On the Northwest from London lies the City of Dreaming Spires or, as the most people know it, the city of Oxford. Although the main association with Oxford is its famous University, it is so much more.
If you have some spare time (better a day of your time) staying in the capital then you should definitely book a tour which will lead your way not only to Oxford, but to other well-known places such as Cambridge (founded by Oxford scholars fleeing the “Town versus Gown” riot), Windsor castle (the home of the Royal Family), Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon (birthplace of William Shakespeare) or stunning country-sight of Cotswolds.
As for the Oxford city itself, the fun fact is that it provides the examples of almost every architectural period in England starting from the arrival of Saxons. The history of the city is closely connected to the history of the University of Oxford itself, which is the oldest university in English-speaking world. It was a home for many students, some of them eventually becoming renowned writers, such as Lewis Carroll, C. S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien. The famous poet William Yeats once said: “I wonder [how] anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember” which leaves us to believe that the atmosphere in Oxford is so magical that one of us could easily create its own fantasy world.
Walking through the city of Oxford one can see the Bodleian Library, which is one of the oldest libraries of Europe, Christ Church Cathedral, Carfax Tower on the main square, Radcliffe Observatory, Sheldonian Theatre and much more.
If you are still indecisive, keep in mind that Oxford is 2 hours drive from London, which is nothing compared to what it has to offer. Just recall to your memory the scene of the Great Hall from Harry Potter’s movies and let it lead your way to this enchanted place full of knowledge.