A rest day in Oxford

June 10, 2025

We finished the first part of the tour yesterday and transferred to Oxford so we could have a rest day and see the famous university town. We started with a hop on hop off circle tour of Oxford and decide to get off at Christchurch College. The first tour available was at 2pm so we took a 45 min walking tour and had lunch in between. Unfortunately the cathedral was closed because the BBC was filming in there but this did give us a break on the price of the tour of the college. There was a lot to see today so I will try to capture it all in the photos.

As we walked to the start point for our tour we say this sign and thought it was appropriate for us.

A lovely building that was once a professors home but now is part of one of the colleges that make up Oxford University

Part of the centre with a pedestrian zone

A view over the top of our bus of the theatre and

The Oxford canal with a narrow boat and the tow path used by cyclists

A tower that is the only part left of a fortress in Oxford

The bell tower in Christ church college. It chimes at 9:05PM 101 times. The 101 is for the original number of students when the college was founded. The 9:05 is because it is 5 minutes later than GMT. The bells are curfew time for the students but since all of the clocks are set 5min later the students are never late.

The Carfax tower dating back to the 12th century and originally part of St Martinschurch.

You can go punting on one of the canals here.

A side view of Christ church college and cathedral

A 250 year old in door market where we had bite of lunch

The most feared building in Oxford, the examination hall. Exams are going on now.

The Oxford version of the bridge of sighs that links a student dorm with a library.

Other things than education are learned here.

Students write their exams in full regalia. Depending upon the year you wear a carnation in your lapel. Pink is first year, second and third are white and fourth and final is red.

One of the 4 walls in a quadrangular library.

A building called the Radcliffe camera home of a science library.

The door that inspired some of the Narnia characters. The author was a professor at Oxford.

Alice in Wonderland was also written by a professor at Oxford, this was Alice’s home.

Cardinal Wolsey’s coat of arms. He was a favourite of Henry the 8th until he wouldn’t annul one of his marriages. He was also involved in Christchurch college.

The dining hall at Christchurch college used in the Harry Potter movies. Sadly no elevated candles or Professor Magonagal.

Christopher near the head table where the seniors sit.

Tom’s quadrangle the centre square inside Christchurch college.

Saint Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury 1155-1162 is in the middle. He was in conflict with King Henry II and was murdered by the king.

Once all the touring was done we went for a pint at this pub.

Historically glass was made in sheets and then cut into pieces to fit the windows. The glass was held in one spot an until it was formed. These windows represent where the glass was held.

My street in Oxford and me in my new Oxford hoodie.

My steak and ale pie with potatoes and 4 vegetables

We are in Lechlade tonight staying at the New Inn, the red brick building.

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Pat HeydonLove Oxford. A lot of photos I recognized from watching Morse! Great photos!
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