Oxford is an amazing city to visit and easy to get around at the right time of year being either side of summer. In summer the place is packed with tourists filling the footpaths and the places of interest. If you do not mind crowds then this is a good time to visit to see Oxford filled with colour from the many flower boxes filled with spectacular blooms hanging from shop fronts and light posts.
Spring offers the burst of colour along the roads with the plentiful showing of daffodils and other tubular plants growing wild along the verges.
Autumn is the opposite with the golden glow of many shades of yellow, orange, red and the countless shades in-between as the trees and shrubs turn and begin to shed their leaves.
Whichever season you choose to visit you will be assured of an amazing spectacle of beautiful buildings, delightful walks and delicious food. Oxford is a must for Harry Potter, Lewis and Inspector Morse fans with many locations from the films and series easily recognised. My suggestion is to research before you arrive to make sure you know the colleges, locations and pubs used in the series of your interest. I recall one lady with her son in tow, when I was working at the Examination Schools, asking, "Where is the Harry Potter college?" The college she was seeking was Christ Church.
Suggestions to help make your visit much more enjoyable:
a. If possible, spread your visit over two days at least for there really is so much to do and take in,
b. Look for accommodation out of Oxford for it will be cheaper and, if a B&B or self catering, much more interesting.
c. Do not drive into Oxford and park for it is expensive and time is limited. The best
solution is to take advantage of the Park and Ride. This does cost yet is no where near the cost of two hour parking in the city. Park and Ride can be found at: i. Thornhill - located off the A40 from Thame, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, London and the M40 to the east of Oxford, just before the ring road.
ii. Redbridge - located off the A34 from Abingdon, Didcot and Newbury, located south of Oxford.
iii. Seacourt - located off the A420 from Swindon and Bath, to the west of Oxford on the Botley Road.
v. Water Eaton - located to the north of Oxford accessed off the A40, A4260, A34 and the M40.
d. Look for quality and not quantity while visiting. It is better to spend time in a few colleges than rush through them all. This is obvious also when dropping in to one of the many pubs.
e. Go out and look in. There a many locations outside of the city where a view of the dreaming spires can be truly appreciated.
In the next blog I will skirt around the edge of the city then follow up with a tour around the more interesting sites within Oxford itself.
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