Oxford

Oxford is the city of dreaming spires, home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, where teaching has gone on for some nine centuries. Its honey-coloured colleges, hidden quadrangles, chapels and libraries, from the domed Radcliffe Camera to the ancient Bodleian, make a maze of learning and beauty, and its halls and lanes have appeared in countless films, from Harry Potter to Inspector Morse.

What to look for

• The colleges - the ancient quadrangles and chapels of Christ Church and others.
• The Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian - the domed library and the historic Bodleian.
• The Ashmolean Museum - Britain's oldest public museum.
• The spires and rivers - the skyline and punting on the Cherwell.

When to go

Spring to autumn for the best weather, punting and open colleges; note that colleges may close to visitors during exams and events. It is an easy day trip from London or a stop en route to the Cotswolds.

Practical notes

It is a busy, working city and university, so some colleges charge, keep limited visitor hours or close during exams and events; check ahead. The centre is crowded with tourists and shoppers. Its beauty is spread across many separate colleges rather than one single sight.

Nearby

The Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace are close; Cambridge, its rival, is across the country.

Key facts