Last week I was finally able to re-visit Oxford for the first time in 18 years. My previous visit had been on a college trip en route to Stratford-Upon-Avon (I was able to re-visit there back in 2018 - you can read my blog here) and we only had a couple of hours to explore. I have a vague memory of one college and the covered market and bicycles, lots of bicycles 😂.
As we have with previous trips Mum and I went with Lynn's Travel (I'm going on a day trip to Glastonbury with them next month) so a 'coach selfie' was in order!
When we arrived in Oxford the first place we visited was the Ashmolean Musem to see some early Italian Renaissance paintings (see I can be cultured!) and Japanese artifacts. We found this amazing Samurai armour.
There was also an Egyptian section which involved some Eos spotting (explanation in my last blog).
 |
| The Hieroglyphs translate as "Throw my damn ball" |
 |
| For comparison |
After the museum we made our way through the streets passing the beautiful Town Hall.
 |
| Our first glimpse of Christ Church College |
Our next destination and the part of the trip I looked forward to the most was Christ Church College, not for any intellectual reasons but for it's Alice In Wonderland and Harry Potter links .. sorry about that .....
The college is absolutely beautiful with a courtyard designed by Sir Christopher Wren, it reminded me a lot of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich also designed by him.
Christ Church also has a beautiful cathedral
As I mentioned before the main reason for my visit was for the college's Alice and Harry Potter associations. A number of scenes from Hogwarts were filmed here including the stairs at the front entrance of the castle.
 |
| I made it to Hogwarts!!!!!! |
The main attraction is The Hall which was used as the Great Hall in all the Harry Potter films where the students eat and are 'sorted' into their houses (I'm a Ravenclaw with an Otter Patronus since you ask).
Another feature of the hall that I was eager to see was the Alice In Wonderland Window. Lewis Carrol (aka The Rev Charles Dodgson) lived at Christ Church and it was here that he made up the original stories for the real life Alice Liddell.
 |
| The window |
 |
| At the bottom of the window you can see The Queen Of Hearts, The Duchess, The White Rabbit & The Mad Hatter |
 |
| The Mad March Hare & The Mock Turtle |
 |
| Both Alices' |
 |
| 'Lewis Carroll' |
It's always time for tea!
The Alice theme continued as we walked through the Covered Market
 |
| It was impossible to avoid pretty buildings |
My favourite building in Oxford was the Radcliffe Camera which is even more beautiful and impressive in real life.
 |
| This Magnolia tree was stunning |
 |
| I love the 'little details' on the buildings |
We came across the Bridge Of Sighs purely by accident.
 |
| Mum's jacket matched the sky! |
 |
| I'm such a tourist |
One of the highlights of the day was Blackwell's Book Shop. From the outside it looks like a tiny shop but my lord once you get inside it's bookworm heaven! This video is just of the basement .....
They had a really good 'witchy' book section and I was able to find a couple of books I've been wanting to read.
I absolutely loved Oxford and want to go back again as soon as possible as there is so much else I want to do and see such as the Bodleian Library, Botanic Gardens and some of the smaller museums.
I'll sign off with a quote from the author of the His Dark Materials another of my favourite book series (also set around Oxford, I did enjoy imagining myself as Lyra exploring the back streets around the colleges).
I couldn't have put it better myself.
Love Jen
XxxX
No comments:
Post a Comment