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myOxfordtravel Explore Oxford’s history, hidden gems & stories with a top-rated local guide! Book a walking tour, experience, or grab a free itinerary.

05/03/2025

Blackwell’s Bookshop, located on Broad Street in Oxford, is one of the most famous and historic bookstores in the UK. Founded in 1879 by Benjamin Henry Blackwell, it has grown into an iconic literary institution, known for its vast collection of books, deep academic roots, and connections to some of the world’s most influential writers and scholars.

A Brief History
1879: Benjamin Henry Blackwell, the son of a local bookbinder, opened a small shop at 48 Broad Street with just £25 worth of stock.
Expanding Influence: It quickly became a hub for Oxford University students and professors, selling academic texts and rare books.
The Norrington Room: Opened in 1966, this underground space holds over 3 miles of bookshelves, making it one of the world’s largest single-room book collections.
Publishing Legacy: Blackwell’s expanded beyond bookselling into publishing, producing academic works under Blackwell Publishing.

25/02/2025

Oxford’s Bridge of Sighs, officially known as Hertford Bridge, is a skyway connecting two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane. Built in 1913–1914, it resembles the famous Venetian bridge but was not modeled after it. The bridge is a well-known Oxford landmark, often mistaken as a romantic symbol, though its purpose was practical—facilitating student movement. The bridge’s distinctive design and location make it a popular spot for tourists and photographers. A long-standing myth suggests students who pass beneath it fail their exams, though there is no basis for this superstition.

22/02/2025

Trinity College Oxford through its impressive wrought iron gates. Founded in 1555 – Trinity College was established by Sir Thomas Pope, a wealthy statesman and devout Catholic, who intended it to train clergy.

14/02/2025

The ornate gates of All Souls College, Oxford, are an iconic feature of this prestigious institution. These wrought-iron gates, located at Radcliffe Square, are a stunning example of Baroque craftsmanship, decorated with intricate scrollwork and crowned with elaborate finials. They provide a grand entrance to the college, which is known for its exclusivity—admitting only a small number of exceptional postgraduate fellows each year.

02/02/2025

The Sheldonian Theatre has hosted many famous performers and speakers since its opening in 1669. Some notable figures include:

Musicians & Composers: George Frideric Handel, Edward Elgar, Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein.
Speakers & Writers: Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sir Christopher Wren, Bill Clinton.

13/01/2025

The Clarendon Building, an iconic structure in Oxford, England, was designed by Sir Nicholas Hawksmoor and completed in 1715. It was built to house Oxford University Press, funded by profits from Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion. The building features a striking neoclassical design, reflecting Hawksmoor’s architectural ingenuity. It served the press until 1830 and later became part of the Bodleian Library. Today, it remains a significant landmark in Oxford’s historic cityscape.

11/01/2025

Christchurch’s Meadow Building looking glorious in the winter sun. Lewis Carroll worked here teaching mathematics & wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland published in 1865.

07/12/2024

Festive High Street outside the Old Bank Hotel. The building has been occupied by several businesses, the last being Barclays Bank.

30/11/2024

Corpus Christi College, Oxford, founded in 1517 by Richard Foxe, Bishop of Wi******er, is one of the university’s smaller colleges. Originally established to promote classical learning and theology, it played a key role in the Renaissance and Reformation periods. Its notable alumni include John Keble and Isaiah Berlin.

04/11/2024

Christchurch looking glorious in the winter sun. The Meadow building was constructed in 1862–66

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Oxford City Walking Tours with a local
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01/11/2024

Oxford’s Radcliffe Camera, with its iconic dome and neoclassical architecture, has been a popular filming location in Oxford, featured in several films and TV series, especially when directors want to capture a scholarly or historic atmosphere. Here are some notable appearances:

1. The Golden Compass (2007) – Based on Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, this film used the Radcliffe Camera to represent parts of Jordan College, the fictional university that Lyra attends.
2. The Red Violin (1998) – This film, which follows the journey of a mysterious violin through several centuries, uses Oxford as one of its locations, including scenes near the Radcliffe Camera.
3. The Saint (1997) – Starring Val Kilmer, this movie has a scene set in Oxford, and the Radcliffe Camera is featured in the backdrop.
4. X-Men: First Class (2011) – Although not directly in front of the Radcliffe Camera, several Oxford scenes feature iconic university landmarks, giving the sense of an academic setting, with shots capturing the area near the Radcliffe Camera.
5. Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) – Some scenes were filmed in Oxford, including locations near the Radcliffe Camera, to depict Holmes’s early years in an academic environment.

The Radcliffe Camera has also appeared in various TV series, including episodes of Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Endeavour, which often feature Oxford landmarks. Its unique look often serves to immediately convey an aura of tradition, academia, or mystery.
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28/10/2024

Oxford’s Faculty of Theology and Religion, informally called “Divinity School,” is one of the oldest faculties, dating back to 1221. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in theology, philosophy, and religious studies, fostering critical study of religious traditions. The historic Divinity School building hosts notable events, such as weddings and lectures.
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16/10/2024

Bridge of Sighs through the Bodleian library gates. Oxford is a great place to explore, rain or shine.

28/09/2024

Graduation day at Oxford is always a special occasion for all involved. The guy selling flowers was doing a great trade outside the Sheldonian Theatre.
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26/09/2024

Since reading Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins where the eight-year-old daughter of an Oxford College Master and her Scottish nanny spend a lot of time in this graveyard, I thought I’d go and investigate on a very damp day. It made the visit very atmospheric and gave a strange feeling being surrounded by such academic greats. Here are some of the names of people buried there:

Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows.

Theophilus Carter, said to be the model for the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Sir John Stainer, composer
Walter Pater, critic, essayist and mentor of Oscar Wilde.

28/08/2024

The walking tours go on, rain or shine! Thankfully I had a very upbeat group of ladies from Belgium who didn’t mind the rain.

10/08/2024

There’s always time in Oxford for a spot of sightseeing! Probably the best views of the Cities rooftops from the tower of the University Church of Mary the Virgin.

04/08/2024

St Mary’s Passage made famous by CS Lewis. The narrow, picturesque alleyway holds a special place in literary history, particularly in connection with C.S. Lewis, the renowned author who used some doorway carvings to inspire Mr Tumnus in his Lion, Witch & Wardrobe story. In the foreground you can see the lamppost that Mr Tumnus dances around!

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Timeless fun of the fair. Part of Blenheim’s Christmas Market and light show.

Matriculation day … #welcometooxford Radcliffe Camera & All Souls College in the background. . . ••••••••• We plan Oxford Walking Tours, fun Experiences & unique Tour Itineraries to download. https://myoxfordtravel.com . . #enjoyoxfordwithus #airbnbexperiences #oxforduniversity #bbcoxfordshire #igersoxford #theprettycities #famousbuildings #historicplaces #placestosee #seemycity #explore #universitycity #cityscape #explorebritain #iconicbuildings #thediscoverer #lovelyplaces #historicarchitecture #stayandwander #weekendbreak #lovegreatbritain #theprettycities #bodleianlibrary #matriculation #matriculationceremony #studentlife #startingcollege #studentfun #universitycity #tradition #collegetradition

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Oxford May Morning - the crowds enjoy the Morris Dancer's

What a great start to May - check our blog at: https://myoxfordtravel.com/blog/oxfords-may-morning

Spring must be around the corner. Time to enjoy a trip to Blenheim Palace and download our ‘day 4 itinerary’. Take a tour and #enjoyoxfordwithus Blenheim Palace. Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Oxford, Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Experience Oxfordshire