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Oxfordshire Vacations

The county of Oxfordshire is flanked by two ranges of hills; the Cotswolds to the west and the Chilterns to the east. Between these hills lies a rolling plain through which wanders the Thames and its tributaries.

Most visitors come to Oxfordshire for the urban delights of Oxford and its colleges, or the grandeur of Blenheim Palace, but Oxfordshire has delightful countryside to offer as well, with amazingly pretty villages clustered on the banks of its rivers. Take the time to ramble along the Thames Path as it hugs the banks of the river that has been called "liquid history".

The Oxfordshire Cotswolds boast more lovely villages, with cottages constructed of the famous warm-toned Cotswold limestone. Burford, on the banks of the Windrush, is one of the prettiest, but it has competition for that distinction.

The chalk hills of the Chilterns have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; this is a region of beech woods and grassy hills, providing enjoyable walking opportunites. Through the hills run the Ridgeway Path, tracing the route taken by prehistoric travelers millenia ago. To the west the Ridgeway passes beside the hillfort of Uffington Castle and the enigmatic White Horse carved into the chalk of the hillside. The horse has recently been dated to about 1400 BCE, but even older is the nearby chambered tomb of Wayland's Smithy.

The city of Oxford is one of those English anomalies, a small town that has become a popular tourist destination, giving it a bustling feel in the crowded central core, and pockets of calm just a few feet away. Duck into a college "quad", or square, and the din of Oxford's streets suddenly disappears, to be replaced by a sense of timeless calm.

The history of Oxford is twined around the growth of Oxford University, though Oxford citizens had what could charitably be described as a love/hate relationship (little of the former and a heaping helping of the latter) with the students who have flocked to the Oxford University colleges since at least the 12th century.

The colleges of Oxford University are studies in contrast, ranging from the early medieval grandeur of Brasenose to the Tudor Christ Church, and the more modern lines of Keble College.

Although most visitors come to Oxford because of the architecture and history of the University, it would be a mistake to overlook the rest of Oxford's diverse attractions. From world famous museums like the Ashmolean, to simple pleasures like poling a punt along the sleepy Cherwell, Oxford repays a visit many times over.

Just a few miles north of the city is the extraordinary Blenheim Palace. The palace was a gift from the grateful Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, for his victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, and completed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the house sits in extensive parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Statesman Winston Churchill was born in a small room just off the entry, and there are displays relating to Churchill's life and career. > Source: britainexpress.com

Things To Do and See in Oxfordshire

University of Oxford,

Oxford, Oxfordshire
Starting as early as 1096 with some form of teaching,

Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world.
Attraction type: Educational site

Blenheim Palace,

Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Visitors to the home of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of

Sir Winston Churchill can view the beautiful palace in addition to its

Formal Gardens, Pleasure Gardens, Butterfly House, Maze, and the

Adventure Playground and Train.
Attraction type: Historic home; Historic site; Garden; Castle

Christ Church College,

Oxford, Oxfordshire
Founded by Cardinal Thomas Woolsey, this is the largest and oldest

college at Oxford University.
Attraction type: Educational site; Religious site; Historic site

Pitt Rivers Museum,

Oxford, Oxfordshire
Founded in 1884, this Museum features significant and diverse

archaeological and ethnographic objects from all over the world including

Pacific island objects, ceremonial brasses from Benin, and masks worn

by actors in Japanese Noh dramas.
Attraction type: Natural history museum; History museum

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology,

Oxford, Oxfordshire
Founded in 1683 and part of the University of Oxford, this is one of the

oldest public museums in the world, which contains major pieces of

Greek and Roman sculptures such as the Parthenon frieze,

the Apollo from Olympia and the Prima Porta Augustus.
Attraction type: Art museum; History museum; Museum

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