Oxford

One of the world’s oldest and most famous university towns, Oxford is everything tourists dream it to be and more. A noble town studded with grand old buildings, where the thread of history is tangible and you can sense the presence of brilliant thinkers. Oxford is close enough to London and compact enough to see the highlights in a day trip, but staying for a weekend or longer will afford you the time to really discover some gems and get a feel for this important place.

Magdalen and Christ Church Colleges are two of the oldest, most prestigious, and wealthiest colleges of Oxford. Well worth a visit, these buildings and grounds are the embodiment of what springs to mind when you think of an Oxford college. A tour of the Bodleian Library is a must-do. This stunning building is one of the world’s oldest public libraries and its architecture is as impressive as its collection.

For the quintessential Oxford afternoon you cannot go past paddling a punt in the canal. Start at Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, hire your boat and away you go. Head upstream to Magdalen Deer Park or downstream to the Botanic Garden and Christchurch Meadow.