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 O/T what to do with a day in Oxford?
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| Mcalvert I ought to get out more Location: Burnham - (Worryingly close to Slough) | Posted - 9 February 2010 08:02   
I'm taking my niece up to an interview in Oxford tomorrow which probably means I will have the day to hang around. Apart from the obvious shopping :-( any recommendations for things to do or see? Thanks Michael. |
| JimB I ought to get out more Location: Gloucestershire | Posted - 9 February 2010 8:21
Eh  Would we be safe to assume that your neice is not even a tiny bit interested in being in one of the most historically concentrated places in the land |
| RichardOlive Anorak Location: Exeter | Posted - 9 February 2010 8:29
 Presumably Michael will be the one hanging around as his niece will be attending the interview.   |
| JimB I ought to get out more Location: Gloucestershire | Posted - 9 February 2010 8:32
ER - oh yes  Mind you, same question applies to Michael. |
| Mcalvert I ought to get out more Location: Burnham - (Worryingly close to Slough) | Posted - 9 February 2010 8:50
Alright - maybe I should rephrase I may only have a few hours to spend in Oxford tomorrow. As this is one of the most historically concentrated places in the land, what would you recommend I see / do to make the most of the day Thanks Michael. |
| FastLady Yawn..... Location: Le Mans in spirit - London in reality! | Posted - 9 February 2010 9:04
If you like history/museums you can't do much better than the Ashmolean (newly refurbished) and the Pitt-Rivers collection in the University Museum - Pitt-Rivers was an anthropologist who collected all sorts of cultural artefacts from around the world and I remember as a kid (I grew up in Oxford) wandering round the museum both fascinated and terrified by the shrunken heads and totem poles! Obviously all the colleges are worth seeing in terms of architecture, though as it's term-time I'm not sure you will be able to get inside many of them - however Christ Church is always worth a visit, as is Madgdalen College with its tower, and Magdalen bridge outside (where undergrads famously jump off on May morning - or at least they used to, I think they've stopped it now as a few of them got quite badly injured). Others worth a visit include Merton College (especially its chapel) and Keble for its Victorian architecture which is quite odd compared to the rest of Oxford - oh and don't mention the Keble Brick Club!!!  Radcliffe Square (just off the High Street) houses the Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Library (one of the biggest libraries in the country and a "copyright" library, i.e. it has the right to obtain a copy of every book published). You may be able to get a tour of the "Bod" but it's a while since I've been back to Oxford so I'm not sure whether you need to book in advance. For automotive interest if you walk along Longwall Street (off High Street towards Magdalen Bridge) towards the University science area, on your left you will see a building which used to be the MG / Morris Garage in Oxford before it moved to Abingdon  . There's also a building on Queen Streete which used to be a Morris Garages but I think these days it's been turned into just one of many shops on one of Oxford's main shopping streets. It's a bit far to go out to Cowley to see the old Austin / Leyland (now BMW) factory and it doesn't look anything like it used to anyway, but obviously there's a lot of motoring history in Oxford too!In short there's loads to see in Oxford (much more than I've just described!) and I would think simply spending a few hours wandering round the centre and the colleges would be plenty enough to keep you occupied for a few hours |
| Brent Chiswick I think I just saw Arne Saknussen..... Location: Looking for the next project | Posted - 9 February 2010 9:24
To make any genuinely helpful suggestions Michael, we need to be in full possession of all the facts, soooooooo...........................got any pictures of the niece? |
| 7heavensoon I think I just saw Arne Saknussen..... Location: The home of Copaslip... | Posted - 9 February 2010 9:28
Shopping in Oxford is not a very pleasant experience - other than there not being a huge range of shops, you will find yourself having to navigate around gaggles of foreign students whilst simultaneously avoiding the buses. The Covered Market is well worth a visit though. Bear in mind Oxford City Council hate the car (strange, given they are the home of one of the UK's most productive car factories) so driving into and parking in the Centre is difficult. Park and Ride is reasonably easy. See some pictures of the build here. 17000 miles completed! |
| TobyCoulson Anyone know where I can get some sunshine? Location: Cobham,Surrey | Posted - 9 February 2010 9:34
I seem to recall that after Midsomer, Oxford had the highest rate of murders of any English enclave so beware |
| John Ryan Anyone got a sock? Location: South Bucks | Posted - 9 February 2010 9:34
I think Fast Lady has got most of it. I would just add.. - Go for a walk. From the Bodleian go down Catte street, across High Street and down the small road by the side of Quod. Into Christ Church meadows at the bottom, turn right then left and follow the river. Very nice on a clear day, and looking back across the meadows you get a great view of the spires. - Climb a tower. The church of St Mary the virgin is on Radcliffe square, and the views from the top are worth the climb. - Visit a pub. There are some lovely ones scattered around, in Broad St especially. Perhaps the White Horse? |
| JimB I ought to get out more Location: Gloucestershire | Posted - 9 February 2010 9:57
Another vote for the Pitt Rivers Museum in Parks Road - fascinating load of miscellaneous junk / artefacts! |
| charlie_pank blah, blah, blah... Location: If I'm here I'm not in Kermit :( | Posted - 9 February 2010 10:23
Pitt Rivers is easily the most interesting place to while away a few hours. Don't miss all the stuff in drawers, that isn't immediately obvious if you whizz through. back here because I want to be. |
| regroo Windbag Location: Thame, Oxfraudshire | Posted - 9 February 2010 10:31
Go on a walking guided tour. The one we did lasted about 2 hrs or so and I learnt loads about the place. Then go to the pub. |
| Quenton Fyfe Anyone got a sock? Location: Scottish Borders | Posted - 9 February 2010 11:17
Another vote for climbing the St Mary's Tower - you'll recognise the views from just about every episode of Inspector Morse. Just walking around is probably enough to keep you occupied for a few hours - the architecture is fantastic. Make sure you see Magdalen Tower and Bridge (you can hardly miss them). And while you're in that area, the Botanical Gardens are very pleasant if the weather's nice - (wrong time of year for the full effect mind you). Shameless plugs: Some background reading here Some other ideas here Have fun! |
| Rich N Anyone got a sock? Location: Abingdon | Posted - 9 February 2010 11:19
Do the Morse walking (drinking) tour, but note the pubs you go past and then have a pint in each when the tour is over. Double the value! This is assuming your niece can drive. --=[Oxford7s.net]=-- [Subscribe: List-subscribe@Oxford7s.net] |
| TimNeill I ought to get out more Location: Tunbridge Wells | Posted - 9 February 2010 11:44
Having been in this situation several times, the most interesting place I ever found was the Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street. here The covered market is a wonderful place, with the best real sausages, fish and meat pies in the land. |
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