Southbourne School of English

Oxford is known as the City of Dreaming Spires because of the many spires on the colleges and churches that are part of Oxford University. Many people are surprised when they realise that they cannot see ‘Oxford University’. This is because 39 colleges form the university. Many of these are in the city centre and their buildings can be visited. Oxford is the oldest English-speaking University in the world. In the 13th century, rioting between townspeople and students led to closed halls of residence. Enter a college ‘quad’, or square, and the noise of Oxford's streets suddenly disappears, replaced by a timeless calm. Each Oxford College is different; each has its own personality. The colleges are usually open, and for a small charge you can go and look inside. Imagine studying at Oxford!

Although most visitors come to Oxford because of the architecture and history of the University, there are also other attractions. The Ashmolean Museum (art and archaeology) opened in 1683 and is Britain’s oldest public museum. You can pole a punt along the River Cherwell. The Botanic Garden, on the banks of the River Cherwell in the centre of Oxford, is the oldest in Britain. The collection at the Bates Museum is historical woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, as well as historical keyboard instruments and bows. The museum is located in the Faculty of Music, next to Christ Church College. The MOMA presents quality exhibitions of twentieth century painting, photography, film, sculpture, and architecture from different points on the globe. The Oxford Story tells the history of Oxford, from pre-historic to present times. The last remains of the 13th century St. Martin's Church, Carfax Tower, is at the junction of the four main roads in Oxford. Climb up the 74-foot tower and you will be rewarded with fantastic views of the city. (Open Easter until October.)

Oxford Cathedral is the only church in the world to be both a college chapel (to Christ Church College) and a cathedral. The medieval church was officially founded by King Henry VIII but has an earlier history. Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) was a student at Christ Church College when he wrote Alice in Wonderland. Christ Church College has connections to a more modern children’s book – Harry Potter. In the film the dining hall at Hogwarts is in fact the dining room at Christ Church College.

Christ Church is open to visitors most days of the year.

The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. The circular dome and drum of the Radcliffe Camera is one of the most distinctive landmarks in a city full of distinctive buildings. N The camera (the word means "room") was built between 1737 and 1749 with £40,000 bequeathed by Dr John Radcliffe, the royal physician. It was designed by architect James Gibbs, who was also responsible for the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London. Originally the library in the Radcliffe Camera held both scientific and general books, but those collections were gradually moved to other University libraries, so that today the Camera functions as the main reading room of the Bodleian Library. The building holds 600,000 books in underground rooms beneath Radcliffe Square. Sadly, the Radcliffe Camera is not open to the public. Another interesting piece of architecture is The Bridge of Sighs which was built in 1913 and links two Hertford College buildings.