Oxford Inspiration England:
Second only to London as Britain’s most popular film location, Oxford is a visually stunning city with an ancient history. It has also inspired some of the best writers in the English language and been home to a glittering array of famous students WORDS | ADRIAN MOURBY
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IMAGE © VISITBRITAIN/GUY RICHARDSON
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XFORD is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its centre is a showcase of European building styles, from the medieval to art deco, by way of Tudor, neoclassical, baroque and neo-Gothic. We have the city’s ancient university to thank for the everunfolding architectural panoramas that are found down narrow winding lanes and along its broad prosperous streets. Divided for centuries into over 30 colleges, the centre of Oxford was developed competitively, with each college trying to outdo its rivals by adopting the fashionable styles of the day. The neoclassical Sheldonian Theatre by Sir Christopher Wren was based on the Theatre of Marcellus in Rome, the idiosyncratic western façade of All Souls’ College, a masterpiece of English baroque, was by Wren’s pupil, Nicholas Hawksmoor. The neo-Gothic Museum of Natural History was directly inspired by the writings and drawings of John Ruskin, the greatest architectural critic of the Victorian era. Oxford is not just buildings, however. Any visit to this city will result in you walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest writers in the English language. →
