Oxford Vacations: Things To Do When You Visit Oxford

Although Oxford is a University city there is plenty for you to do if you decide to visit it. The river Thames and the river Cherwell run through the city and meet just south of its centre. If you want why not spend some time relaxing and just strolling along the banks of either of these.

However, there are plenty of other wonderful things to do and see when you stay in Oxford and below we take a look at just a few of them.

1.    The Ashmolean Museum is Britain's first museum and is still thought to be one of the greatest in the world. When this museum was founded, the term museum had not been coined and its creator based it on a collection of natural history specimens brought together by John Tradescant and his son. The collection was later given to Elias Ashmole. He then had a special building erected in which the collection could be housed and it first opened its doors to the public in May 1683. But what made this museum so special was when the Alfred Jewel was added to the collection in 1718. 

As the size of the collection grew,  the original building became too small and a new museum building was erected and opened in 1894. During 1908 the collection of items collected and displayed in the Ashmolean were merged with an art gallery.

2.     Originally called the Physic Gardens, the Oxford Botanic Gardens were founded by Henry Danvers in 1621 so that he as the Earl of Danby could study medicinal plants. At the time of its creation the garden cost £5,000 and was built on the site of a form medieval Jewish cemetery. Ragwort, a plant which is now common throughout England, was propagated from seeds that came from Mount Etna. This is the oldest surviving botanic gardens in England and along with the herb and medicinal plants you can view tropical lilies, palms and other arid zone plants in various greenhouses in the gardens. The gardens also feature a rock garden and a bog garden for you to explore.

3.    The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is situated on Oxford's High Street and is a very important building in the history of Oxford University. The first library for the university was established here as early as the twelfth Century. 

But what makes this so important is that this is where the trial took place of the Bishops Latimer and Ridley along with Archbishop Cranmer for heresy in 1555. This group soon became known as the "Oxford Martyrs". The building occupies one side of Radcliffe Square and it faces the Radcliffe Camera.  You are bound to notice the buildings spire, parts of which date back to when it was originally constructed in the thirteenth Century. Plus if you are willing to climb the towers one hundred and twenty seven steps you are offered wonderful views of the city from the top.

When you next visit Oxford, choose your hotel in Oxford from this list.