Matthew Arnold's description of Oxford as the city with the ‘dreaming spires' is apt, and to get a good view of the spire-pointed skyline, it is a good idea to climb to the top of one of the city's buildings, for instance the Carfax tower or the Sheldonian Theatre cupola, which both afford great views of the historic heart of the city.

Several of the university buildings, such as the Bodleian Library and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin are obligatory places to visit while in Oxford. Also some of the university colleges, with their impressive buildings and lovely parks and meadows, should be in the itinerary. Christ Church and Magdalen are both stunning.

The university museums, such as the Ashmolean, the oldest public museum in the world, and the Pitt Rivers Anthropological Museum, are very impressive.

Oxford Castle, which for centuries has been a place of incarceration not open to the public, has been developed into a modern urban space with a museum and is well worth visiting.

For plant lovers a visit to the Botanic Garden is a must. And no visit to Oxford is quite complete without a boating or punting trip on one of the rivers, the Cherwell or the Isis (the Oxford name for the Thames).

Oxford Information Centre
15-16 Broad Street
Tel: (01865) 726 871.
Website: www.visitoxford.org  

The staff at the information centre provides information about Oxford and the surrounding area, helps with booking of accommodation, transport or entertainment tickets. They also take bookings for the official walking tours of the city with qualified Blue Badge Guides.

The Oxford Visitor Card is valid for three weeks and entitles visitors to special offers and discounts on a wide range of products and services, including theatres, attractions, restaurants and various activities across Oxford. The card can be bought at the Oxford Information Centre (see above).