Oxford University

Oxford University:
The Most Renowned University In The World

No visit to Oxfordshire is complete without a quick visit to the city that has given the county its name, and Oxford itself is not complete without a visit to the local university. It perfectly blends into its surroundings and proves a popular tourist attraction to the thousands of people that visit the area every year. There is much to see and do around Oxford University so it is no wonder that this popularity has been constant and looks to increase into the future.

Oxford University is the most renowned academic institution in the world at the moment and is actually the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It was founded in the 11th Century. It’s ongoing rivalry with Cambridge University is the stuff of legend and annual battles between the two still occur today. However, Oxford University is an attraction in the city that stands on its own as a direct result of the culture, art, architecture and tradition that it harbours.

The architecture of the 39 colleges and the famous landmarks on campus can be traced back through the ages, and there is an example of almost all of the architectural trends and fashions from the 11th Century onwards. This makes it popular with architecture enthusiasts, but it is the museums and galleries on campus that cements its place in the art and historical world. Three of the museums – the Ashmolean Museum, Pitt Rivers Museum and Museum of Natural History – are some of the most visited UK attractions outside of London.

The Oxford University site also has a number of other attractions, including a botanical garden, Christ Church Cathedral and a number of libraries featuring ancient first edition prints of famous literature, including a Guttenberg Bible and a Shakespeare First Folio. For all of the treasures that lie here, it is an important place to visit and enjoy during any trip to Oxfordshire!