‘A flavour of Oxford’ Oxford is the perfect city for a day out.

You may find using one of the locations the easiest way of parking and travelling into the City Centre. You may prefer to bring a picnic to eat at midday as we will be having a pub meal later on. We will probably eat on the steps of the memorial nearby.

is the perfect city for a day out. It is full of architectural and historical treasures, gardens, river walks and narrow lanes and is best seen on foot. If all goes to plan we hope to have two main options. To finish the day we intend to go punting on the River Thames followed by a meal.

You can enter the University colleges and museums, walk in Christ Church Meadow and climb to the top of the city’s highest towers to enjoy some spectacular views of Oxford’s busy streets, ‘dreaming spires’, libraries and University buildings. You can also stop to look skywards and admire the thousands of stone carvings, exquisite grotesques and gargoyles which adorn the buildings.

Or perhaps you may like to see the Arty side of Oxford. The Ashmolean Museum in Beaumont Street,the Modern Art, Oxford in Pembroke Street and Pitt Rivers Museum have free admission.

Whatever your tastes we plan to meet together to begin with and again just before 5pm for punting on the river and the evening meal.

For those who opt for the ‘A flavour of Oxford’ guided tour these are some of the places we shall be visiting: St. John’s College garden in St. Giles (entry is free) St John’s college which dates from 1555 is one of 36 colleges that make up the University of Oxford which dates back to 1086. On entering the college you first see the quadrangle and then walk through this to a wonderfully peaceful garden. St.John’s educated numerous famous poets/ authors including Robert Graves, Philip Larkin and Kingsley Amis. St. Giles is also home to the Eagle and Child pub and meeting place of ‘The Inklings’, a group of writers which included JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis.

On leaving St. John’s college we shall walk towards Broad Street our host who used to be a local will be giving a talk about the Oxford Martyrs, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer who were tried for heresy in 1555 and burnt at the stake in this location for their religious beliefs and teachings.

Broad Street also includes the Sheldonian Theatre and the Bodleian Library, the main research library for the University. It is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and second only in size to the British Library with over 11 million items.

St. Martin’s Tower popularly known as Carfax Tower is in the centre of the town and stands 23m tall. It is all that remains of the 12th century church and offers spectacular views of the city’s skyline.
There is a small charge but the view is better from here than St Mary’s church tower.

From there we will make for Cornmarket Street and the covered market – located in the heart of Oxford city centre, the Covered Market is home to over 50 specialist independent traders, each selling their own unique variety of goods, as well as offering a wide selection of cafes and bars. The market dates back to the 1770s and has become famous for being one of the oldest continually operating markets in the country. We could also stop for tea/coffee at this point.

En route we shall pass Christ Church Meadow and can take a detour for 10/15 minutes if desired. The meadow is popular for walks and picnics and is in front of Christ Church College and Cathedral.

We meet at Magdalen Bridge where the more adventurous can go punting on the river. The punts take up to 5 people and cost £30 per hour, there is usually a deposit to pay. We would need to book online before so perhaps those intending to go could email before the trip so we know numbers. Punting is a tradition in Oxford and Cambridge and a relaxing way to see the river. You are welcome to try punting at your own risk just remember not to lose your balance and fall in!

Afterwards we plan to have meal. Venue to be arranged.

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There is no booking fee for this event. People who book on before the day will be given a mobile contact for the day.

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