Places To See In Oxford

We are super lucky to live in Oxford, it’s so beautiful and with our growing indie community there are more and more interesting shops, bars and events popping up around the city. In the last month or so The Annie Sloan Shop had a fabulous repaint of their shop front in sunshine yellow, Joe Perks launched their wonderful new small plates menu and tonight The Pint Shop Oxford launches following on from it’s successful first bar in Cambridge.

Amidst all the exciting fresh looks and new businesses, the University sprawls majestically through the city, it’s branches reaching far out into the county. Love it or not, the Uni is the reason that Oxford has grown over time, it’s immovable presence sometimes being a hindrance to the new, but it’s beauty and academic standing brings hoards of people every year and whats-more, investments in ground breaking research projects.

It spans centuries of history from it’s roots in monastic teaching to the founding of University College in the 13th century to the opening of the Blavatnik School of Government building in 2015. There is something quite magical about being surrounded by these amazing colleges and buildings that mark the passage of time through the last millennium and into the next. However, it is one thing to cycle passed these institutions of learning on a daily basis, but it is another to venture inside and explore the gardens, halls and chapels hidden beyond heavy wooden doors and porter’s lodges.

There is one weekend each year that affords us this glimpse into University life, and that is Oxford Open Doors organised by The Oxford Preservation Trust. They work with a wide variety of colleges, churches and buildings of historic importance to shed some light on their unique stories and qualities.

I love exploring the city over this weekend, taking in new colleges and buildings as well as visiting some of our favourites from previous years, plus stopping in at the odd indie or two!

Magdalen College 

Fallow Deer in Magdalen Meadow

Blavatnik School of Government

Barefoot is just along Walton Street from the Blavatnik building and makes a perfect pit stop.

Worcester College

This is my new favourite! It’s a tardis like college at the end of Walton Street with large sweeping gardens down to their pavilion and playing fields. It’s a mix of neo-classical style and medieval with a gorgeous row of cottages flanking the main quadrangle. The chapel is absolutely amazing and the most colourful I have seen of the Uni chapels. It’s dripping with gold gilt, gorgeous paintings of flora and fauna and the pews are adorned with carved animals.

From Worcester College we stopped by Central on Little Clarendon Street and made our way on to Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall to wonder through their gardens full of wild flowers and verdant grasses.

From LMH we made our way through University Parks to Keble College. One of the more modern colleges, built in 1870. The main quad is on a grand scale and the chapel houses the Light of the World painting by Pre-Raphaelite William Holman Hunt.

Trinity College

I have been eager to explore Trinity for some time as we often glimpse it’s wide sweeping lawn through the grand iron gates on Parks Road.

Lastly The Painted Room was our final stop of the day. A room on Cornmarket Street dating back to the 1500s. It used to be a Inn which Shakespeare is reported to have stayed in on his trips from London to Stratford. Small and hidden away, it is quite a marvel to stand in a room with such historical importance.

Our city is rich with history and hidden gems. It makes a great destination for weekend breaks and day trips, or just a great place to explore even if you’re a resident like me.

What are your favourite Oxford spots?

If you’re heading to Oxford soon check out our directory to find some of the cities awesome indies that sit amongst the historic University. PLUS you can join us on our next Oxford Instameet when we’ll be taking in some of the cities gorgeous attractions and indies. You can find out more here!

If you want to find out more about the Oxford Preservation Trust, you can check out the website here.

Love, Rosie xxx