Tropicana Jul-Aug 2020 #131 The Beauty Issue

The Cherwell Boathouse, Oxford
Inside the Long Library at Blenheim Palace
It is highly possible that every time we think of England or the United
Kingdom, the number one city that would most probably come
to mind, is their famous capital, London. But beyond the famous
London Bridge and the towering Big Ben, England has other gems
to be discovered and one of the more popular ones would be the city
of Oxford.
Situated in Oxfordshire county and located about 90 km northwest of
London by road, the city is also home to the University of Oxford, the oldest
university in the English-speaking world and is said to have buildings in every
style of English architecture from the late Anglo-Saxon era. And like several
historic cities around the world, Oxford has myriad of interesting venues to
be explored.
The most obvious touristic destination in the city is definitely the University
of Oxford itself. As it is not a campus university, not everything is located on
one site. Many different buildings, including academic departments, colleges
and halls, are located around the centre of Oxford. Many university buildings,
such as gardens, libraries and museums, as well as many of the colleges, are
open to visitors during the day, but they may have varying opening hours, fees
and rules for groups.
Although the University does not organise tours, the Oxford University
and City Walking Tour, which includes visits to college and university sites, is
offered by the Visitor Information Centre. These tours last about two hours
and can be booked at the Visitor Information Centre at 15-16 Broad Street,
or online at the Experience Oxfordshire website. Specialist tours are also
available on a wide range of topics, including architecture, science, literature
and art, as well as special interest Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland and
Inspector Morse tours. Some independent operators also offer guided tours
of Oxford. A range of general and themed tours are available, as are tours by
cycle, rickshaw and bus.
119 JULY/AUGUST 2020 | TM