In search of someplace new to spend in a weekend at within the UK?
How a couple of enjoyable weekend in Oxford? It’s a great weekend getaway from London – simply accessed by catching the X90 bus from London Victoria to the town of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.
I did this not too long ago with my sister and we had a very enjoyable and attention-grabbing weekend in Oxford, exploring this stunning and historic college metropolis.
The beginning of a weekend in Oxford: Arriving on a Friday night
We arrived at about 9.30pm and checked into the Best Western Linton Lodge, a stunning Edwardian fashion lodge about 20 minutes exterior of the town centre. Wanting the take advantage of our first night time, we dropped off our luggage rapidly and headed to the Pure Historical past Museum for a particular night time time ‘Museums at Evening’ occasion. It was pretty seeing the shows at night time, and I notably appreciated the life sized animal shows. Solely subject was, the museum ran out of booze! What an atrocity!
Simply joking, we have been truly secretly happy, as a result of it meant that we may get up on Saturday as contemporary as daisy’s.
How one can spend a Saturday in Oxford
On Saturday we had an enormous day deliberate for sightseeing, and we determined to take the scenic route into city alongside the river and college parks. It was completely stunning, however BEWARE – ballet footwear are NOT applicable for nature walks – notably when it has not too long ago rained!
Arriving into city with muddy ft, however comparatively unhurt, we purchased some smart footwear and began exploring a couple of of the museums round city.
The museums in Oxford got here extremely beneficial, and you’ll see why – the town is extraordinarily cultural, academic and historic. My favorite must be the Ashmolean – I really like historical historical past, and the Egyptian part was tremendous spectacular! I had by no means seen an actual mummy earlier than, and it was wonderful!
After the Ashmolean and the Science Museum, we visited the Lined Markets, which have been round because the 18th Century! There have been many pretty little shops and meals retailers, and we sampled one of many BEST freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from a bit store known as Bens!
We additionally watched noticed some severely expert bakers making some extraordinary wanting muffins…all so intricate and detailed. I felt very untalented watching these artful cake-makers, I need to say!
Do an Oxford metropolis strolling tour
After a fast lunch break, we joined the City Walking Tour from the Guests Centre, and it was positively a must-do in Oxford. We realized lots from this tour – most significantly, how influential the College has been prior to now, and in addition within the current.
To be sincere, I ‘made an ass out of u and me’ and assumed that Oxford College could be one giant campus, however truly the Uni is scattered everywhere in the metropolis in seperate schools. We have been allowed into the Keble Faculty, and our information Monica instructed us all about pupil life (previous and current).
We even had a peek into the eating corridor, which is seemingly the most affordable place for the scholars to dine, and regarded precisely just like the corridor in Harry Potter!
Exhausted from all of the strolling, we returned again to our comfortable beds on the Linton and had a bit nap earlier than heading out to Cowley Avenue for dinner. We went to a spot I discovered on-line known as Door 74 (it’s sadly closed down) and loved a scrumptious meal, washed down by some Pinot Grigio. I had the lamb which was delish, however my favorite half must be the darkish chocolate semifreddo for dessert – such scrumptious goo!
We met an previous pal at a few funky Center Japanese bars earlier than heading residence to the 24-hour lodge bar earlier than midnight.
Excellent first day, with excellent firm!
Sunday: How one can end off a weekend in Oxford
We wakened at about 9am on Sunday and headed all the way down to the recent buffet on the Linton Lodge.
The breakfast was simply what we would have liked to start out one other massive day of sightseeing (I really like an excellent hash brown on a Sunday morning!).
The Linton is positioned a couple of 20 minute stroll out of the primary city, and it’s completely pleasing to walk previous the museums, schools and pupil housing. In the event you’re not up for the stroll nonetheless, it solely £5.50 in a cab – cut price!
A tour of the Oxford Citadel
We walked into the town after breakfast and loved some contemporary air earlier than testing Oxford Castle. The location was as soon as residence to the Norman Oxford Citadel, after which the notorious Oxford Jail because the eleventh Century.
We did the ‘Oxford Citadel Unlocked’ tour, and have been escorted round by ‘Mary Blandy’ – a prisoner that I personally imagine was wrongly accused of killing her father. She instructed us all in regards to the historical past of the jail, and let me let you know – English folks have been BRUTAL again within the day! Thank goodness I wasn’t an on a regular basis particular person in debt throughout these instances, that’s all I can say!
Exploring Blenheim Palace
After the tour, we caught the S3 bus to Blenheim Palace. Just like the X90, we discovered all of the Oxford buses to be actually common. We jumped straight on, and travelled for about quarter-hour via the countryside to the well-known Palace.
It was a toss up between Blenheim and the strolling tour, however I’ve to say that this was my favorite a part of the weekend. The Palace is HUGE and stuffed with historical past, most noteable being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The ticket consists of entry into the palace and entry to all the encircling gardens. You can spend a complete day exploring.
Since I’ve arrived in London, the countryside surrounding Blenheim Palace is probably the most stunning that I’ve seen in England.
The Palace is surrounded by rolling hills, lakes and 2000 acres of gorgeous parkland. Ange and I took a protracted stroll from the formal gardens, previous the Italian Backyard and finally got here to a ravishing cascading waterfall. We even managed to see some bunny rabbits on the best way! How English is that?
On that notice, do you know that the true Alice from Alice in Wonderland was from Oxford?
After taking a couple of zillion pictures at Blenheim, we headed again to city and spent our final hour consuming lunch and consuming a pint on the Eagle and Baby (also called the ‘Chook and Child’) pub, close to the city centre. The pub was a well-known assembly level for the ‘Inklings’ – a Oxford writers group that included C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien! It was wonderful to consider these males writing such well-known novels in that very pub.
The historical past in Oxford was simply wonderful. We have been very unhappy to go away on Sunday. What a improbable place!
I’d advocate going for longer than one weekend, as a result of there may be simply a lot to see. However when you’ve got restricted time, you possibly can squeeze all of it in, similar to we did.
Journey Dudes
I am certain you have had comparable experiences I had while touring. You are in a sure place and a fellow traveler, or a neighborhood, tip you off on a little-known seashore, bar or lodging. Nice journey ideas from different vacationers or locals all the time add one thing particular to our travels. That was the inspiration for Journey Dudes.
