What's on inOxfordshire

Naturally Oxfordshire is dominated by its world famous university town, an ancient city of grand old buildings, towers wrapped in ivy and gowned academics whizzing by on their bikes. But Oxfordshire at large is a quite beautiful county, made up of gentle green hills and old thatched roofs, country gardens and winding lanes.So rural is the landscape that more than 70% has been declared an area of outstanding natural beauty.

And flowing straight through the heart of Oxfordshire are the Rivers Thames (Isis if youre a local) and Cherwell, and there are some beautiful walks along the rivers and the resulting water meadows, river valleys and fertile lush landscape.

Perhaps all that fertile beauty is why Oxford has a history that goes way back to the Saxons and beyond and its university is the second oldest in Europe. Indeed history is everywhere, not just in the dreaming spires of the university, but also in the magnificent Blemnheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill, or in Broughton Castle or any of the hundreds of old churches, towers, estates and stately homes scattered around.

Highlights include the Oxfordshire County Museum, Stoner, (containing a priest hole from the civil war), Greys Court, Sulgrave Manor, Kingston Bagpuize House and Mapledurham House. Lastly, of course there is Oxford itself with Britains oldest public museum, the Ashmolean Museum, the Bodeleian Library and hundreds of examples of beautiful old architecture, from Christchurch Cathedral to the world famous Oxford Botanic Garden, and from Carfax Tower to St. Mary the Virgin Church.Spend a few hours just strolling around this beautiful city and soak in the centuries of learning and it quickly becomes clear why this little place is so famous. A true slice of England and English history.