Tag Archives: Walking Tours in Oxford

Good Fences ~ Oxford, England

It’s time for Good Fences #20 at Run*A*Round Ranch Report with TexWisGirl.

Oxford Day 6 113

This fence with “Head” posts is in Oxford England close to the Bodlein and and next to the Sheldonian Theater and Old Ashmolean. Each post has a different head.

Oxford Day 6 080

Oxford Day 6 079I didn’t have a lot of time to research why there are heads on each of these posts and information about them isn’t an easy click away.

Last night while Dear and I watched an episode of Inspector Morse they drove on the street next to this fence. I enjoy seeing places we have walked when we watch shows like Morse, Inspector Lewis, or Lord Peter Whimsy series from Dorothy Sayers mysteries.

I’ve got to run today and will be around later to see more Good Fences. Hope your day is going well.

 

The Oxford Colleges ~ Balliol

I’m linking this post about one of the many Colleges in Oxford to ABC Wednesday. C is for Colleges. Thank you Denise Nesbitt and the ABC team.

On Wednesday July 9th (Day 6 of our England Trip) we boarded a train in Moreton in Marsh to Oxford for the day. We found free parking on the street close to the station. The train ride was a short 37 minutes. Since parking in Oxford is a challenge and you are advised to use park and rides on the outskirts of town we thought a train ride close to the center of town was the best option for us.

Oxford Day 6 011We opted to go to the visitor center and sign up for a walking tour. There were a few other tour options but they seemed a little too hawkish for our taste.

We only visited one of the colleges with the tour guide. The oldest Oxford college continuously on one site, co-founded by a woman, Balliol is home to young people from many different backgrounds who have come to study with world-class academics.

Oxford Day 6 012Each of the Oxford Colleges to my understanding have their own chapel, dining hall, libraries, and dormitories.

Oxford Day 6 013Some inside views of the William Butterfield chapel.

Oxford Day 6 014

Oxford Day 6 018

Oxford Day 6 019

Oxford Day 6 021

Oxford Day 6 022

Oxford Day 6 023These are the outside views of the chapel designed by William Butterfield in 1857.

Oxford Day 6 024

Oxford Day 6 099

Oxford Day 6 026This was the dining hall for the college.

Oxford Day 6 028

Oxford Day 6 029

Oxford Day 6 031

Oxford Day 6 032Oxford is a very bicycle friendly town and on our walk around town it seemed we were more in danger from being hit by a bike than a car.

Oxford Day 6 033Because of the way this chap was dressed our tour guide said that he’d be sitting for exams. The white bow tie was significant as to what exams he’d be sitting for. There are dress codes that are still observed for taking exams and other ceremonies, too.

After Balliol our tour guide showed us some other major sites in Oxford that I will post about soon. When our tour was over Dear and I spent some time at Trinity College and Magdalen College before we met up with a couple we met on the tour from Vancouver Island at the Oldest Pub in Oxford.

It’s only Monday and it feels like Friday. We are having a very warm summer day in the Pacific Northwest. The thermometer is already registering over 80 degrees. We are in a dry hot spell this week. Work is continuing slowly in our bathroom. The tile guys are suppose to be here tomorrow.

 

Cheers From England ~Day #6

Oxford Day 6 155Today we hopped on a train in Moreton in Marsh and headed to Oxford for the day. We chose today since there are rain showers moving in the rest of the week and we wanted a dryer day since we’d be on our feet and away from shelter for most of the day. The above photo was taken in the courtyard of Magdalene College.

We kept off the grass.

We payed for a 2 hour walking tour of Oxford at the visitors center.

On our tour we met a retired couple from Vancouver Island who do house sitting around the world.

We visited several colleges and learned the history of the Oxford Colleges.

We enjoyed a meal at the Eagle and Child where we met a family from the Bay area and enjoyed a lively conversation with them.

We re-visited Magdalen College where C.S. Lewis and Tolkien would stroll and discuss philosophy.

We headed to the oldest pub in Oxford and chanced to meet up with the couple from Vancouver Island and enjoyed a table together with our refreshments. More enjoyable conversation about their retirement lives spent on the island and in other parts of the world.

Back to the train station we jumped on the wrong train first and realized it in time and hopped off.

When the right train arrived because of problems on the line between London and Oxford we were packed in like sardines. We were happy to finally make it to our stop and hop into the cool breezes.

We stopped at the grocery store close to the train station and bought a few items to enjoy for a evening snack. We arrived home exhausted but filled with appreciation for all the wonderful sites and people we met and talked to.

Now we are chilling at the cottage and watching Argentina play Netherlands.

Oxford Day 6 046Christ Church, Oxford

I will have to devote a few posts to all the wonderful colleges and architecture of Oxford after I get home.

Hope all is summery where you are!