Advantages: The most amazing view in England and pubs galore Disadvantages: No train station at Woodstock, so must drive or bus to get there
Since Winston Churchill 'won' the Great Britain vote(television program for best of Britain), I thought it was fitting to write about Woodstock, just outside Oxford. Since this is where he was born.
PLUS you may want/need exercise... and BEER!
As a transplanted North American, old enough to remember Woodstock (the FIRST time), here is a place right out of a storybook.
On the way to the Cotswolds, just northwest of Oxford, and 55 miles northwest ... ...arches, is Blenheim Palace with its awesome view of the Palace and the Lake.
I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I guarantee you will have a sharp intake of breath when you first see this view. Winston Churchill called it the most beautiful view in England. And he should know. In fact, he was born at Blenheim Palace, unexpectedly whilst his mother(an American) was visiting the Palace. And he chose to be buried in the next town, Bladon.
The ...
Reynarda 26.11.2002 (15.04.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: Vibrant and historic. A mix of ancient and modern. Good public transport Disadvantages: Bad for parking
Where shall I begin, Oxford is a truly magnificent city and it is where I lived for 18 years before moving to Essex. I therefore feel qualified to give an opinion and guide to England’s primary seat of learning.
Oxford is a beautiful city of cloistered college grounds, pinnacled towers, walks, parks, rivers and provides the visitor with an historic and educational feast. The city is built around the river Thames, know locally as the river ... ...and settled. This is where Oxford derives it's name.
The university is probably what Oxford is best known for and was founded in the 13th Centaury with the building of three colleges, University College, Balliol and Merton. Today there are 35 colleges which make up the university. Exploring these colleges can be a time consuming event and you will certainly want to spread your visit over a few days if you want to take it all in. It would take too ...
jonwhite 14.01.2001 (16.01.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: lots to do, nice shops, plenty of places to eat, pretty Disadvantages: lots of beggars, extortionate car parking prices
...for me. I went to Oxford for the day. It wasn’t an ordinary visit though. It was a Ciao day out, where I finally got to meet some of the friends I have made through using this website! The fifteen of us there included some familiar Ciao names – I went along with my other half and two of our kids (one being my eldest, who writes as littlepenguin on Ciao), then there were Linda (Linda01865) and Noel, Louise (Wulise) and Shane (enahs1), ... ...is not to suggest that Oxford is awful, far from it. It is very pretty, with lots of old buildings and lovely architecture. The high spires and the beautiful colleges are very picturesque. The streets were generally clean and it seemed to have everything you could want in a city (although we failed to find a beanie shop!). It was pretty busy though, with lots of students and overseas tourists!
It was quite a long walk to the pub, but not unpleasant. ...
KarenUK 20.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: Beautiful buildings and friendly people Disadvantages: Not for cars
...only spent a day in Oxford so apologies for all the things I miss but it also means that you can see a great deal and have an enjoyable time there within a period of ten or so hours.
We travelled there by train from Bath. The journey took about 75 minutes , the connecting train was on time and the cost was a miserly 7.50 GBP return because we travelled after 9:30 am. If I'd travelled before the cost would have been nearer 20 GBP rising to 40 GBP ... ...was good so walking round Oxford allowed us to see the place in its best light.
PArking seemed to be at a premium and many of the streets are very narrow, so try and come by train if you can. Bicycles are prevalent throughout Oxford, and are tied to every spare place you can see (almost). The sight of thousands of parked bicycles at the station was amazing, and also good for the environment and probably the health of the cyclists.
Oxford is big ...
mikeydred 05.03.2001 (28.08.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: Nice city and churches Disadvantages: Crowded streets and parking not readily available
...friends and I drove to Oxford for a day on our way to Straford Upon Avon. Well, the whole of afternoon was spent on finding a parking place. The first mistake that we made was to drive into the town centre right into a no-car zone where only buses and coaches are allowed. The signs are misleading and not easily seen. By the time I realised it, I was driving right in notorious roundabout in the city centre. I was nearly booked by a traffic warden...I'm ...
sailormn 10.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: Beautiful colleges. Culture.Sophisticated Disadvantages: Parking is difficult. Pricey.
Oxford is one of England's most famous and most visited cities,largely on account of the world wide fame of the University of Oxford,which,inter-alia,numbers President Clinton, the Crown Prince of Japan, Benazir Bhutto and Tony Blair among its former students.
At first glance many North Americans visit Oxford and expect to find a campus called Oxford University and are a bit surprised to find that the U is a collection of unique colleges.They very ... ...St John's.The dreamy spires of Oxford can get very seductive.
The University,important though it it is,does not dominate Oxford in quite the same way as,say,Durham and Cambridge Universities appear to dominate their host cities. Indeed Oxford is an important industrial city and is one of the major automobile manufacturing centres in England.
The city has several top class hotels,guest houses, and bed and breakfast establishments. It is also renowned ...
ashford 04.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: good in summer, uni buildings nice, green areas Disadvantages: bad in winter, american tourists
I have visited Oxford pretty regularly - not least for University interviews over the past year. As such I have seen it in most weathers and seasons. I have to say that in the summertime it is a very pretty city, the buildings seem to radiate tradition and heritage. The open areas are very pretty and on the most part well-kept. The pubs are friendly, if a little dear, but the clubs are chaeper in both targetting and price!
Oxford has some great ... ...London and the cheap train and coach fares.
It would be a complete thumbs-up to Oxford were it not for how grey and unwelcoming the place looks in the winter. It's bleak and deserted. The students are absent, the streets are grey and cold and the buildings turn spooky. ...
anotherwiseguy 01.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: lots to see Disadvantages: can get crowded
I have lived in Oxford for four years now. Oxford is probably best known for the University, but it is also the home of Rover (soon to be BMW) so it isn't all gowns and mortarboards. The city centre is dominated by the various colleges of the University, and the best way to get to grips with which is which is to take one of the open top bus tours which run regularly from the bus and train station. Wahtever you do - don't drive in. Oxford's controversial ... ...the bus into town. Oxford is compact, and can be easily seen on foot. Most of the colleges are open to the public, but opening times for all are different. One of the nicest is Christ Church, with lovely meadows going down to the river. If eating in Oxford, there's a good selection of restaurants and prices. Some of the best are : The Opium Den (Chinese), Mongolian Wok, Browns and Chopsticks on the Cowley Road. Oxford is best avoided in the peak ...
moraghewat 28.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: Lots to see, pretty. Disadvantages: Students, students, prices..and did I mention students?
...Bath - don't stay in Oxford - stay in Swindon. Same reason applies in that the Swindon hotels are half the price. In case I upset salem witch I'll say that Swindon is great - the Delta Business Park Ibis is top notch.
To get to Oxford take the bus from Swindon. It takes about an hour and the fare is around £5.00. Buses are about a one hour journey, leave every hour, and the Oxford bus station is near the centre of town. There's not much to say about ... ...ugly modern bits added. The Oxford University Natural History Museum was wonderful - and free. We must have spent 3 hours in there alone. It's about a 20 minute walk from the main shopping area. Other must sees are the Bridge of Sighs and Radcliffe Square and camera. Apart from those recommendations just spend your time wandering around - theres a lot to see. I would recommend giving yourself a full day here if you want to see the main sights properly.
...
surfcrazedscot 11.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Oxford (England)
STUDLEY PRIORY HOTEL, Horton-Cum-Studley
FIRST IMPRESSION
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It's like being in "Pride And Prejudice" but with your very own Mr. Darcy. A long gravel drive sweeps up to the stunning 19th-century manor house. Inside, it's all I-can't-believe-I'm-here luxury.
ROMANCE RATING 8/10
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The walls are two feet thick and the small arched windows have mullioned glass. It all makes for a charming, olde-worlde atmosphere. ... ...was a romantic weekend), thick carpet, chandelier, huge vase of flowers, Jacuzzi, bubble bath and fluffy white bathrobes...
MOST ROMANTIC MOMENT
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Who'd have thought pre-dinner drinks could be so dreamy? We were whisked away to the lounge bar, complete with roaring fire. G&Ts in hand, we snuggled into the squishy sofas and nibbled at hors d'oeuvres.
DEFINITELY....
**************
Start your evening with a drink by the ...
TrustMe 14.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Oxford (England)
Advantages: Beautiful City Disadvantages: Anti-motorist attitude
...a surprise motorist's welcome to Oxford and become a victim of the mis-leading car park signage.Travelling up Thames Street from the Abingdon Road end, with the intention of parking in the large surface level car park, a sign directed me to turn right. I promptly did so and found myself at the junction with Speedwell Street. The only sign at this point is one warning of two way traffic on Speedwell Street. Since the main car park was on my left, ... ...I have been trapped by Oxford Councils' inadequate signage, and as a first time visitor with no knowledge of the city, I was relying on the signs for assistance.
Once in the car park I was relieved of £9.70 for four hours parking, so the whole experience has left a very nasty taste.
I write this as a warning to other prospective visitors - vigilance will be no help to you, as the trap is very cunningly set. ...
shipandshovel 01.05.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Oxford (England)
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