City in the spotlight: Oxford – the city of dreaming spires

‘I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all like an opera.’ – W.B. Yeats, Irish poet

Yeats’ dreaming city of Oxford is located in south east England. The city is known worldwide as the home of the University of Oxford but had more humble beginnings in the 10th century as a river crossing for oxen (‘Oxena Forda’).

University of Oxford

The university was recently ranked as the best in the world for the first time by Times Higher Education magazine. Although it has no official foundation date, teaching has taken place in some form from as early as 1096.

After disputes between students and the Oxford locals, some academics fled the violence to Cambridge, later forming the University of Cambridge.

Despite conflict between ‘town and gown’, the university was granted a royal charter in 1248 during the reign of King Henry III. A royal charter is used to establish significant organisations such as cities, universities, or learned societies

The university is made up of 38 colleges and six Permanent Private Halls, known as the Conference of Colleges, to discuss policy and to deal with central university administration.

Famous Oxford alumni

Talented men and women have studied or taught at the university throughout its history. Among them are 27 British prime ministers, over 30 international leaders, 50 Nobel Prize winners, and 120 Olympic medal winners.

Some famous alumni include the recent politicians Bill Clinton, David Cameron, Tony Blair, and Margaret Thatcher, as well as the writers JRR Tolkein (buried in Wolvercote cemetery), Oscar Wilde, and CS Lewis.

Although Oxford will always be notable for its university, the city and its surroundings provide the most wonderful backdrop to its beautiful colleges.

The University of Oxford is also home to 59 full-time Chevening Scholars and over 20 Chevening Fellows for the 2016/2017 academic year, making it the fourth most popular destination for Cheveners.

If you are studying at the University of Oxford, we hope you can take inspiration from the university’s illustrious past.

Sport

Sport plays a big part in the city’s culture. Oxford is home to the county’s only professional football club, Oxford United FC, who currently play in EFL League One.

However, football is probably not the first sport that springs to mind when you think of Oxford. First held in 1829, the Boat Races between Oxford and Cambridge universities are among the oldest sporting events in the world.

Watched by thousands along the banks of the River Thames in London, the universities contest their long-held rivalry on the first weekend of April each year. The 2017 races saw Oxford win back the title in the men’s race, with Cambrige taking back the title for the women’s race.

Culture

Oxford is home to some of film and television’s most iconic scenes. Christ Church College is home to the Great Hall in Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry. The charming villages of Cogges, Swinbrook, Shilton, and Bampton on the outskirts of the city feature prominently in the popular TV drama Downton Abbey.

(Image courtesy of Bo&Ko: Flickr | Creative Commons 2.0 license.)

Oxford also has a thriving music scene with bands like Radiohead, Foals, and Supergrass all breaking out from the city’s underground music venues.

Shopping

Bicester Village is a designer shopping outlet located only 12 miles from the city which welcomes over six million visitors each year. Along with Buckingham Palace, it is one of the UK tourist attractions most visited by Chinese visitors. Approximately 80% of Chinese visitors to London make this retail pilgrimage during their visit to the UK.

How to get there

The city is extremely well connected by rail and bus routes, so why not take a trip to the home of academia!

For more things to do in Oxford, please click here.