Sightseeing in Oxford - what to see. Complete travel guide

This modern city is such a busy metropolis that it seems life does not stop here even for a minute. For more than eight centuries Oxford is a major research and training center, which is known throughout the world. Largest choice of great restaurants, attractions, rich selection places of interest, and amazing natural beauty - these are the main points that make tourism in Oxford successful.

The most important landmark and symbol of the city is the University of Oxford. It is open to all visitors and so you just need to get a ticket in one of the tourist agencies. The largest botanical garden of Oxford is adjacent to the university. Here visitors will find a collection of plants from all over the world. Oxford is also the location of the oldest museum in Britain – Ashmolean Museum founded in 1683.Here you can see a collection of precious stones, antique sculptures and paintings. Several rooms are devoted to archaeological findings.

Besides the majestic building of the university you should also visit several old colleges - Magdalen College, Queens College, Merton College and University College. These are true examples of medieval architecture - each of these colleges is surrounded by the park, and their inner yards are decorated with elegant sculptures. Another notable building that is worth visiting is the Radcliffe Camera, which serves as the reading room of the Bodleian Library. It is worth noting that this library is one of the largest in the world, and it stores more than 2 million books. Broad Street is one of best places for walking. Here you will see the building of the Sheldonian Theatre, attend one of the largest bookstores of the country named Blackwell’s or relax in one of the local cafes after a long walk. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the heart of the city is the beautiful historic Carfax Tower, the height of which is 23 meters. This tower is the only surviving fragment of the church that was located in this place in the 13th century. In 1676, six bells were installed on top of the tower, which can still be heard today. The local church had been operated until the beginning of the 19th century, and eventually came to desolation and gradually collapsed, but the tower has survived. At its top, today is one of the most popular observation platforms in the city.

The unique attraction is Queen's Lane Coffee House, the city's oldest cafe that has been working continuously since 1654. Like hundreds of years ago, today here you can try popular English dishes, as well as Mediterranean and African cuisines, as many young foreign people study in Oxford. One of the cafe's specialties is hot chocolate prepared according to old traditions.

A beautiful historic building houses the Pitt Rivers Museum founded in 1884, which is currently based at the University of Oxford. This museum presents an interesting collection of anthropological and archaeological exhibits. The museum's exposition was formed from a private collection of antiquities of Colonel Wesley L. Fox. Over the years, the collection of the museum has increased hundreds of times; today, among its unique exhibits you can see ancient artifacts collected by J. Cook himself.

Some hotels in Oxford have long acquired the status of historical sites, and The Bear & Ragged Staff is a great example. The very first hotel was opened within its walls more than 350 years ago. Over the years, the building has managed to almost completely preserve its exterior and interior. Today, inside the historic hotel you can see many unique decorations: hand-made antique furniture, works of art and handicrafts. A sloping ceiling, as well as old woodwork elements, have been preserved in many rooms of the historic building. The hotel has a small restaurant where you can try ale brewed according to old traditional recipes.