55 minutes and I'm in Oxford

  Oxford, United Kingdom
Saturday, March 31, 2007

Taking advantage of the beautiful sunshine and the cheap tickets I spent 5 hours in Oxford - famous for it's university.

Today I got up early and went to Paddington Station. I grabbed a croissant and soy latte from Costa and jumped onto the First Western train. There were about 20+ cops on the platform waiting for someone - probably a criminal or a celebrity.

55 minutes later (including a lovely 31 minute phone conversation with Matthew calling me from Melbourne) and I was in Oxford. It was a gloriously sunny day - spring is in the air and the cold dark days of London are finally over.

I got myself a map of the city and spent a few hours walking around. I visited Oxford Castle, joining a 1 hour tour. Some interesting facts about Oxford Castle:

- It was built in 1071 by Robert D'Oilly for William the Conqueror.
- The castle was used as a prison until it was decommissioned in 1996.
- The most famous story about Oxford Castle was that of Queen Matilda, the only daughter of King Henry I. When King Henry I died she was the rightful heir but her cousin Stephen de Blois seized the English throne. A seige occurred and she was locked in St George tower at Oxford Castle during the bitterly cold winter. She and two of her guards dressed in full white and escaped out the tiny window into the snow. She was never crowned Queen but a truce was made between her and Stephen so that after he ruled, her son King Henry II would rule.

Very interesting - see I'm taking in some culture too.


View from the tower at Oxford Castle


Oxford Castle


Outside Oxford Castle

There was also a Oxford folk festival happening and lots of people with painted faces and random street performances. There was a parade and a little market - I bought french cookies and giant olives.


Oxford Folk Festival


Street band

I walked around the entire city. I thought Oxford University was one big university, but it is in actual fact several colleges and buildings dotted around the city.

I visited Christ Church College, the "largest and most spectacular of all of Oxford's colleges, and is also its most poplular". I'm not just saying that - it was a direct quote from the Lonely Planet guide. Past students include Albert Einstein and Lewis Carroll - who wrote Alice in Wonderland.... and most important of all it was used as a location in the Harry Potter films.


Christ Church College, Oxford University


Christ Church College, Oxford University

Then I walked through Christ Church meadow, the gardens around the college. Luckily it was a bright sunny day.


Christ Church meadow and Christ Church College

Next up a visit to Magdalen College - Oxford's wealthiest and probably most beautiful college. Unfortunately as I am on a tight budget I didn't spend the 3 to 5 pounds to go into each of the colleges!! So I stood outside and took pictures.


Magdalan College, Oxford University


Magdalan College, Oxford University


Oxford University library


Oxford University library


Pausing for a moment for some deep thinking outside the library | Sunshine after the rain


View of the river from the bridge

Lots of photos (with a healthy number of self photos and videos too) and 5 hours later I was ready to go home. So I got the train - sneaking into the first class carriage. Bliss. Luckily though I moved before the inspector came.


First class on the train

A gorgeous day in Oxford. Back in the flat in High Street Kensington, time to make my London staple diet of mushroom soup for dinner before cathching a movie tonight with Fiona - probably Premonition with Sandra Bullock.