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