TLDR;
This video provides a guide to the top 10 attractions in Oxford, including a bonus location with a great view. It covers historic colleges like Christ Church and Magdalen, iconic landmarks such as the Radcliffe Camera and Carfax Tower, and museums like the Ashmolean and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The guide also suggests visiting the Oxford Covered Market for food and South Park for panoramic city views.
- Historic City Center
- Christ Church College and Cathedral
- University Church of St Mary the Virgin
- Radcliffe Camera & Bodleian Library
- Ashmolean Museum
- Magdalen College
- Oxford Covered Market
- Carfax Tower
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History & Pitt Rivers Museum
- Keble College
- South Park
Intro [0:00]
The video introduces Oxford as a city of dreaming spires with a rich history and architecture, shaped by its renowned university. Oxford began as a Saxon settlement called "oxen Ford," a place where cows could cross the River Thames. The city gained prominence as the home of the world's second oldest university, which has influenced its development and filled it with historic buildings. Oxford served as inspiration and a filming location for the Harry Potter films. The city has a population of approximately 166,000 residents, including 26,000 students, and is accessible from London by train, making it suitable for day trips or longer visits.
Oxford City Center [1:45]
The historic City Center of Oxford is compact and walkable, featuring shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. Key attractions include the Martyrs' Memorial, commemorating three bishops burned at the stake in the 16th century, and St Michael at North Gate Church, which offers tower climbs with views. The High Street showcases historic architecture, while Queen Street and Cornmarket Street are popular for shopping.
Christ Church College and Christ Church Cathedral [2:32]
Christ Church College, founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, is a famous college within the University, featuring a large campus, Oxford Cathedral, and Harry Potter filming locations. Thirteen prime ministers have studied here, along with numerous other notable figures. The Bodley Tower staircase is recognizable from the Harry Potter films, featuring Gothic architecture and a fan-vaulted ceiling. The dining hall served as inspiration for Hogwarts. Oxford Cathedral, located within Christ Church, was built in the late 12th century in the Romanesque style and has been modified over the centuries. The cloisters were also used in Harry Potter films. Tom Quad is the main quadrangle, named after the bell in the tower designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
University Church of St Mary the Virgin (+tower for great views) [4:32]
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, rebuilt in perpendicular Gothic style in the 15th and 16th centuries, features a bright interior with intricate details. The tower offers views of Oxford, including the Radcliffe Camera. Climbing the tower provides some of the best and most famous views of Oxford.
Radcliffe Camera & Bodleian Library [5:15]
The Radcliffe Camera, designed by James Gibbs in Baroque style and built between 1737 and 1749, is an iconic building in Oxford and part of the Bodleian Library. It can only be visited via guided tours on select days, requiring advance booking. The Divinity School is another Harry Potter filming location. Nearby is the Hertford Bridge, often called the Bridge of Sighs due to its resemblance to the bridge in Venice.
Ashmolean Museum [6:18]
The Ashmolean Museum, established in 1683, is the oldest public museum in England. The current building, constructed between 1841 and 1845 in neoclassical style, houses a vast collection, including paintings by Italian and Flemish masters, as well as works by Picasso, Titian, and Turner. It features a collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, including a bookcase made by William Burges in 1862. The museum also has an extensive archaeology collection with artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, Japan, and China. General admission to the main collections is free.
Magdalen College [7:38]
Magdalen College, founded in 1458, has had many famous students and professors, including Oscar Wilde and C.S. Lewis. The large site includes historic buildings and a park, accessible for a fee. The 15th-century cloisters offer views of the historic facades. The dining room is still in use for students. The Gothic chapel is also still in use. The new building, a neoclassical structure built between 1731 and 1824, mainly provides accommodation. Magdalen Bridge is nearby, offering punting opportunities, and the Botanic Gardens are located opposite the college.
Oxford Covered Market [9:20]
The Oxford Covered Market, opened in 1774, features a variety of stores and food shops. The aisles offer many tasty treats.
Carfax Tower [9:54]
Carfax Tower, a 23-meter-high tower, is the remaining part of an old church. Climbing the tower involves navigating tight spiral staircases to reach the roof, which offers panoramic views of Oxford.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History & Pitt Rivers Museum [10:21]
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum are joined together and offer free admission. The Natural History Museum, housed in a neogothic building built in the 1850s, features a main hall with an iron and glass ceiling, housing specimens like a T-Rex cast. The Pitt Rivers Museum, founded in 1884, displays Augustus Pitt Rivers' collection, including a 11-meter-high Haida totem pole and a collection of military weapons and armor.
Keble College [11:37]
Keble College, established in 1870, features ornate neogothic architecture with red bricks, contrasting with Oxford's sandstone buildings. The site includes open quadrangles. The chapel is decorated with colorful frescoes and stained glass windows. It also houses the painting "The Light of the World" by William Holman Hunt.
Bonus location + outro [12:39]
South Park, located a 10-minute walk from Magdalen College on Headington Hill, offers views over the city. The park provides a view of the spires and towers of Oxford.
