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Oxford city center -

A waking tour of Oxford begins and ends in the city center, itself a worthy introduction to this historic destination.

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Cornmarket Street -

Oxford's High Street, Cornmarket Street, Queen Street, and St. Aldates converge under the 14th-century Carfax Tower. Nip up to the top for a wonderfully inspiring panorama of the city skyline before embarking on your tour.

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University Church of St Mary the Virgin -

Plain-sounding High Street is in fact one of Oxford's most illustrious roads, lined as it is with an enviable array of historic buildings, including many of the colleges the destination is so famous for. The highlight of any visit to the splendid late 13th-century University Church of St Mary the Virgin is climbing its decorated tower for more exceptional views of the surrounding area.

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Radcliff Camera -

The magnificent sandy-gold Radcliffe Tower was completed in 1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library. It's topped by Britain's third-largest dome. A tour of the Bodleian Library includes the Radcliffe and the marvels lying within.

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Fawn sculptures -

A pair of golden fawn sculptures of Brasenose College on St Mary's Passage, behind the Radcliffe Camera, is said to have inspired elements in C.S. Lewis' enchanting world in the 'Chronicles of Narnia.'

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Bodleian Library -

Oxford's Bodleian Library is world renowned. It dates back to the Middle Ages and holds over 13 million printed items. You can admire its ancient buildings for free, but it's far more rewarding to join a guided tour, which commences in the ornate Divinity School. The Divinity School, by the way, served as the Hogwarts hospital wing in the Harry Potter films.

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Bridge of Sighs -

The romantically-named landmark Bridge of Sighs arches over New College Lane to link the two halves of Hertford College.

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Christ Church College -

Set in the city center, Christ Church is one of Oxford's largest colleges, and one of its wealthiest. Founded in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey, the college impresses with its majestic architecture, literary heritage (Lewis Carroll, W.H. Auden, et al) and the fact that it featured extensively as (parts of) Harry Potter's Hogwarts. Its star status has made Christ Church the most popular Oxford college for tourists.

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Christ Church Cathedral -

Uniquely, Christ Church Cathedral doubles up as the college chapel and the city's cathedral. Built in the late 12th century, the cathedral deserves some of your time for its beautiful stained-glass windows, which include a 1320 depiction of the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his assassination in 1170.

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Bodley Tower -

Christ Church's Bodley Tower features a sensational fan-vaulted passageway that approaches the Great Hall. The staircase appeared in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' (2001), as the spot where Professor McGonagall welcomes Harry.

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Magdalen College -

Set on a site outside the town walls, Magdalen College is another college famous for its notable writers, wordsmiths that include C.S. Lewis, Seamus Heaney, and Oscar Wilde. Magdalen is noted for its lovely tower, built in 1482, and remarkable 15th-century cloisters.

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Sheldonian Theatre -

The first monumental work undertaken by esteemed architect Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723), the Sheldonian Theatre is modeled on Rome's classical Theatre of Marcellus.

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Sheldonian Theatre -

The Sheldonian's interior features a spectacular ceiling decorated with a 17th-century mural made up of 32 panels. The building is located in the city center and hosts frequent public music concerts.

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Ashmolean Museum -

The Ashmolean was founded in 1683 and is the oldest museum in Britain. Housed in a resplendent neoclassical building, this extraordinary facility is worthy of a good few hours of investigation for its peerless collection of art and antiquities, including classical sculpture, Far Eastern art, and Greek and Roman pottery.

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The Alfred Jewel -

Ashmolean's signature piece is the Anglo-Saxon Alfred Jewel, a breathtaking 9th-century gem made of enamel and quartz enclosed in gold that was discovered in 1693. It was made in the reign of Alfred the Great and is inscribed AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN, meaning "Alfred ordered me made." The rare and valuable artifact remains one of the most popular exhibits in the museum.

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Balliol College -

Balliol's notable alumni include the incumbent UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as well as three former prime ministers. Look out for the scorch marks on the massive Gothic wooden doors, which apparently date back to the burning at the stake of three Protestant bishops, including Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. The trio are now memorialized by Martyrs' Memorial.

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Martyrs' Memorial -

You can find the cross in St Giles Street, which marks the spot where the reformers Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer were burned at the stake between 1555-56, an event commemorated by the Martyrs' Memorial (1841). It's seen here on the right, with Balliol Collage on the left.

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Pitt Rivers Museum -

The vast collection of archaeological and anthropological artifacts housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum is simply bewildering. Eccentric and eclectic in equal measure, pieces here include anything from Japanese Noh-theater masks to a 19th-century Canadian totem pole.

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Oxford University Museum of Natural History -

Natural history specimens from all over the world grace the hallowed halls of this extraordinary museum. But it's the dinosaurs that turn heads. These colossal exhibits include a towering T-Rex skeleton affectionately called 'Stan'—the second most complete one ever found.

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Museum of the History of Science -

Oxford's superb showcase facilities extend to the Museum of the History of Science, devoted to the study of the history of science and the development of Western culture and collecting. Filled floor to ceiling with ancient globes, orreries, and astrolabes, the collection also includes the blackboard that Albert Einstein used during his Oxford lectures of 1931.

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Merton College -

Founded in 1264, this is one of the oldest seats of learning in the city. 'Lord of the Rings' author J. R. R. Tolkien was Merton Professor of English Language and Literature from 1945 to 1959, and it's said that the trees in the Fellows’ Garden inspired the giant talking ents of Middle Earth.

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All Souls College -

All Souls, founded in 1438 as a center of prayer and learning, enjoys a peaceful and tranquil setting just off High Street. Another hugely wealthy establishment, the college has a reputation for setting one of the hardest entrance examinations in the world. Sir Christopher Wren was a fellow from 1653, and in 1658 produced a beautiful and ornate sundial for the college (pictured left on the facade of the North Quad).

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Trinity College -

Architectural highlights at Trinity include an exquisite chapel, the altar screen of which is adorned with flowers and fruit carved by master craftsman Grinling Gibbons in 1694. Like many Oxford city center colleges, Trinity has featured heavily in episodes of the British television crime drama serie 'Inspector Morse,' 'Lewis,' and 'Endeavor.'

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New College Oxford -

Fans of Harry Potter will recognize the 15th-century cloisters of New College, in fact rather old in age founded as it was in 1379. A visual centerpiece is the regal dining hall.

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Oxford Castle and Prison -

Oxford Castle was built for William the Conqueror way back in 1071, and was largely destroyed after the English Civil War. A Saxon-era tower survives, however, having been erected in 1009. It's the city's oldest building. Remarkably, the prison cells, built separately, were used right up until 1996.

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Oxford boating -

Oxford sits at the conjunction of two rivers, the Thames and the Cherwell. The Thames, known as the River Isis as it passes through the city, is ideal boating territory and affords an opportunity to rest tired feet and take in the sights from a different perspective.

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Oxford pubs -

The city is served by a wealth of riverside pubs. A famous watering hole is the Head of the River, which overlooks the Cherwell. Grab a pint and reflect on the day's sightseeing.

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Headington Shark -

Don't miss one of Oxford's more quirky visitor attractions, the Headington Shark. The overgrown fish is embedded head-first in the roof of a house at 2 New High Street in the city suburb of Headington.

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Blenheim Palace -

A worthwhile excursion idea is a day trip to Blenheim Palace. Located at Woodstock 12 km (8 mi) northwest of the city, the palace is famous as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

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Abingdon-on-Thames -

Alternatively, a leisurely 9-km (6 mi) drive south lies charming Abingdon-on-Thames, a bucolic destination of ancient halls and churches snoozing on the banks of the River Thames.

Sources: (University of Oxford) (British Archaeology) (Biography)

See also: The surprising origin of English place names

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