by Alice Atkinson-Bonasio

Created on: October 23, 2008

A Most Distinguished Town

Oxford is one of those cities that can feel at once intensely vibrant and blissfully sedate. This might have something to do with its student population which all around you tries to match up to the expectations of history and tradition.

There is no denying that Oxford
is dominated by the academic spirit. University students everywhere, especially in England, are renowned for their need to party and to live it up. For some that and showing up to the occasional lecture is all they really do. In Oxford, however, you find that most elusive of specimens, a student that actually studies. Even in pubs you see them alone with a quiet drink poring over their notes, and the rowdiness that you come to expect of student pubs is simply not there.

For the tourist the students are part of what is interesting to look at, but there are also many good shopping streets, museums, pubs, and of course the colleges themselves.

Where to Stay: Burlington
House is a luxury Bed and Breakfast in North Oxford, about 10-15 minutes walk from the city centre, but there is also a regular bus service. The rooms are beautifully decorated and for the price (starting at 85 for a double room including a luxurious breakfast) you get infinitely better value for money than you would at one of the more central hotels. http://burlington-house.co.uk/

Eating: For such a wealthy town, Oxford is actually a little poor in dining out options. Restaurants are pricey and not always up to the standard you would expect. We were disappointed with our meal at the much touted Fishers restaurant, where our order was not properly cooked. The best food we had was actually at the famous Eagle and Child Pub in St Giles, just across the road from the Natural History and Pitt
Rivers Museums. Soak up the atmosphere and find a nice little nook where you can enjoy big portions of honest and very good Pub grub washed down with a pint of ale. For some fresh produce or food on the go visit the Covered Market, which was established in 1774. It is home to one of the best fishmongers you will find anywhere, and you can even eat some fresh and reasonably priced oysters at their counter.

Watering Holes: As well as The Eagle and Child, which has been open as a pub since 1650, there are many other good historical Pubs in Oxford
with a great atmosphere, especially in Winter. The White Horse on Broad St is favoured by locals and serves very good ales, while the Kings Arms on Holywell Street
has a much livelier atmosphere

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