Oxford in One Day

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Ever thought of traveling through and see more of Oxford in just one day?
This was exactly what we did during our stay in London.

Oxford is also known as the city of intellect and it has always been a student's dream (let it be under or postgraduates) to qualify into the academic arena of Oxford intellectual square. Fame and recognition, the harmonious architecture of Oxford's university buildings have earned this metropolis "City of Dreaming Spires".


How to get there:

By car: the M40 motorway from the Midlands (Junction 9) or from London (Junction 8): from the Cotswolds (A40 or A44) or from the M4 (A420 or A34).

Parking in Oxford is limited so please use the free Park and Ride car parks to the north, south, east and west of the city. All operate Monday to Sunday except Water Eaton (not Sundays). The Pear Tree site serves evening visitors (buses until 23:15). All P&R buses take wheelchairs.

By bus: from Heathrow and Gatwick airports the Oxford Bus Company's airline operates a 24 hour service. Pre-booked airport transfers can be booked through taxi or hire car firms.

The National Express 737 service links Oxford to Luton and Stansted airports.

Two companies provide a 24/7 bus service to London: the Oxford Espress and the Oxford Tube.
We took the Oxford Tube from London Victoria. Buses are available every 10-15mins. (About 2 hours from London city center)

By train: Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham International airports are served by train to Oxford. There is a fast and frequent service from London Paddington

Let's visualize some of Oxford's prominent architecture:

Oxford'd Oldest Building - St Michael at the North Gate
St. Michael's is also one of Oxford's cheapest attractions, with free admission to the church and cheap admission to the ancient tower with its fantastic views.

the Christ Church
Oxford University's largest College and the Cathedral Church for the Anglican Diocese of Oxford.
Admission: £6.00 for Adults, £4.50 for students, children and retirement pensioner.

the Cathedral Church

Following the footsteps of Harry Potter in Christ Church.
Explore for real the world's favourite wizard through Oxford's most spectacular college. Many of the scenes in the Harry Potter feature films are shot in various locations of the college and as you walk around the cloisters and quadrangles it is easy to see why.

Christ Church's long association with children's literature - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland were inspired and written here in Oxford by Lewis Carroll. If you enjoyed the film or the books, come and soak in the atmosphere of a real Hogwarts.

The Great Hall's dining area.
The Great Hall was replicated in the film studios to create Hogwart's Hall.

As Harry and the new first-years enter Hogwarts they are greeted by Professor McGonagall. This scene was shot on the 16th century staircase which leads up to the Great Hall. Observe the wonderful vaulted roofing that was only put up 150 years after the staircase.

The cloisters in Christ Church were first built 1000 years ago. This ancient vintage made them the ideal setting for various scenes. It is here that Harry is shown the trophy his father won as a seeker in Quidditch.

Getting back into the real world:

the Radcliffe Camera & All Souls College behind

the Bridge of Sighs at New College Lane

University Church of St Mary the Virgin - the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the University of Oxford grew.

If you happen to be in Oxford and asked a passerby, "May I know the direction to the University of Oxford?", no offense but be sure to be laughed at. This is because the colleges and schools are scattered everywhere! Oxford is the habitat to many different colleges and cathedral church. Visit the tourist information center firsthand (what we always do) to get maps and tips to travel in a city alien to you.

Notice all the black mortar board icons on the map? Those are all the University College dispersed around the center of Oxford. Almost every student here travel on their bicycles. This has been Oxford's alternative transport.


We stopped by the Old Orleans bar & cafe for lunch and said yes to their lunch time offer (2 courses for £6.95)

Starters:
Risotto - with shaved Italian hard cheese & a hint or garlic, finished with a drizzle of pesto. This was a bad attempt in ordering a risotto in a bar/ cafe. Not so good after all.

Squid Bites - dusted tentacles of squids served with their trinity sauce.

Mains:

Grilled Chicken, Cheese & Bacon Melt
Char-grilled chicken breast smothered in BBQ sauce topped with bacon and melted Monterey Jack cheese, served with fries and BBQ baked beans.

Fish & Chips - battered fillets of Cods served with fries and green peas.

Old Orleans (CLOSED SEP 2009. Reopening Nov 2009 as Fire & Stone Pizza)
Threeways House
George Street
Oxford
OX1 2BJ
www.fireandstone.com

Oxford in a day!

Also read our adventures before Oxford in:

• Cardiff with Sugar Bean
• One day trip in Bath