As part of Season 03 of CulturallyOurs which showcases Lifestyle and People, we are thrilled to share letters from locals all around the world as they take us along a virtual journey of their city, village or hometown. This is a way for us to get to know one another on a personal level without any ‘must see‘ lists or ‘Top 10‘ activities. Getting a local’s point of view is a fantastic way to get a glimpse into the lives of the people of a place, city or country.

Today we travel to Oxford England where Vic Crofts takes us along a journey exploring this stunning world famous university town considered the oldest in the English speaking world.From Vic,

 I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream & remember, the place is so beautiful – WB Yeats

Oxford – the city of dreaming spires – where do I begin with a place so famous and recognizable to so many? Home to one of the oldest universities in the world with its beautiful architecture and views around almost every corner. Home to incredible authors from Tolkien to CS Lewis, Lewis Carroll to Phillip Pullman. Lord of the Rings to The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland to His Dark Materials – Oxford is woven into the fabric of their stories, familiar to and loved by so many. Home to me – a city that has drawn me back time and time again – is a source of constant inspiration.Oxford is a small city. It is the kind of place where you meet someone new and discover they know someone else you know, who knows someone else you know. It has quite a transient population due to the students and visiting faculty who come to the university from all over the world. We’re very used to having friends who are here for anything from just a few months to a few years. And then there are those who stay, or come back, because Oxford has crept under their skin and they’ve fallen in love with it, just like it did with me. I moved to Oxford as a late teen, left for a few years and moved back in my 20’s. I just couldn’t keep away. This is my Oxford for you.

So, where would we go if you came to visit me in Oxford? I’d show you a little of my everyday Oxford and a little of the famous, dreamy Oxford, because they are so intertwined and although the well known areas are busy ( sometimes incredibly so ) I feel they are unmissable and worth the crowds ( although there are busy times & less busy times).

I love to start with a wander around Jericho, an area just outside the city centre.It’s not on the tourist route, it’s a lovely Oxford suburb with great pubs ( like The Rickety Press), restaurants and a few independent shops. If you enjoy walking there is quick access to the canal and Port Meadow, a large area of common land where you stroll along with the horses and cattle. The landscape is wide and the sky seems huge which is a big source of inspiration for me and a treat to escape to if you need a moment away from the cityscape. The river winds through the meadow and you can walk along its banks into the city centre or go north to The Perch pub in Binsey or even beyond that to The Trout pub in Wolvercote which is. a popular and lovely weekend walk for many.Jericho is mostly a residential area, a rabbit warren of streets, pubs, houses of all sizes and colors. But it also has some great independent shops and cafes. As a local to Oxford, I love to support the independents that are so essential to creating neighborhoods and community. I like to call in at Branca for a coffee or lunch on my way into town.The food is fresh and delicious. Plus the people incredibly friendly and if you want to take a little of Branca home with you they have a great deli. Definitely put this cafe on your list of things to see and do when you visit Oxford.A few doors away, for a little slice of ceramic heaven, is Illyria Pottery where everything is beautiful and made in the studio by the owner, Katie, and displayed in her gorgeous shop.There are also flowers from Daisies the florist, vintage clothing from Eagle, mouth-watering cakes from Barefoot, brilliant breakfasts from The Jericho Café, drinks at Freuds, great films to watch at The Phoenix Picture house and lots more places to eat and watch the world go by. This neighborhood shouldn’t be missed on your Oxford visit.

It is a short walk or cycle into the centre of town from here. Oxford is very much a cycling city and you can rent bikes to get around. However, I prefer to walk, usually with my camera. It is my form of meditation. Oxford is a visual treat – from hidden backstreets to the well-known and busier sights, and all highlighted by the beautiful golden light bouncing off the stone buildings (when it’s sunny!).

I often call in to Worcester College on the way into town. Slightly off the beaten track it’s less busy than the other colleges and has beautiful gardens, my favorite of the colleges. It is a wonderful retreat from the busy city just outside the college walls.The college itself is made up of very different periods in architecture – the oldest part is a row of medieval cottages dating back to the late 12^th century.Additions were made in the 17^th century and more over the last 50 years. Most recently is the Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre which won a national award for architecture. The stunning planting guides you round the gardens, through archways to rolling lawns and on past a small lake with resident swans and a heron and eventually on to the Shah centre out past the orchard. I’m sure a lot of people miss this one because the other colleges are mostly central but for an extra 10 minute walk it’s definitely worth it.

Once you leave Worcester you are just a 5 minute walk from the Ashmolean Museum, where you can find everything from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art. I would allow plenty of time if you plan on visiting this place on your Oxford trip. This should be a whole morning in itself. It is easy to lose track of time as there is just so much to see and if needed you can rest your feet in the café in the basement or the restaurant on the top floor with its rooftop terrace.

Oxford is always busy, especially in the summer as a lot of tourists come to visit England in warmer weather. Whenever I can I take the back routes because they are usually much quieter. Because Oxford is quite compact you still end up walking past lots of wonderful buildings and sights. Once you are in the centre it is only a few minutes walk between most places. A favorite thing for a lot of people to see in Oxford, for shopping or browsing, is The Covered Market, built in the 1770’s. It is packed with small independent traders. The selection is huge and ranges from hats to flowers, from tea to coffee, gift shops and lots of cafes and takeaways. I always buy my tea in Cardews where they store tea and coffee in huge containers and weigh it out for you. An eco-friendly option and the smell is amazing. And of course, the tea is the best.

Probably the most recognizable building in Oxford, the Radcliffe Camera (a university library), is just around the corner from the market. It never fails to take my breath away even after all this time and if you’re lucky with the light, the building positively glows.From here you can walk through the Bodleian library quadrangle – a favourite route home for me. The architecture is stunning and no matter how busy it’s always worth taking a moment to walk through. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, the Bodleian is one of the film locations  ( Hogwarts Infirmary ) and you can go in for a tour as part of your visit to Oxford.

Just outside the Bodleian is Hertford Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Sighs, which joins two parts of the college.Almost under the bridge is a tiny easily missed alley way – St Helen’s Passage – this leads to The Turf Tavern, nestled by the old city walls. A tavern (or pub) has been there since the 1380’s and it’s the perfect place for a quick drink before carrying on with your walking tour of Oxford. You can either go back along the alley or straight on which leads you to Holywell Street which is very pretty with pastel colored buildings.

If you like museums  from here you can walk to the Natural History Museum which is packed with exhibits  – dinosaur skeletons, a dodo and lots more plus even more gorgeous architecture. Also the fascinating Pitt Rivers runs behind it which is absolutely crammed with interesting exhibits from around the world.

But let’s go back along the alley from The Turf, back to the bridge and follow the winding New College lane past New College itself  into Queens lane. New College is another Potter location. As a Oxford local, this is another one of my favorite routes. You’re never alone but mostly it’s Oxford locals hurrying through. Watch out for cyclists because it is a popular cut-through for them too, although they’ll let you know they are coming with a ring of their bell. In the Spring it’s lined with lilacs, blossoms and then followed by wisteria which drips over Queens College walls.Eventually you arrive at the High Street. And from there it’s a few minutes to the next destination on my Oxford walking tour -The Botanic Gardens which one of my favorite places.

The Botanic Gardens is the first of it’s kind in the UK and was founded in 1621. It might seem small compared to some but the glasshouses are full of all kinds of plants and has a wonderful waterlily house.Even the planting outside is gorgeous.

On a warm day you can sit on the banks of the river that run right up to the gardens and watch people punting past or retreat to one of the many shady places & admire the planting. Next door to the gardens is Christchurch meadow which is a large meadow owned by Christchurch College but open to the public in the day. It is great to dive off the busy streets and sit under the trees when it’s sunny. There is a nice tree lined walk all the way round the meadows.

In the summer the river Cherwell bustles with punts until it joins the larger river Thames at the bottom end of the meadow. The punts stop here and the water traffic turns into larger boats and rowers who come here to practice and even to compete.Running parallel to the meadow and the High street is Merton Street, still cobbled at one end so quite a challenge to cyclists. It’s home to Merton and Corpus Christi colleges and is usually pretty quiet.Oxford is unfailingly photogenic. Even on those grey, rainy and cold days. Seeing it through my camera lens has increased my love and appreciation for the city that inspires me. I know I will continue to photograph for many years to come I hope you have enjoyed my locals guide to Oxford and the snapshot of just some of the places you can explore here. Perhaps one day you too will come visit and explore this city and find your own Oxford magic.Thank you so much Vic for this amazing tour of Oxford from the eyes of a local. We are in love with all the nooks, alleys and walkways and cannot wait to come explore it for ourselves. Getting a local’s perspective is such a fantastic way to explore a city and especially one as historic and full of character as Oxford England.

{Words and photos by Vic Crofts; Instagram : @hubble15 }

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