The City of Oxford

After being in the city of Oxford for a month I finally feel like I’m familiar with the area and have plenty of spots that I frequent. I would love to do different in-depth posts about all of them, and perhaps that will be something to write about for the future. In the meantime, I got to play tourist the other day and took some great photos of the city. There’s a lot to see, so this is only a small sampling of all Oxford has to offer. The city is so old, so most of the buildings look like they’ve come straight out of a fairytale.  

I often start my adventures in the Gloucester Green Market, which is held just down the road from my college. The market is an experience for the senses, with hot ethnic food sizzling in one corner and a rainbow of ripe fruit and veggies sold in another.

I grabbed a quick lunch at an authentic Greek food stand. Men speaking in heavy Greek accents grilled up some Halloumi on the spot for me along with a bunch of bright vegetables. It was the perfect way to fuel me for the walking I had ahead.

There are also other odds and ends at the market. Little pop up thrift stores sell clothes for absurdly cheap. I’ve had some great finds and already made friends with some of the vendors. It’s always fun to have a look around, even if you aren’t going to buy anything, and everyone is incredibly friendly.

My next destination was a used bookstore. They’re quite common around Oxford, and I was on the hunt for a Shakespeare book for my tutorial. Though I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I discovered a rare book treasure trove and had a great time taking photos.

After wandering the bookstore for a while, I headed across the street to Christ Church meadow. I figured if I was going to be living in the city of Oxford I would have to see the famous college at some point. The gardens are all pristine and I made a few friends!

Without even stepping foot on the campus, the surrounding area of Christ Church is something to marvel at. Specifically, I was drawn in by the wide gaping field where all the cows were resting. Once you’ve stepping inside, of course, it’s like you’ve stepped into Narnia. Old lanterns, breath taking architecture and softly lit corridors create the perfect ambience for some kind of fantasy fiction. It’s completely unsurprising that Harry potter was filmed here and C.S. Lewis was inspired by the area. If you’re interesting in visiting Christ Church, I recommend you check out the visiting hours here. Luckily, students at Oxford University are granted free admission during these times.

Pretty much anywhere you go, you can’t escape the stunning architecture that gives the city its personality. It’s almost become commonplace for me, but every once in a while I stop and remind myself to enjoy the view. On the day I went walking, it was particularly nice, and surprisingly didn’t rain once. I was lucky I could snap a few of these photos on a day when the sun was shining.

Overall, I’ve found the city of Oxford to be quite charming! Though living full time in another country has been an adjustment I never could’ve prepared for, it is all part of the adventure. I’m looking forward to discovering new places and learning more everyday!