May 05, 2001 09:10 AM
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Oxford is one of England's most famous and most visited cities,largely
on account of the world wide fame of the University of Oxford,which,inter-alia,numbers President Clinton,
the Crown Prince of Japan, Margaret Thatcher, Ted Heath, Harold Wilson,Indira Ghandi, Benazir Bhutto and Tony Blair among its former students.
At first glance many North Americans and others visit Oxford and expect to find a
campus called Oxford University and are a bit surprised to find thatthe U is a collection of unique colleges.They very quickly discover the beautiful architecture of colleges such as Christ Church, Magdalene,
Brasenose, Jesus,,University and St John's.The dreamy spires of Oxford can get very seductive.
The University,important though it it is,does not dominate Oxford in
quite the same way as,say,Durham and Cambridge Universities appear to dominate their host cities. Indeed Oxford is an important industrial city and is one of the major automobile manufacturing centres in
England. The city has several top class hotels,guest houses, and bed and breakfast establishments. It is also renowned for possessing some wonderful pubs,many of which have a very fascinating history. The bicycle also still looms large in this city.As befits a prosperous city
Oxford is also replete with excellent restaurants and being quite cosmopolitan,has a large number of ethnic eateries. There is a well known ice rink, a Nationwide League soccer team and other good sports facilities in Oxford. It is also a good regional shopping centre.Ifyou visit the city by car find secure parking in the outskirts for the city centre is a nightmare for parking.
Other buildings in Oxford worth seeing include the Bodleaian Library and the Sheldonioan Theatre,designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
If you start to tire of history,you can take a walk along the very picturesque riverside,visit the verdant Botanic Gardens,or browse around the shops in the city centre. You will find department stores,excellent book shops,boutiques and cafes.
Oxford is easily reached by rail from London with a typical journey time of an hour.
