legal recruitment
manchester · leeds · liverpoolbirmingham · bristol · reading
Historic Oxford, rich in culture, is known and acclaimed for its world famous University and colleges indeed the city itself is shaped by the University's iconic buildings and ancient colleges of golden stone. For over a thousand years Oxford has played a pivotal role in English history. The Museum of Oxford is the central starting point for any visit here.
Oxford is like no other city in the UK. It is home to some of the most beautiful and historic architecture England has to offer, Oxford is well known for its architectural elegance, crowned by the glory of its 'dreaming spires' captured best by the view from Oxford's three famous towers.
In contrast a £40 million heritage project opened in Oxford in 2005 as part of the redevelopment of Oxford Castle, this features a Malmaison Hotel, infamous as the first converted prison in the country and 8 restaurants including lifestyle brands, Living Room, Prezzo's, Carluccios, Tootsies and La Tasca.
The town is now a bustling cosmopolitan city with a student population in excess of 40,000. A growing number of hi-tech businesses have located to the city and within its surrounds. Many businesses have sought to join the expanding science and business parks or have located within one of the residential areas.
Oxford is the most famous filming destination in the UK outside of London, with a huge variety of television programmes and films featuring the city, perhaps most famous is Colin Dexter's 'Inspector Morse' where today you can re-live the inspector's most famous cases with walks around the city. A visit to Christ Church is also recommended to explore the Harry Potter film connections.
Oxford is home to the famous 'boat race' between Oxford and Cambridge Universities, a fiercely contested competition televised every year. Oxford United FC is a famous old football which won the League Cup in 1986. Oxford RUFC also entertains the local Rugby Union fan with a range of teams.
Oxford is host to the Bodleian Library one of only seven libraries in the country to receive every single English published book.
Almost every type of restaurant can be found to eat out in Oxford. There is an excellent choice of clubs and bars, with live music, such bands as Radiohead and Supergrass established themselves in the city in their formative years.
Oxford also offers a host of entertainment from theatre to college concerts. Theatres include the New Theatre, the Oxford Playhouse, the Burton Taylor Theatre and the Pegasus. Oxford has strong links with Shakespeare in history to the current day.
In 1593, Shakespeare's players are thought to have performed Hamlet at the Golden Cross in Oxford on route from London to Stratford upon Avon. In the present day there are performances of Shakespeare in College gardens by the Oxford Shakespeare Company.
There is also an array of different tours on open top buses, bicycle trails and a multitude of walks following in historic footsteps across the city. Boat trips are an essential part of any visit and no trip to Oxford would be complete without a punt on the River Thames. For more information visit www.visitoxford.org
Oxford is a great place to live, there is a range of bars and clubs, restaurants and shops, yet it is small enough to cycle pretty much anywhere in the city centre. There are lots of shopping opportunities in Oxford, from the fresh, unusual or organic produce in the covered market, to the chain stores on the high street and Cornmarket Street. Almost anything you want can be found in Oxford somewhere.
The nearby Bicester and Swindon outlet centres are well worth a visit for high street bargains. There are regular shuttle buses to London from Oxford which take around 90 minutes.
The historical layout of Oxford means there is no driving through the centre. Cars are directed around the outside – a bit of a nightmare if you don't know where you are going but great for shoppers and cyclists. Bus, taxi, bike or on foot are definitely the best ways to explore and get in and out of the centre.
The centre of Oxford does not offer much in the way of rental accommodation but there are houses and flats to let in the suburbs. Located close to Oxford are the residential towns that make up Oxfordshire and where most inhabitants of Oxford commute from. These include Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Witney, Burford, Carterton, Chipping Norton, Didcot, Wallingford and Kidlington and offer a wide range of residential property. www.rightmove.co.uk
Oxfordshire offers a wide range of schooling including pre-schools, primary and secondary education in both the state and private sector in a variety of locations throughout the county. www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Click here to download a PDF version of this page
print page
top of page