Travel Information For More Fun Travelling

There are plenty of things for you to see and do when you visit the university city of Oxford. Both the river Thames and Cherwell run through the city and meet just south of its centre. If you have the time during your visit, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll along the banks of either of these.

However, there are plenty of other wonderful things to do and see when you stay in Oxford and below we take a look at just a few of them.

1.    The Ashmolean Museum is one of the greatest in the world and also claims to be Britain’s first official museum. In fact when this was founded the term museum had not even been coined and its creator based it on a collection of natural history specimens brought together by John Tradescant and his son and which were then given to Elias Ashmole. Ashmole had a special building erected to house the collection and the museum opened its doors in May 1683. In 1718 the Alfred Jewel was added to the collection. 

But as the collection grew the original property in which it was housed became too small and a new museum building was erected and opened its doors in 1894. During 1908 the collection of items collected and displayed in the Ashmolean were merged with an art gallery.

2.     Originally called the Physic Gardens, the Oxford Botanic Gardens were founded by Henry Danvers in 1621 so that he as the Earl of Danby could study medicinal plants. At the time of its creation the garden cost £5,000 and was built on the site of a form medieval Jewish cemetery. Ragwort, a plant which is now common throughout England, was propagated from seeds that came from Mount Etna. This is the oldest surviving botanic gardens in England and along with the herb and medicinal plants you can view tropical lilies, palms and other arid zone plants in various greenhouses in the gardens. The gardens also feature a rock garden and a bog garden for you to explore.

3.    The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is situated on Oxford’s High Street and is a very important building in the history of Oxford University. The first library for the university was established here as early as the 12th Century. 

It was in this building that the trial of the Bishops Latimer and Ridley along with Archbishop Cranmer took place for heresy in 1555. They soon became known as the “Oxford Martyrs”. It is on one side of Radcliffe Square and facing it is the Radcliffe Camera.  You are bound to notice the buildings spire, parts of which date back to when it was originally constructed in the thirteenth Century. Plus if you are willing to climb the towers one hundred and twenty seven steps you are offered wonderful views of the city from the top.

When you next stay in Oxford, choose your Oxford hotel from this list.