Renowned for being one of the hardest cities to drive around due to cyclists and complex road systems, Oxford often receives a bad press when spoken about either in the media or in conversation. Why not take a step back and ignore the critics, though? You might just find some hidden gems and curiosities that the tours won’t always show you.
Pubs
If there’s one thing that the British population loves, it’s a good pub. Nowhere is this more evident than in Oxford. Take a detour through some of the small alleyways and side streets and you’ll most likely stumble upon one. In fact, surrounding the centre there are over 50 to choose from and each has its own appeal. For the purposes of brevity, I’ve compiled two of my personal favourites from opposite ends of the scale.
Let’s start with the modern and work our way back – Whilst the interior and atmosphere of The Jericho Tavern may hint at a completely young and modern character, the history of this place is substantial. First and foremost, it’s been one of Oxford’s main venues for up and coming artists. In the 80s and 90s that included such greats as Radiohead and Supergrass. This tradition continues today and even if you don’t go for the music; go for the food and drink because they offer a great selection for any appetite.
The pub which gets my highest praise is The Turf Tavern. Yes, another tavern…I thought this was meant to be about pubs? This particular one is located down a very small alleyway just beneath the misnamed Bridge of Sighs, which I will cover later. If you manage to squeeze your way down the path, you’ll find a quaint little place, parts of which date supposedly back to 1381. This is not only the regular drinking spot for students but has also seen many celebrities in its time. Here you will find some fine local ales, a very warm atmosphere and a ceiling that’s debatably too low; but what’s life without its quirks? This has become one of my regular haunts – speaking of which, it apparently has a ghost too!
The Architecture
To rectify any confusion, I should first address the Bridge of Sighs. For a start, it’s actually called Hertford Bridge, but it has gained its other name because it supposedly resembles the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice. It has appeared in popular culture in the song Itchycoo Park by Small Faces, but to me it’s one of the landmarks and should not be missed. Just try not to get run over if you want a picture under it!
If you want more examples of quintessential Oxford architecture, you needn’t walk far (especially if you’ve had a few drinks at The Turf) as the Catte Street and Broad Street region of oxford provides a wonderful amount of period buildings such as the Radcliffe Camera and the ever famous Bodleian Library.
Finally, if you’ve had enough of being in amongst the buildings and hubbub, you can take a trip East out of the centre to visit the Botanic Garden, which whilst it might not give Kew a run for its money, is certainly worth a visit for its beautiful array of indoor and outdoor plant life. It’s a chance for a nice relaxing walk and as it changes with the seasons, there’s always something new!
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The Lone Traveller 