Trip from London

What to see in Oxford? (Self-Guided Oxford Walking Tour)

by
PL

Oxford is a historic town located 60 miles from London and home to the University of Oxford – the second oldest university in the world.

Its beginnings date back to the 11th century!

The honey-toned streets of Oxford have been strolled upon by:

  • famous writers such as Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings), and C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia)
  • over 70 Nobel Prize winners
  • and 30 Prime Ministers of the UK!

In this post, you will find 10 iconic spots in Oxford that you shouldn’t miss if you decide to visit this charming place.

Enjoy the read and the walk!

Click here to see the MAP of Oxford walking tour.

Distance to cover: 1.8 miles (2.9 km)

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10 things to see in Oxford

1.Christ Church College

There are 39 independent Colleges in Oxford, but one you definitely cannot miss is Christ Church College.

Click here to see precise location

  • Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, the author of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking-Glass’ was a scholar and teacher here.
  • Its Bodley Tower Staircase was featured in the Harry Potter movie series.
  • In the 17th century, its Great Dining Hall was the seat of the parliament assembled by the later-beheaded King Charles I. In modern times, it has served as an inspiration for Hogwarts’ Great Hall.
  • 13 UK Prime Ministers were educated here.
  • It is also a cathedral.

In this link, you can find information on how to visit the Christ Church College.

2. Alice’s Shop

Across from Christ Church College, you can find a tiny shop named Alice’s Shop.

Click here to see precise location

It is not only a place that offers a collection of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland-inspired souvenirs, but it is also a spot that was frequently visited by Alice Liddell, believed to be the real-life inspiration for the iconic character.

It is said that Carroll would often visit the shop himself to purchase sweets for Alice and her sisters during their outings in Oxford.

In the nearby Museum of Oxford (that you can visit for free), you can also see a few items that belonged to Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll.

3. Oxford Punting

One of Oxford’s beloved traditions is punting – a timeless experience of gliding along tranquil waters, surrounded by the city’s historic landmarks and scenic beauty.

Beneath Magdalen Bridge, you can find spots where you can hire traditionally crafted punts.

Click here to see precise location

Punting in Oxford is a must on a sunny summer day!

The very first time Lewis Carroll told the fairy tale of Alice’s Adventures Underground was during a boat trip on the River Thames in Oxford, on July 4, 1862!

4. Radcliffe Camera

With so many universities in close proximity, it is time to see some great libraries and bookstores!

The first one is The Radcliffe Camera – Oxford’s 18th-century architectural gem and one of the most iconic landmarks of the University of Oxford.

Click here to see precise location

This iconic building serves as both an academic library and reading rooms.

5. Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library holds around 13 million items.

It is the second-largest library in Britain after the British Library!

Some of its most exciting items include Tolkien’s illustrations from The Hobbit and manuscripts of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein!

And seeing its main building is a must!

Click here to see precise location

6. The Bridge of Sights

The Bridge of Sighs connects the past and present of Hertford College, linking the old and new buildings of the college.

Click here to see precise location

Despite being relatively young (completed in 1914), its architectural charm has already earned landmark status, partly because it has been featured in various British TV productions, including Inspector Morse.

7. The Turf Tavern

If you pass the Bridge of Sighs and continue walking down New College Lane, soon to your left, you will notice a sign: ‘TURF TAVERN – An Education In Intoxication’.

If you follow the invitation, you will soon discover a true hidden gem of Oxford – the Turf Tavern.

Click here to see precise location

The Turf Tavern’s beginnings trace back to the 14th century, and it has been a watering hole for a wide range of universally recognizable faces, including Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Taylor, Stephen Hawking, David Bowie, Margaret Thatcher, and Boris Johnson.

And of course, Bill Clinton – the pub claims that the former President of the United States of America smoked (but did not inhale!) marijuana here.

Charming spot, nevertheless.

8. Blackwell’s Bookshop

It is time for my favorite spot in Oxford – Blackwell’s Bookshop.

Click here to see precise location

To enter Blackwell’s is to step into another world – a beautiful reader’s heaven.

Blackwell’s Bookshop in Oxford is as old as Edison’s lightbulb!

The Blackwell family has been continuously trading here since 1879.

Whether you are planning to buy a book or not, it is a place worth seeing so do step inside!

9. Martyrs’ Cross and Memorial

Now a chilling reminder of Oxford’s gruesome past.

Back in the 16th century, people were burned at the stake for their religious convictions.

Here in Oxford, three Protestant bishops were killed during Bloody Mary’s burning-at-the-stake spree.

Two places commemorate these cruel events: Martyrs’ Cross at Broad Street (where it actually happened)…

Click here to see precise location

…and Martyrs’ Memorial at the junction of Beaumont Street and Magdalen Street.

Click here to see precise location

10. Where great authors used to hang out

The last spot on this walking tour is something special for fans of Tolkien and Lewis – The Eagle and Child, the pub that used to be their watering hole.

Click here to see precise location

Currently shut for business, but nevertheless an important place on the literary map of Oxford.

Well, you’ve reached the end of this post! I hope you enjoy it.

See more of my posts!

In need of a private tour guide…?

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Stonehenge & What To See Nearby (PHOTO GALLERY)

by
PL

If you are visiting London and fancy seeing something older than the Egyptian Pyramids, you will certainly be advised to head towards Stonehenge!

What is Stonehenge?

Well, the shortest answer is that… no one really knows!

What we can say for sure is that they are 30 feet (9 meters) tall standing stones, arranged in mysterious circles by farmers who lived around 5,000 years ago.

???

Various theories propose different purposes for it, ranging from religious and ceremonial functions to serving as an execution site, an astronomical observatory, or even a cemetery.

We will probably never know for sure.

The unsolved mystery behind it is what attracts people to it the most, I think.

Around 1 mln people visit it yearly, and almost 90 thousand people follow their page on Facebook alone. I do it myself, and I must admit that this is weirdly relaxing experience. The page mainly publishes photos of the sunrise at Stonehenge and provides the precise time of sunrise and sunset on a particular day; link to their page you will find here.

What will you see when you visit Stonehenge?

You will be able to see the stones from a distance unless you visit the place on the longest or the shortest day of the year, known as the summer or winter solstice.

The coolest thing about this UNESCO Heritage site is that the stones are aligned with the sun on those days, making it a rather amazing spectacle!

On these special days, you will be able to visit the stones for free and even walk into the center of the circle.

To find more information about this exciting opportunity, visit this webpage.

What to see near Stonehenge?

When making the (2-3 hour) trip from London to Stonehenge, it makes sense to also visit the nearby city of Salisbury.

What is there to see in Salisbury?

The absolute top attraction is nearly 800-year-old gothic cathedral, which holds the record for having the tallest church spire (123m!) in the United Kingdom.

That is 12 meters taller than St Paul’s Cathedral in London!

It’s impressive during the day and equally captivating at night.

Click here to see precise location

6 other cool things about Salisbury’s Cathedral

Magna Carta

Inside the cathedral, you can find an over 800-year-old piece of parchment made from sheep skin.

What’s on it?

A written in Latin record of the first attempt to limit the powers of a king, in this case, King John of England.

This is only photo of the photo of the real thing. Photography of the Magna Carta in Salisbury Cathedral is not permitted.

In practice, the attempt was unsuccessful.

Neither the king nor the barons (forcing him to sign it) stood by their commitments.

However, for the first time in history, individual liberties (read human rights!) were mentioned.

This historical document predates the cathedral itself!

The 5 rivers and… wooden stick!

Salisbury was built in the location where five rivers (Nadder, Ebble, Wylye, Bourne, and Avon) meet.

River Avon

The city nowadays has sophisticated technology to check and regulate the level of water in all of them, ensuring that the ground under the cathedral (gravel and chalk) is moist enough to maintain the stability of the surface.

However, there is also another way of checking the water level under the cathedral—using a wooden stick!

Ask the lovely guides inside the cathedral to demonstrate how this is done!

How Many Figures Can You Count?

Let me draw your attention to the rather extensive number of sculptures located on the elevations of the cathedral.

Bumping Stone

The cathedral’s choir has an interesting ancient tradition.

Every new boy joining the choir has to have his head gently tapped seven times against one particular stone.

Inside the cathedral, you can see a tangible proof of this lasting custom—a stone suitably shaped by the choir boys’ heads for the last 800 years.

In 1991, Salisbury Cathedral became the first English cathedral to establish a fully professional choir of girl choristers. The tradition of tapping heads on the bumping stone does not apply to them; they get tapped with a bumping book instead!

The Church That Moved

The current cathedral is not the first cathedral that was placed in the city.

The initial cathedral was situated on a hill 2 miles (3.2 km) to the north of the current structure, but it ran out of… water.

Therefore, it had to be relocated.

Today, only remnants remain, some of the stones from the old cathedral were used to build the new one.

There is a legend that the location of the ‘new’ cathedral was decided by the shot of an arrow from the old site. However, the arrow stuck in a deer, and the wounded animal carried it much further than originally expected!

The Cathedral’s Restaurant

I strongly advise you to stop by the cathedral’s restaurant. You can enjoy a tasteful meal while still admiring the cathedral’s spire visible through the sunroof above your head.

Other Things to see in Salisbury

Charming Architecture!

A quick stroll through a few of the streets surrounding the Cathedral will expose you to some interesting architecture.

In this link, you will find a suggested trail to follow.

And below a photo gallery showcasing what there is to see.

Salisbury Museum

Excellent museum with plenty to look at.

Click here to see precise location

Fisherton Mill Gallery/Studios/ Cafe

On the way to Salisbury Station, there’s a little, somewhat hidden, creative hub called Fisherton Mill Gallery.

Click here to see precise location

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a more interesting souvenir shop – all items are handmade and lovely.

The cake and tea were also delicious!

For all book lovers, I encourage you to check out The History Bookshop located in a small studio outside the main building.

This charming bookstore, will make your day! I promise:)

Well, you’ve reached the end of this post!

I hope you enjoyed it.

If you are looking for more inspiration on what to see in and near London, check out my other posts!

And, if you’re looking for someone to navigate you through the streets of London while sharing the most interesting stories of this great city, feel free to get in touch!

I am also a private tour guide.

contact@walkmeblog.com