About Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire encompasses the northeastern corner of the Cotswolds, the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. It’s typified by rolling green countryside and honey-hued villages — built with the same amber-coloured limestone used in the construction of Oxford’s famous university. Be sure to stop by chocolate-box favourites including Chipping Campden and Burford — known as ‘the gateway to the Cotswolds’.
Any visit to this county is incomplete without getting to know Oxford and its historic grandeur. The city is renowned for its university, which — established in 1096 AD — is the oldest in the English-speaking world. Admire its ‘dreaming spires’, the characteristically rotund Bodleian Library and the quiet college courtyards during a guided tour. Harry Potter fans may recognise several locations that were used in the film series, most famously the Great Hall of Christ Church (sans the Sorting Hat). Tolkien drew from the same well of inspiration 43 years earlier, basing areas of Middle-earth on the city and surrounds.
Oxford also houses a number of superlative museums, including the Ashmolean, the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers. If you have little ones in tow, the fascinating exhibits are sure to stir their imaginations, and perhaps spark an interest in nature, anthropology or palaeontology (what child doesn’t love dinosaurs?).
Oxfordshire’s pretty villages and handsome city promise the whole family a holiday as rich in culture as it is in beauty.
Time Zone
GMT
Language
English
Currency
Pound Sterling
Tipping Suggestions
In restaurants, an optional service charge may be added to your bill. Otherwise, tipping 10-15 per cent of the bill is typical.
