In the heart of Oxford, just off Broad Street, lies one of the oldest libraries in all of Europe, the Bodleian Library, which was established in 1602. As an Oxford library, the Bodleian Library boasts of a splendid collection of over 11 million volumes of books, journals, magazines, audio recordings, manuscripts and more and the library is amongst the largest in all of the United Kingdom. Functioning primarily as a reference library, visitors or members cannot rent out most of the material and usually must be kept within the reading rooms. Nonetheless, a visit to this library is truly a treat for a visitor, as, besides the marvelous architecture and the collection, the library also plays host to exhibitions and other events.
Christ Church is the most famous Oxford college, probably the grandest and certainly the most photographed. Founded as Cardinal College in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey, the college became Christ Church in 1545. The college chapel, which is also the cathedral of the Oxford diocese, contains the reconstructed shrine of St. Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford, a rich variety of stained and painted glass including works by Abraham van Linge and Edward Burns-Jones and a rare panel depicting the martyrdom of St. Thomas A. Becket.
The Christ Church Meadow is set in the heart of Oxford and provides a wonderful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. Surrounded on two sides by the rivers Cherwell and Isis, on the third by Christ Church, Merton College and part of the old city wall and on the fourth by Poplar Walk, it is quite common to see cattle grazing here. Christ Church College now regards ownership of the meadow as a trust and fights hard to defend it against proposed encroachments.
Standing over the entrance to the most famous Oxford college, Tom Tower is a landmark in itself. This imposing octagonal tower with a lead-covered cupola was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1682. It was constructed on top of an archway and turrets dating from the 16th Century and houses Great Tom - the loudest bell in Oxford. Weighing more than seven tons, the bell chimes 101 times at 9.05p every evening to recall not only the 101 students residing in Christ Church when the tower was completed, but also the time by which they were supposed to be in bed.
Carfax is where the four principal roads of Oxford meet. This 13th-century tower is now all that remains of the former town church of Oxford: St Martin's. The church became unsafe and was demolished in 1820, and then rebuilt and demolished again in 1896 as part of a road-widening scheme. The tower was actually 20 feet (6.09 meters) taller than we see it today, but because townspeople once amused themselves by throwing small coins at students from the top of the tower, the university authorities had it lowered. The two quarter jacks no longer strike the quarter hours, although visitors can often be seen patiently waiting for the clock to reach the appointed time!
Situated amidst lush green landscapes, Sheepdrove Organic Farm takes pride in its organic principles and its initiative towards environmental sustainability. The brainchild of Juliet and Peter Kindersley, this farm, unlike most others, boasts of 100 per cent organic and environmental friendly methods of farming, without the use of chemical products. Crops here are grown using ecological farming methods which not only ensure a healthy produce, but also maintain the nutritional value of the soil.
The Old All Saints Church is located at a spectacular location by the River Thames. The existing church building was built by Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, in 1764. This beautiful building features a classical style of architecture with a six-columned portico and a copper covered central dome. Inside, the church is as magnificent as it is one the outside, with lavish Italian fixtures, ornate memorials, life-like sculptures, intricate tapestries and rich carvings. Truly breath-taking in all its splendour, the church simultaneously oozes a sense of luxury and piety. Although open to public daily, be sure to inform the staff at the Global Retreat Centre of your arrival.
Dragon Hill is part of the White Horse group of landmarks and is managed by English Heritage along with Uffington Castle and the Uffington White Horse. This natural hillock lies at the center of the legend of St. George, who is believed to have killed a dragon at this site. A patch of bare chalk at the summit is claimed to be barren as a result of the dragon blood spilt there. As it is just a short distance away from the hill figure of the Uffington White Horse, it has been suggested that the site was utilized for Iron Age rituals. The site is open to visitors daily during daylight hours.