in Broad Street, by the Tourist Office. |
Bodleian
Library
One of the great library's of the world since the 17th Century with
every new book published in the UK here. A total of nearly 6 million
books clearly needs a great storage area, much of it spreading underground.
Radcliffe
Camera
Camera is the medieval name for a room. The earliest example of a
round reading room and still in use today as the reading room of the
Bodleian Library. Over 600,000 books are stored alone in its underground
store.
Can be visited by prior arrangement. |
Radcliffe
Camera |
University
Church Of St Mary The Virgin
Historically this is at the heart of the start of the University.
Built in the 14th Century, the early colleges started up within and
all around this church. The earliest library for example was within
the church.
Today the most popular attraction is climbing to the Tower for panoramic
views of the City Of Oxford.
Museum
of History Of Science
Home to an unrivalled collection of scientific instruments from medieval
times to the 17th century. Its collection of 18th and 19th-century
instruments is also substantial. It is the world's oldest surviving
purpose-built museum building.
Notable exhibits include Einstein's blackboard.
Sheldonian Theatre
The Theatre, built in 1664–9, was the very first work of Sir
Christopher Wren. The Theatre is much used today for University occasions,
including degree ceremonies. |
| Oxford
City Centre Visitor Map |
 |
|
| Main
Attractions |
Colleges |
| 1-
Tourist Office |
A-
Christ Church |
N-
Exeter
|
| 2-
History of Science Museum |
B-
Pembroke |
O- Lincoln |
| 3-
Blackwells Bookshop |
C-
Corpus Christi |
|
| 4-
Sheldonian Theatre |
D-
Oriel |
|
| 5-
Bodleian Library |
E-
Merton |
|
| 6-
Bridge Of Sighs |
F-
Magdalen |
|
| 7-
Radliffe Camera |
G-
The Queen's |
|
| 8-
St Mary The Virgin |
H-
New College |
|
| 9-
Covered Market |
I-
All Souls |
|
| 10-
Carfax Tower |
J-
Hertford |
|
| 11-
Christ Church Cathedral |
K-
Trinity |
|
| 12-
Examination Schools |
L-
Balliol |
|
| 13-
Botanic Gardens |
M-
Jesus |
|
|
