DAY 1249-1253

Feb 2 - 6

1) In what was a totally last minute planned trip, my friends (Sai, Malavika, Karen, Meghna, Sanika) and I decided that we would visit Oxford during the weekend. I was naturally excited to visit this "City of Dreaming Spires", and so didn't get much sleep the night before. Regardless, on the morning of departure, Sanika and myself took the 507 bus to Victoria Station, where we met up with everyone. Our travel fare to and fro cost only £11 - a steal if you ask me! After about an hour's bus ride, we reached what appeared to be a highway stop in Oxford. We then missed the first 400 bus to the city centre, and had to wait for another...

2) Soon enough, we arrived in Oxford town centre, and began our journey towards the main attractions. But first, we stopped for a nice breakfast at Art Cafe - just opposite Westgate Oxford - a large shopping centre. Our stomachs satiated, we walked to Oxford Castle & Prison, which dates back over a thousand years! While originally there were plans to enter the castle, the lack of time meant that we bought some trinkets from their gift shop instead. Rest assured, there would be many other attractions for us to cover today...

3) Our next stop was the Covered Market - a historic market with permanent stalls and shops located to the north of High Street. Unfortunately, many of the shops were closed when we reached, so we didn't spend too much time there. While walking down High Street, we sauntered over to the Oxford University Press - the largest university press in the world, and the second oldest after Cambridge University Press. We didn't stick around too long though, continuing our journey to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

4) It was a £5 fee and 128-step climb, but the view at the top of the Church was absolutely worth it! With the All Souls College on the right, and Brasenose College on the left, and the Radcliffe Camera directly ahead - one could not wish for a better vantage point to survey the bulk of Oxford and its world-renowned university colleges. Thankfully, the weather was terrific - cloudy yet sunny without a hint of rain (unlike London XD). Moving on, we took a nice group photo in front of the Radcliffe Camera, before walking to the Bodleian Library - the main research library in the University of Oxford, and one of the oldest in Europe.

5) Right around the corner is the famous Bridge of Sighs, Oxford - joining two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane. It is interesting to note that there are two other Bridge of Sighs - one in St. John's College, Cambridge; and yet another in Venice, Italy. We spent our remaining time visiting the Sheldonian Theatre. This building was designed by the famed architect Christopher Wren, and used for various functions and events, not least the graduation and matriculation ceremonies of University of Oxford students. 

6) Finally, we visited the Ashmolean Museum, the world's first university museum, where we must have spent a good three hours scrutinising the exhibits and displays. We also found some time to grab "lunch" at their cafe. As the museum closed at 5.00pm, we made our way to the final destination - Christ Church, Oxford. In hindsight, we should have got there earlier (before sunset), but at least we got to see some night views of the college. Interestingly, my friends and I attended a Candlemas Carol Service, celebrating 10 years of Anna Chaplaincy for Older People - at Christ Church Cathedral. It was my first time attending a carol service and it was a really fun experience.

7) As night fell, so did the temperature. We decided to make our way to a famous pub - the Eagle and Child - where CS Lewis (of the Chronicles of Narnia fame) and JRR Tolkien (creator of the Lord of the Rings) regularly met. As the prices were a little steep, we decided to grab our dinner elsewhere (not before taking lots of photos cuz that's how broke students survive). We ended up at a ramen shop not too far away, and basically spent the rest of the evening there - eating and playing games. The walk back to the station and subsequently the bus ride back home were largely uneventful; we were so exhausted after a day's walking that we just crashed in the bus. And I slipped into bed right after.

8) That has been my experience at Oxford over the weekend. It was really enjoyable travelling with friends, and I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. Also, now I can cross Oxford and Cambridge off my bucket list. Hopefully, there will be many more trips to come. Until that day, take care and have a great day ahead. And thanks for visiting my blog as always. Cheers!

P.S. Literally hundreds of photos of the beautiful city of Oxford - so do take a look if you're interested! :D

Panoramic view from the top of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin tower:-

Straight ahead is the Radcliffe Camera

To the right is All Souls College, Oxford

To the left is Brasenose College, Oxford

Mandatory postcard perfect group photo :)

(what a lovely time we had!)

Group photo with the King's College London delegation to Oxford ;)

Group photo with All Souls College, Oxford in the background

Panorama view of High Street on a bright Sunday afternoon in Oxford :)

Black and white photography makes the view that much more vintage - love it! :D

Picture creds: Malavika :)

Night view of Christ Church, Oxford

The famous Great Quadrangle (Tom Quad) - the largest quad in Oxford, measuring 264 by 261 feet

Tonkotsu ramen and curry katsu rice

--> the perfect ending to an amazing trip with awesome company!

Bridge(s) of Sighs:

a) Venice, Italy (2012)

b) Cambridge, UK (2019)

c) Oxford, UK (2020)

Waiting for the bus in the wee hours of the morning

@ Victoria Station

And the journey begins!

All smiles :)

Taking the 400 Bus to the town centre

(yeay we've reached Oxford!)

Even the banks look so ornate

Breakfast at Art Cafe - Spanish breakfast

Sitting around the table playing the most devilishly addictive game - "Contact"!

Oxford County Hall - whilst on our way to Oxford Castle

Oxford Castle souvenir gift shop

Of swords, shields, and armour

Royal Arms of England, first used by Henry IV 

(according to a quick Wikipedia search XD)

Oxford Castle :)

 My friends trying their best to obscure my face XD

(Oxford Castle & Prison)

MSc in Clinical Neuroscience,

King's Delegates

Never has a person been this happy being in stocks...

I've no idea what I was doing here other than it looked fun XD

Contemplating my existence at Oxford Castle & Prison

Credits: Sanika :)

Rainbow lens flare yeay ^^

Caption says it all...

Westgate Oxford - a large shopping centre

Carfax Tower - we were contemplating climbing up the tower but decided against it afterwards...

The famed "Covered Market" - a historic market with permanent stalls and shops in a large covered structure in central Oxford

Too bad most of the stalls had not opened yet when we visited

Beautiful painting of the Covered Market

Little Zyczliwek ("well-wisher") the gnome - a gift from the City of Wroclaw to the City of Oxford

Wondering where to go next

The Ivy 

The "Shorter" Oxford English Dictionary - not really that short is it?

A short visit to the Oxford University Press - the largest university press in the world, and the second oldest after Cambridge University Press

Brasenose College, Oxford - as it fronts on the High Street, with St. Mary's in the background

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

Stained glass windows :)

The Metzler Organ - one of only two made by the esteemed maker in Great Britain

(the other in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge)

The magnificent view from St. Mary the Virgin's Tower (128 steps, £5.00 fee)

of the Radcliffe Camera, with All Souls College on the right, and Brasenose College on the left

It was such a beautiful sunny day 

(especially when the weather forecast in London was RAIN!)

Unsurprisingly, everyone was trying to get some nice snaps for social media!

That's All Souls College, Oxford in the background

(home of arguably the most "difficult" fellowship exam in the world)

Karen and Sai busy fiddling away with their devices :)

Oxford, in my opinion, is a very well preserved town - that has largely escaped modernisation and still retains many traditional customs

Another group photo just before descending

Malavika and myself - as we descended the steep spiralling staircase

And here's everyone - just for good measure

Map of the town

(should have read this before climbing to the top XD)

Paris Clock?

Finally back on solid ground

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

Oxford guidebook in Chinese

In front of the Radcliffe Camera

Picture credits to the one and only Dr. Sai!

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

All Souls College, Oxford

Blazon: Or, a chevron between three cinquefoils gules (arms of Henry Chichele)

Love how the Sun is just peering out from the clouds

Bodleian Library - the main research library in the University of Oxford, and one of the oldest in Europe

Courtyard of the Bodleian Library

The Tower of the Five Orders, as viewed from the entrance to the Divinity School

With over 12 million items, the Bodleian Library is the second largest library in UK, after the British Library

Bronze statue of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, 

in front of the main entrance to the Bodleian Library

And now on to our next landmark...

The Bridge of Sighs @ Hertford College, Oxford

The bridge is a skyway joining two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane

12th Century Turf Tavern

Claim to fame: celebrities who frequented the tavern include Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Blair, CS Lewis, Stephen Hawing, and Margaret Thatcher

The history of "The Turf" as it is lovingly called

Many stories and myths began here at this very pub...

Weston Library, forming part of the Bodleian Library

The Sheldonian Theatre - designed by the famed architect Christopher Wren, and used for various functions and events, not least the graduation and matriculation ceremonies of Oxford students

The Martyrs' Memorial, looking back towards Balliol College from Magdalen Street

The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaelogy on Beaumont Street, Oxford

The Ashmolean is the world's first university museum, erected in 1678-1683 to house the cabinet of curiousities that Elias Ashmole gave to the University of Oxford in 1677.

Roman statue of the Goddess Athena

A lady engrossed in sketching the various statues and busts on display

Double chocolate cookie and mocha to recharge the ailing batteries XD

(No I did NOT put all that sugar into my drink)

Like a scene from a movie

Vasco da Gama

Keris

Early version of chess?

Hapsichord recital at the Ashmolean

All that silverware...

High Street, Oxford (1809-10) hasn't really changed at all to be honest...

We covered all floors in just under two hours - a phenomenal effort!

Christ Church, Oxford

Still had time to make it to one last landmark - Christ Church, Oxford

As you can see, the night was getting dark really soon

(it was around 5.20pm when we reached)

The famous Great Quadrangle (Tom Quad) - the largest quad in Oxford, measuring 264 by 261 feet

View of Tom Quad, including the famous Tom Tower at night! :)

Smack in the centre is the Mercury Fountain - an ornamental pond with a statue of Mercury

Slightly worrying-looking structure if you ask me XD

The Eagle and Child - best known as the meeting place of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien

Quote from C. S. Lewis

Tonkotsu ramen - what a perfect way to end this amazing trip!