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| Pembroke College | Pitt Rivers Museum | Punting |



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Pembroke College

Pembroke College is one of the lesser known of Oxford's 36 University Colleges, however it is still notable for its beautiful Renaissance style Chapel that dates from the 18th century.

Famous past names from Pembroke College include Dr Samuel Johnson, the lexicographer who published the first Dictionary of the English Language in 1755, and Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.

The College, founded in 1624 by King James I, is situated on St Aldates Street opposite the more famous Christ Church College.

Oxford University



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Pitt Rivers Museum

This eclectic museum, entered through the University Museum, is one of the most unusual museums you are ever likely to visit.

It was founded in the 1880s by Augustus Pitt Rivers, who collected all manner of artefacts from his visits around the world.

Today the museum still specialises in ethnography, and it is regarded by many to be the best ethnographic museum in the world. Exhibits range from African charms to Native American totem poles and even some shrunken heads from South America.

If you are used to museums with clearly laid out galleries exhibiting the collections in neat, uniform displays, then the Pitt Rivers Museum will be a big surprise .

The exhibits are displayed in overflowing glass cabinets (estimates are that there are over a million exhibits!), leaving it to the viewer to digest the collections in their own time.

In addition the exhibits are displayed according to type, rather than by region as is normal in most other museums.

The Musical Instruments Collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum is located in the Balfour Building on Banbury Road, also well worth a visit.

The Pitt Rivers Museum is open from 12 noon to 5pm Mondays to Saturdays. Admission is free, but a donation is requested.



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Punting

If you visit Oxford you will no doubt want to go punting - a pasttime forever associated with this graceful town.

The name comes from the traditional flat-bottomed boat, which is called a Punt. A long pole is then used to push the boat along.

Harder than it sounds (and looks), beginners often have problems getting the hang of it. But don't worry, you are also supplied with paddles so that if your pole gets stuck you can just paddle back to get it.

The Punt can usually hold up to 5 people (four sitting and one punting), and it is most fun if you can get a group together. And don't forget the all important picnic!

You can go punting on both the River Isis and the River Cherwell between Easter and September - but most people seem to prefer to stick to the River Cherwell.

A favourite starting off point for punting is from the Magdalen Bridge, where you can hire boats for around £10 an hour.



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