eXploring UK | Oxford

Last Saturday K and I made a trip outside London to Oxford. It's special because he was bringing me to his second hometown in the UK, a place where he spent one year doing his post graduate studies. I know he is so gonna cringe knowing I am devoting a blog to his life in Oxford!

It was a sunny and warm-ish day, that God for that. We took the train from Paddington station to Oxford, one hour away. It's always nice to do day trips like that, embarking on a little adventure! The last time I went there, it was with Cyn, Alicia and QKL. We had in mind to visit Christchurch College, where Harry Potter was filmed. I enjoyed that trip and whenever friends from home visited, I do recommend Oxford if they want to do a day trip out. But today it's a little more special :) Because I had a personal tour guide!

When we arrived it was about noon, and we needed food. I remembered the last time we came, we had lunch at this pub near the station, just by a bridge. See I have good memory because when I described it to K, he immediately knew what I was talking about! Guess what I even remembered I had fish n chips the last time, and I ordered the same this time, because I am sentimental like that. ;)

Oxford Retreat, where we had lunch

Angus Burger

Fish n chips

Full and feeling satisfied, we started our first stop - Said Business School where K studied. This building houses the business library and the lecture halls. It's one of the newest buildings of Oxford. Having no student pass now he couldn't bring me into the lecture halls nor their library so we just had a quick look in their lobby.

Happy K back to his alma matar

Inside the building with Mr Said's sculpture

We continued walking and walked past the famous Christchurch College. He explained to me how it works. Every student is part of Oxford University and Said Business School was his school. His college was St. Hugh's, which is equivalent of a hostel but much more. Tutors are allocated to each college so you attend tutorials in your college and join in social activities too. You only go to the school to attend lectures, or if you need to use the school's library. Interestingly, he mentioned that during formal dinners in his college dining hall, they had to sign up beforehand, and because it is a formal event, each student had to wear their college robe - all very Harry Potter-ish! There are about 19 colleges in total, he says, and all dotted over this beautiful university town.

Christchurch College

Funny tree plastered on the wall

As expected, this whole university town was full of tourists, and there was a long line outside Christchurch College. Fortunately or unfortunately, his college, though one of the biggest, is not as popular. Maybe because it is quite a distance from the town centre. We took a good 30min to walk to St Hugh's College!

Along the way, he showed me some sights...

One of the best ice cream parlous

This is called the Bridge of Sighs, prob students sighed while crossing this bridge on the way to lectures?
There is one in Cambridge too!

Bodleian Library, a grand library with a square/ courtyard even.

Library Square

Radcliffe Camera Library, K's fav library where he used to go to study for exams

This building is where the students have their convocations in.

In the town centre, I spotted this old and wonky building..

We were thirsty so we took a pit stop at one of the special pubs Eagle & Child where it was frequented with members of the literary club.. JR Tolkein, CS Lewis, etc. Already taking a stop before reaching our main destination.

And finally, we reached St Hugh's. It is a far cry from Christchurch because there were absolutely no tourists, just students carrying on their lives on campus. It was quiet and serene. A group of boys were playing football on the big field, and groups of others sat on the grass chatting and laughing. We walked on the compound and I saw the library and their main building which houses the tutorial rooms. What we enjoyed most that day was probably sitting on a bench overlooking the gardens. And rested before we agreed we couldn't be bothered to walk another 30min back to the train station. Probably the bus would be a better option.