| Introduction Oxford is a city and local | | | | and coffee mugs. Castell & Son (The |
| government district in Oxfordshire, | | | | Varsity Shop), is the best outlet in |
| England, with a population of 134,248 | | | | Oxford for clothing emblazoned with the |
| (2001 census). It is home to the | | | | Oxford logo or heraldic symbol. Food and |
| University of Oxford, the oldest | | | | Drink Oxford offers European and |
| university in the English-speaking | | | | Middle-East and Asian cuisine. Some of |
| world. It is known as the "city of | | | | the restaurants are: " Cherwell |
| dreaming spires", a term coined by | | | | Boathouse Restaurant " Gee's Restaurant |
| Matthew Arnold in reference to the | | | | " Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons " Rosamund |
| harmonious architecture of the | | | | the Fair " Al-Salam " Browns. Except |
| university buildings. The Oxford suburb | | | | these restaurants Oxford hosts some |
| of Cowley has a long history of | | | | Traditional and historic pubs " The |
| carmaking, and still produces BMW MINIs. | | | | Eagle and Child " The Turf Tavern " The |
| History Oxford was first occupied in | | | | Lamb and Flag " The Bear Education The |
| Saxon times, and was initially known as | | | | University of Oxford, located in the |
| "Oxenaforda". It began with the | | | | city of Oxford, England, is the oldest |
| foundations of St Frideswide's nunnery | | | | university in the English-speaking |
| in the 8th century. The University of | | | | world. Events and organizations and |
| Oxford is first mentioned in 12th | | | | institutes officially connected with the |
| century records. Oxford's earliest | | | | University include: " Worcester College, |
| colleges were University College (1249), | | | | Backs of medieval cottages " The Oxford |
| Balliol (1263) and Merton (1264). During | | | | Union Society " The Oxford University |
| the English Civil War, Oxford housed the | | | | Press, the world's oldest and largest |
| court of Charles I in 1642, after the | | | | university press " The Bodleian Library |
| king was expelled from London, although | | | | " Major Research Libraries (including |
| there was strong support in the town for | | | | the Sackler Library) " Oxford University |
| the Parliamentarian cause. In the 19th | | | | Department for Continuing Education " |
| century the controversy surrounding the | | | | The Taylor Institution " The Oxford |
| Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church | | | | University Student Union " Oxford |
| drew attention to the city as a focus of | | | | University Newman Society - Catholic |
| theological thought. Oxford's Town Hall | | | | speaker society " The OICCU, the |
| was built by Henry T. Hare, the | | | | undergraduate Christian union " The |
| foundation stone was laid on 6 July 1893 | | | | Oxford University Museum of Natural |
| and opened by the future King Edward VII | | | | History (sometimes called The Oxford |
| on 12 May 1897. By the early 20th | | | | University Museum) " The Pitt Rivers |
| century Oxford was experiencing rapid | | | | Museum " The Ashmolean Museum " The Bate |
| industrial and population growth, with | | | | Collection " Oxford Botanic Garden and |
| the printing and publishing industries | | | | Harcourt Arboretum " Oxford University |
| becoming well established by the 1920s. | | | | Sports Federation " Oxford University |
| Places of Interests Oxford has numerous | | | | Boat Club " The O'Reilly Theatre " Moser |
| major tourist attractions, many | | | | Theatre " Rothermere American Institute |
| belonging to the university and | | | | " Said Business School " The Ruskin |
| colleges. As well as several famous | | | | School of Drawing and Fine Art " |
| institutions, the town centre is home to | | | | Computing Laboratory " Isis Innovation |
| Carfax Tower and a historical themed | | | | Sports Oxford City FC and Milton United |
| ride, The Oxford Story. In the summer, | | | | FC among others are two famous football |
| punting on the Thames (sometimes called | | | | club and play regular club and league |
| the Isis as it flows through Oxford) and | | | | matches. Oxford Cavaliers Rugby League |
| the Cherwell is popular. Other notable | | | | Club is the rugby club playing for |
| attractions include: " Christ Church | | | | Oxford city. Drayton Leisure Golf |
| Cathedral " The Church of St Mary the | | | | Driving Range is the golf course with 9 |
| Virgin (the University Church) " | | | | HOLE (PAR 3) COURSE and 6 HOLES |
| Martyrs' Memorial " Ashmolean Museum " | | | | FLOODLIT. As a city in UK it has a |
| Pitt Rivers Museum " Museum of Natural | | | | number of cricket teams and hosts |
| History " Museum of the History of | | | | tournaments like Bernard Tollett |
| Science " Science Oxford " University | | | | Oxfordshire Cup, National Cricket Club |
| buildings " The University Parks " The | | | | Championship, The Cricketer National |
| University Botanic Garden " Cornmarket | | | | Village Championship etc Tours and |
| Street, Oxford " Turl Street, Oxford " | | | | Sightseeing There are a number of tour |
| Little Clarendon Street " Oxford Covered | | | | operators in Oxford. The tourist |
| Market " Westgate Shopping Centre | | | | information center is also very helpful |
| Museums and Art Galleries Oxford has a | | | | to find out a way to enjoy the visit of |
| large number of museums and galleries | | | | Oxford. Hotels and Accommodations |
| open for public. Following are the world | | | | Accommodations in Oxford are limited, |
| famous and a major tourist spot in | | | | though recently, motels have sprouted on |
| Oxford: " Ashmolean Museum, Britain's | | | | the outskirts -- good for those who want |
| oldest museum " Pitt Rivers Museum " | | | | modern amenities. In addition, if you |
| Museum of Natural History, home of (the | | | | have a car, you may want to consider |
| remains of) the Oxford Dodo " Museum of | | | | country houses or small B&Bs on the |
| the History of Science, in Britain's | | | | outskirts of town Some of the notable |
| oldest purpose-built museum building " | | | | hotels are: " Victoria House Hotel " |
| Museum of Oxford " Museum of Modern Art | | | | Cotswold Lodge Classic Hotel " Westwood |
| " Science Oxford Shopping Golden Cross, | | | | Country Hotel Ltd " Holiday Inn Oxford " |
| an arcade of first-class shops and | | | | The Oxford Hotel " Oxford Thames Four |
| boutiques, lies between Cornmarket | | | | Pillars Hotel " Express by Holiday Inn |
| Street and the Covered Market. Parts of | | | | Oxford Kassam Stadium " The Bat & |
| the colorful gallery date from the 12th | | | | Ball Inn " The Upper Reaches " Abingdon |
| century. Many buildings remain from the | | | | Four Pillars Hotel " Oxfordshire Inn " |
| medieval era, along with some 15th- and | | | | Days Inn Hotel Oxford " The Plough at |
| 17th-century structures. The market also | | | | Clifton Hampden " Marlborough Arms Hotel |
| has a reputation as the Covent Garden of | | | | " The FEATHERS " Macdonald Bear Hotel " |
| Oxford, with live entertainment on | | | | White Hart Hotel Transport Oxford is |
| Saturday mornings in summer. In its way, | | | | located some 50 miles (80 km) north west |
| Alice's Shop, played an important role | | | | of London; the cities are linked by the |
| in English literature, it functioned as | | | | M40 motorway, which also links |
| a general store (selling brooms, | | | | northwards to Birmingham. Rail |
| hardware, and the like) during the | | | | connections include services to London |
| period that Lewis Carroll, at the time a | | | | (Paddington), Bournemouth, Worcester |
| professor of mathematics at Christ | | | | (via the Cotswold Line), and Bicester. |
| Church College, was composing Alice in | | | | The city also has regular train services |
| Wonderland. It is believed to have been | | | | northwards to Birmingham, Coventry and |
| the model for important settings within | | | | the north. The railway service |
| the book. Today, the place is a favorite | | | | connecting Oxford and Cambridge, known |
| stopover of Lewis Carroll fans from as | | | | as the Varsity Line, was discontinued in |
| far away as Japan, who gobble up | | | | 1968. The Oxford Canal connects to the |
| commemorative pencils, chess sets, party | | | | River Thames at Oxford. Oxford Airport |
| favors, bookmarks, and in rare cases, | | | | at Kidlington offers business and |
| original editions of some of Carroll's | | | | general aviation services. Local bus |
| works. The Bodleian Library Shop, | | | | services are largely provided by the |
| specializes in Oxford souvenirs, from | | | | Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach South |
| books and paperweights to Oxford banners | | | | Midlands. |