Oxford: The City in Spires

YHA Oxford

Hotel

It has been a few years since I stayed at the YHA Oxford, but I remember it being a clean, friendly facility that had all the amenities that one could expect from a budget lodging.

I stayed in a dormitory bedroom that had 10 beds. It was clean and bedding was provided. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. There was a lounge with TV and Internet access making it easy to meet people and find the information I needed. The individuals at reception were friendly and very helpful. I had forgotten a towel and they were able to provide me one at no cost.

I recommend getting a reservation before staying at this hostel. Although it is not as busy as the hostels in London, a lot of school groups stay here, which can limit the amount of space available.

In addition to being a great hostel, the location was fantastic. Just a few minutes walk to the Train Station, Bus Station and the High Street made it one of the most easily accessed hostel.

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

YHA Oxford
2a Botley Road Oxford, England OX2 0AB
0870 770 5970

Browns

Restaurant | "Browns Oxford"

Browns Oxford offers the finest dining in Oxford. Stylish decor and great food make it worth the money spent. It offers a variety of dishes and traditional English fare including steak and kidney pie. Browns makes dining an experience to be enjoyed.

The best way to experience Browns is to make a reservation. Arrive 1/2 an hour early and enjoy a cocktail at the bar. You will definitely want to order three courses and make an evening of the meal. Browns realizes that there is more to dining than just food. The courses are well spaced apart to allow for conversation and relaxation. It is not unusual to take three hours to enjoy the meal!

Website: www.browns-restaurants.com

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by Rockyhorror1978 on July 31, 2007

Browns
5-11 Woodstock Road Oxford, England OX2 6HA
+44 1865 319655

Georgina's

Restaurant | "Georgina's Coffee Shop"

This was my favorite place to get a coffee in Oxford. A tiny cafe above the covered market, it was always packed with students studying. The decor reminded me of a local student dig from '60s and '70s. The walls are covered with movie and music posters. The tables are small and close together. It is definitely the place to be if you're young and trendy! It's a very intimate environment and not for someone who gets squeamish in tight places.

In addition to great coffee, Georgina's has a great selection of lunch specials including baguettes, soup, and salads. They also have a great selection of vegetarian foods.

This is one of my favorite locations in Oxford. If you looking for a great place to get a coffee and write some postcards or scribble in your journal... Go to Georgina's!

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

Georgina's
Avenue 2, Oxford, England OX1 3DY
+44 1865 249527

Trout Inn

Restaurant

The Trout Inn is best visited on a sunny day in the summer. Located on the banks of the Thames River, the Trout Inn has a large outdoor patio with a fantastic view of the river.

Unfortunately, this pub is off the beaten path and needs a vehicle to access. If you are able to rent a car to explore the countryside around Oxford, this should definitely be your stop for lunch or dinner. Travel down winding roads and across a one lane bridge (AH!) to Trout Inn.

The Trout Inn serves a variety of beers and drinks to be enjoyed. In addition to the bar, the Trout Inn has a great kitchen preparing both traditional pub fare (i.e., steak and kidney pie) and international favorites (i.e., hamburgers). The joy of dining comes from ordering your food. Order your food at the bar. You are then given a spoon with a number to take to your table. The number notifies the server which food goes where. It's a basic, novel idea that adds an element of fun to the dining experience.

Once you are finished dinner, enjoy a drink by the river. You could spend the entire evening sitting there and admiring the beauty that is the Thames River.

This pub is definitely family friendly. There is a children's menu and the pub is not easily disturbed by young ones running around to look at the river!

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

Trout Inn
195 Godstow Road, Wolvercote Oxford, England

Covered Market

Attraction | "The Covered Market"

The Covered Market is a warehouse-type market that has numerous shops, cafés, and boutiques. Even if you are not interested in shopping, it is definitely worth wandering around the Covered Market to see it all. One particular interest may be the fresh produce available daily, the butchers with carcases dangling from the windows, the bakeries with fresh loaves of bread, and the small boutiques featuring locally crafted clothing, jewelry, and trinkets. The covered market can be explored by just walking around in 10 minutes. If you decide to stop for a bite to eat or shop, it will take you an hour or two.

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by Rockyhorror1978 on July 31, 2007

Covered Market
High Street Oxford, England OX1

Punting on the Isis

Attraction | "Punting on the Isis (Thames)"

I remember punting with my Dad when I was kid and visiting England. It was part of the best memories I have... slowly moving down the Thames River, passing Nudist Colonies (while Gran covered my eyes), gliding by swans and other river fowl. So I decided when I took my boyfriend (for the first time) to Oxford, we would rent a punt and have equally as much fun. Punting is a lot of fun, if you know what you are doing. Similar to directing a Gondola in Venice, you stand at the back of the punt and use a long stick to direct where you want to go. Unfortunately we had no idea what we were doing and didn't get very far. We did however manage to disturb numerous water fowl, nearly crash into the Oxford women's rowing team and make the locals laugh (hysterically). If you have a few extra hours and are willing to experience something new, this is the activity for you. If you are good at punting, it's a great way to see the back of the colleges and enjoy the fresh air. Pack a lunch and eat it while floating down the Thames in true English style. If you're not a great punter, have a good laugh at your own expense and have fun. Who knows, you might be able to steal my title as the "punting c*#t."

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 20, 2007

Punting on the Isis
Magdalen Bridge or Cherwell Boathouse Oxford, England OX1 4AU

Blackwell's Art Bookshop

Attraction | "Blackwells Bookshop"

If you are an avid reader and want to loose yourself for an afternoon, Blackwells Bookshop is the place to be. Opened New Years Day, 1879, it is internationally recognized for bookselling excellence. It is also the official bookstore of Oxford University, this bookshop carries books on every topic from Aphids to Fiction to Zoology. The bookshop itself is located at the original location on Broad St.

Once inside, you can wander the labyrinth of bookshelves, and shop 'til you drop! In addition to the Blackwell Bookshop on Broad Street, there are also two other stores worth mentioning: Blackwell's Art and Poster Store and Blackwell's Music Shop. Both stores are a must see for anyone who is a fan of music or visual art. At these locations you are able to purchase supplies for art or musical instruments in addition to specialty books about art and music.

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 20, 2007

Blackwell's Art Bookshop
27 Broad Street Oxford, England OX1 2AS
+44 1865 792792

The Old Fire Station Theatre

Attraction | "The Old Fire Station"

I went to the Old Fire Station for a friends Hen Night (bachelorette party). We went out for a night of partying and drinking... and that is what we did!

The Old Fire Station is one of the most popular nightclubs in Oxford so you want to get there early to get in. There is usually a cover charge, but no more than a few pounds. The price of drinks are also reasonably priced (3 pounds average). There is no beer on tap so all beer is sold by the bottle, which can make it a little more expensive than the pub.

The music that was playing was a nice variety of Top 40, retro, and hip-hop. There wasn't a song that I rolled my eyes, and wandered off the dance floor to get a drink. The dance floor is a great size and big enough to accommodate lots of people. It was also nice to enjoy a night out with the girls, without being treated like we were at the meat market. While men did approach us and chat, it wasn't a grope-fest.

Since this is a bar, it is open until 2am, whereas pubs are open only until 11pm.

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

The Old Fire Station Theatre
40 George Street Oxford, England OX1 2AQ
+44 1865 794490

Maxwells

Attraction

Maxwells is an American Style Eatery that is popular amongst the Oxford Students for its Happy Hour between 5-8pm. During this time you can get cheap drinks and cheap bar food. Maxwells is known in Oxford for having the best cocktails including Mai Tais, Long Islands Iced Teas, and other exotically named drinks.

If you decide to eat at Maxwells, the menu is very similar to the Hard Rock Cafe: burgers, fries, and nachos. The only difference is the prices, Maxwells is considerably cheaper.

The bartenders are extremely friendly and always willing to make recommendations. Not to mention, very good-looking! A great place to start for a girl's night out!

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

Maxwells
36 Queen Street Oxford, England OX1 1ER
+44 (1865) 242192

Turf Tavern

Attraction

The Turf Tavern is an intimate pub located in the nook behind some Oxford Buildings. It isn't easy to get to so you may need to ask for directions! But it's worth the stroll down the back alleys and streets of Oxford to reach it.

The Turf Tavern is a small pub, and has a great outdoor patio, even in the winter! Serving local beers, the Turf Tavern is a reasonably priced pub. In addition to great beer, the Turf also serves wonderful traditional pub fare and nibbles at a great price.

The Turf Tavern conjures images of scholars of the future rapping about political theory, great inventions, and amazing scientific advances. It is the environment of creativity and witty banter. This is a great location to visit with a friend to find a lonely corner to catch up or a group of friends to sit at one of the long tables and enjoy a good night of drinking.

As stated above, this is also a great pub to visit in the winter. The patio has heat lanterns and open fire pits to stay warm around while enjoying a pint of cider.

One of my personal favorites in Oxford.

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

Turf Tavern
4 Bath Place Oxford, England OX1 3SU
+44 1865 243235

Alice's Shop

Attraction | "The Sheep Shop"

The Sheep Shop is everything Alice in Wonderland. Any fan of Lewis Carroll's famous children's novel will find something in this wonderful shop. This shop is tucked away between the Magdalen Bridge and Christ Church. If you plan to visit either attractions in Oxford, you should definitely stop by this shopping homage to Lewis Carroll. You will find every sort of thing including jewelry, kitchen products, various volumes of the Alice Books, chess boards, and postcards.

If you are also a fan of Lewis Carroll, be sure to visit Trinity College on the High Street where he taught mathematics.

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by Rockyhorror1978 on August 21, 2007

Alice's Shop
83 St. Aldates Oxford, England OX1 1RA

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