Oxford
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| Carfax Tower | River Cherwell | Christ Church College | Church of St Mary the Virgin |



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Carfax Tower

Carfax Tower, located on St Aldates Street, is at the very heart of Oxford and is a good place to start for seeing the sights.

The Tower dates from the 13th century and is the only surviving part of what was originally St Martin's Church.

On the east face of the tower there is a fascinating clock, a replica of the original church clock. As part of the clock's mechanism two figures, known as the "quarterboys", strike a bell every quarter hour.

If you are fit enough you can climb to the top of Carfax Tower for some excellent views across the city, well worth it on a clear day.

Carfax Tower is open daily, but opening hours vary according to season so check in advance. Admission costs around £1.50 for adults.



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Oxford's Rivers - the Isis and the Cherwell

Oxford has two rivers running through it, and these have both been central to the development of the city.

For example it was the very fact that the River Thames could be easily forded here that meant that the area was first settled, and indeed the name of the town comes from the "oxen ford" that crossed the River at today's Folly Bridge.

The two rivers in Oxford are the River Isis and the River Cherwell. However it is an interesting fact that the River Isis is in fact the River Thames - within the city boundaries of Oxford it becomes the River Isis, although most people will still refer to it as the Thames.

Today the rivers are as much a part of Oxford as they ever were - offering picturesque views and a tranquil escape from the busy city centre.

And of course the rivers are where to head for if you want to take part in that ever so Oxford pasttime - punting.



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Christ Church College

Christ Church College, first founded in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey, is perhaps the most famous College in Oxford University.

The main entrance to Christ Church College is through the archways of Tom Tower, one of Oxford's most famous landmarks.

However, it is important to note that there is no public access to Christ Church College through Tom Tower - visitors must enter via the Memorial Gardens on St Aldgates Street.

Tradition has it that the bell in Tom Tower, known as Great Tom, is rung 101 times at 9.05pm each evening.

This dates from the foundation of the college when the bell rang once for each of the college's original students, in order to tell them to return to the college before the gates were locked.

Inside the college, there are several more tourist attractions to visit, most notably the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral which is the smallest Cathedral in England.

The grounds of Christ Church College are also a delight to explore, particularly the Memorial Gardens and the famous Tom Quad.

Famous past students that attended Christ Church include the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley, Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, Albert Einstein and more than a dozen British Prime Ministers.

Oxford University



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Church of St Mary the Virgin

The pretty Church of St Mary the Virgin, located just off the High Street, is Oxford's main church.

It is also a central feature of Oxford University, for it was here that the first University meetings were held way back in the 12th century. And this is also where the University's first libray was established.

The Church itself dates from the 13th century, and is most famous for its elegant spire, some parts of which are still original.

Today you can climb to the top of the church tower to get some excellent views across the city, but the climb is steep and so only for the energetic!

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is open daily from 9am to 6pm. Entry to the church is free but there is an admission charge of around £1.50 if you want to climb the tower.



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