Let’s Unlondon to….Oxford

Even as a Londoner, leaving the big smoke for the day is nice. I headed to one of the oldest seats of learning - Oxford (the other being Cambridge). With August in full swing, the trains are heaving with day trippers and shoppers to nearby Bicester Village.

Thankfully, I booked an early train to meet my university pals for an anniversary lunch. I didn’t study at Oxford University, but we take different cities each year and meet for our annual lunch.

Despite all the roadwork, the city centre is easy to navigate, and a good pair of walking shoes is a good idea if you want to see the university and college buildings. By lunchtime, the city was heaving with shoppers, tourists, and students graduating from their respective colleges.

Oxford

Oxford is a historic city renowned for its prestigious University of Oxford, one of the world's oldest and most esteemed universities, dating back to the 11th century. It’s about 55 miles northwest of London, with excellent transport links to the Capital.

The city’s cobbled streets, medieval buildings, and serene River Isis (Thames) create a pretty setting. Its diverse and rich cultural scene includes museums, theatres, and annual events like the Oxford Literary Festival. Oxford might have only a population of around 150,000, but it attracts thousands of students, tourists, and visitors yearly.

Oxford University

The University of Oxford is one of the oldest and most distinguished universities globally, with evidence of teaching as early as 1096. It comprises 39 independent colleges and halls, each with its traditions, alongside central academic faculties offering a wide range of disciplines, from classics to cutting-edge sciences. It even has its business school, Said Business School, near the station.

Oxford University has a unique tutorial system that involves small-group or one-on-one teaching. It encourages rigorous intellectual debate and personalised learning. The university’s historic campus features architectural gems like the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, and Christ Church, blending centuries-old tradition with modern research excellence.

With approximately 26,000 students, including a diverse international community, Oxford produces world-leading research and counts numerous prime ministers, scientists, and cultural icons among its alums. Its global influence and commitment to scholarship make it a cornerstone of academic prestige.

Up to 31 UK Prime Ministers have studied at Oxford University. Some of our recent Prime Ministers include Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990) – Somerville College, Tony Blair (1997–2007) – St John’s College, David Cameron (2010–2016) – Brasenose College, Theresa May (2016–2019) – St Hugh’s College, Boris Johnson (2019–2022) – Balliol College, Liz Truss (2022) – Merton College, Rishi Sunak (2022–2024) – Lincoln College and Keir Starmer Postgraduate studies, Bachelor of Civil Law, St Edmund Hall.

Bodleian Library

We didn’t have tickets for the Bodleian Library, but the building and courtyard are impressive.

The Bodleian Library, the primary research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest and most significant libraries in the world.

It was established in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, though its origins trace back to a 14th-century university collection. Located in central Oxford, it houses over 13 million items, including rare manuscripts, ancient texts, and modern publications, with notable treasures like the Magna Carta, Shakespeare’s First Folio, and medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Its iconic buildings blend historic architecture with modern facilities. As a legal deposit library, it receives a copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland.

Parting Comments

After lunch, we walked around the main area where some of the prestigious colleges are located. We were unable to enter any of them because most were closed. However, I quickly took a peek at the courtyards of Christ Church and Jesus College.

During graduation, all of the colleges are closed to the public. However, Christ Church College was open, but no tickets were left.

I want to go back and do an Oxford University Campus trail. I’ll plan the college route to pack in as much as possible this time.

Usually, I go from Paddington Station, and the journey is generally less than 40 minutes. However, on this occasion, I went via Marylebone. It took an hour and 20 minutes. Plus, it was cheaper too. A Paddington to Oxford day return can set you back £40, and a return via Paddington Station costs me £16.50.

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