Rank : 10.0 (average on 1 votes)Coordinates : 51.754190, -1.254260 (
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Subjects : World famous for its Universities, Oxford is steeped in history and has, to my mind, world-class architecture, mostly very old and very interesting. Affectionately called 'city of dreaming spires' it is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English speaking world, formed in the 12th century. UK TV dramas are filmed here (such as "Inspector Morse") and sold all over the world - some buildings are so iconic you might recognise it but not realise that it's in England's Oxford, and not Italy! (for example). The Harry Potter films have all been included in Oxford locations. Oxford is quite compact and such gets very and uncomfortably busy at peak tourist periods. A fine day in early winter can be a really good time and with less people. The Universities today are not Museums - they are breathing working places of study and education, though you can find tours of some parts of many of them. They are always interesting though you might feel you are intruding to some extent. The Radcliffe Camera (so named as it is circular and was a "camera obscura" is an iconic building and is in every visitor's photos. The Bodleian Library is the main research library for the University and one of the oldest in Europe. With over 11,000,000 items it is only second in size to London's British Library. The Ashmolean Museum is the world's first University Museum and one of the finest outside London in the UK. Its architecture is grand and superb. Architectural photographers will be in heaven here. Bicycles are big here, you can get great shots of lots of bikes, people on bikes etc. Three literary giants - C S Lewis, J R R Tolkein and Lewis Carroll were all Oxford based and would meet up in the Eagle and Child pub to compare notes and share a beer - or two! The pub is still there and it is very old and very dark. On a cold winter's day, the roaring fire is most welcome.
Recommended equipment : A good all round zoom or two will be OK for the average shoot. There are lots of street and character shots that would benefit from a 70-200mm f2.8, also for picking out architectural detail and for darker interiors or when the light is dwindling. I would definitely add an ultrawide zoom and a fast fixed standard lens. A travel tripod, as in any city break, will help get you shots after dark. But having said that, I'm pretty sure that tripods in those old university buildings and such would not be allowed.
Best months : Difficult to say - I can only get to Oxford very occasionally and so don't have much experience of it, but my last visit, as mentioned above, an early winter's sunny day was perfect, not so many people, an early dusk to capture the view of those dreaming spires during the blue hour, from the one of the churches that charge a few Euro to clamber up many tight steps for a few minutes, before they close at 4pm! But I have indeed done this and it was well worth doing but you need to be quite physically fit...Check websites for special events and festivals, there must be some throughout the year.
How to get there : London is less than an hour's drive from Oxford and you park at a 'Park and Ride' and travel in by bus. Oxford centre was never designed for today's traffic and so parking is non existent and penalising, to discourage car use. However, in the evening you can get on-street parking quite easily. For me, it's via train, though the railway station is over a km to the north, though there are regular buses for one pound to the centre. The railway is on the main south to north 'Crosscountry' route, via Reading and goes up through to the Midlands and beyond. No doubt they run from London, too. As Oxford is not that far from London, I guess Heathrow would be the airport.
Visits : Oxford is an expensive place to visit. The historic touristy centre is like a bubble, it is so perfectly presented, it can feel unreal and like a film set. But walk a few minutes into the main shopping areas and beyond and Oxford is like any other large town, with social problems etc. But it can be a truly memorable visit and reap lots of great photos. You can immerse yourself in old educated and cultured England here more than probably anywhere. It can't always be perfect though and if someone or something upsets you, don't blame me! Oxford's old gaol can be visited and stayed in - but you'll be let out again in the morning - it's now a hotel!Just out of Oxford is Blenheim Palace. This really is a truly magnificent stately home (the best I've ever visited) and was where Winston Churchill grew up. Spend an entire day here - it's not cheap and there's so much to look around and see.
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