Welcome to Historic Oxford

Welcome

This great city has more than 40 ancient colleges each a part of the other, tightly interwoven. You'll discover cobbled streets, looking much as they did hundreds of years ago, old wooden doors that open to offer enticing glimpses of mown lawns, neat quadrangles and ancient staircases leading into the heart of the colleges. Gaze skywards and see great bell towers, carved figures and slim spires piercing the clouds.

The ancient beauty is enlivened by all the charms of a modern city - theatres, galleries, bookshops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Today's tourists can enjoy these 21st-century comforts while exploring the buildings and discovering the treasures of one of the greatest university cities in the world.

Christ Church

Across St Aldates from Alice's Shop you'll see a gateway leading to the grandest of all Oxford colleges, Christ Church, founded in the early 16th century by Cardinal Wolsey. As you enter the gate and walk through the garden towards 'The House', as Christ Church is called by those who live here, Christ Church Meadow is on your right. The path on the right leads to the River Thames - or 'Isis' as it is grandly known in Oxford.

Trinity

Trinity gardens are a wonderrful green space in the heart of the city and the college has four splendid quadrangles. Master craftsman Grinling Gibbons is believed to have made the magnificent carvvings in the chapel, using a mixture of lime, walnut, pear and oak wood. College opening times are shown on a board by the gate in each lodge. Most are open in the afternoon. Some make no charge but others, with more to see, ask for a small entry fee.

Carfax and St Aldates

Carfax is the name of the busy crossroads that has been a meeting place for hundreds of years. The name evolved from the Latin quadrifurcus (meaning 'four branches') and at one time a sprawling market, a large church and a stone water conduit stood here. The roads were once congested too, but now traffic is restricted. It is here you can start your walk, which leads from Carfax down St Aldates to Christ Church.

Magdalen Bridge

There's much to see at Magdalen (always pronounce it 'maudlin'), one of Oxford's richest colleges. Magdalen Bridge is the ancient crossing point over the winding River Cherwell, which divides the college grounds from the Botanic Garden across the road. The bridge, with its boathouse, is the starting point for many a punting adventure. A walk through the Botanic Garden and along Broad Walk brings you back to Christ Church.

Botanic Garden

Cross the 'road to inspect the plant collections, walk by the river or simply sit and enjoy the beautifully laid out garrden with its huge range of flora, including a national collection of Euphorbia. This is the oldest botanic garden in Britain where plants are grown for reasons of conserrvation, reference, academic study and research. As well as the 'order beds', you'll find water and rock gardens, trees and borders full of interesting plants, well labelled. You can picnic here and enjoy the well-filled glasshouses.