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| Visit Oxford - Walking
Tours |
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The Tourist Information Centre in Broad Street offers a wide variety of themed walking tours conducted by qualified Blue and Green Badge Guides. The most popular, the University and City tour, is incredibly informative and engaging and covers a brief history of the University and the city including a visit to one or two buildings of particular historical interest.
The knowledgeable guide begins with a brief synopsis of the origin of Oxford 800 years ago and describes the formation of the University in the 13th Century (notably prior to Cambridge) before showing you the nearby landmarks. Firstly, we entered the quadrangle of Jesus College, located just off Broad Street, and stood beneath a drooping, ancient tree while our guide explained that the College was built by an innovative Welshman after the reformation. Entering through the heavy door, we were given an insight into the traditions and history of the Hall beneath imposing portraits and dragons carved into the balustrade. We then strolled past the Bodleian Library, discovering that the book stack contains almost 8 million books, and proceeded to Holywell Street to see the oldest custom built music room in the world. On to The Turf pub where we learnt the history of the 13th Century city wall whilst standing on the original site of the moat.
We went on to Halley’s house and saw the location of his former observatory and enjoyed a quick peek through the gates of All Souls. This College is a 15th Century Oxford fellows-only College, which is said to have the best wine cellar in England. Altogether, this is a fascinating and educational experience, introducing you to the amazing history of the buildings that surround us in this wonderful city. The route of this tour varies according to the Colleges included.
After the tour, we ventured back to The TIC to pick up some Oxford memorabilia. In addition to the vast amount of leaflets and other free brochures, there is a wide range of high quality books, guides, postcards, mugs and other Oxford related souvenirs.
The staff are incredibly helpful, whether it’s a request for more information or a booking for a local hotel or guest house. They can also help you to plan your day with great local knowledge which will really help cut down on wasted time. As we all know, making sure you squeeze the most out of a visit to another City is vital to ensure you get the real benefits, and this excellent local knowledge is vital in making your trip to Oxford a memorable one.
Reviewed by Anna Hobson
www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com |
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