What's it like to live/work/grow up in Oxford or Cambridge

[ItsAStarManWaiting]

I'm asking what it's like if you are not at all related with the Universities at all?

Are Oxford and Cambridge dominated by the university, it's staff and it's students?

Do the universities do things for the locals?

Just curious that's all.

Oxford is, imo, laid out in a much more odd fashion and is more urban, more traffic. I like the uniformity of the stone but it feels less green (not sure it is just feels it). Had some nice stays there but generally would rather visit and stay in cotswolds or somewhere nicer.

I grew up in central Cambridge. I bought a house in a village 12 miles out in 1999 due to the ridiculous house prices in the city, where I still am now.

I loathe having to go into Cambridge. There are roadworks which go on for months in the most congested areas, everything is bottlenecked. The retail parks are cramped and it's rarely enjoyable trying to shop for pleasure.
There are traffic lights everywhere and traffic doesn't flow well at all.
Due to higher and higher levels of road users over the years, the tarmacs are ruined.
The pot-holes on the Newmarket Road into the city are an absolute embarrasment - the powers that be should be ashamed.

As for Addenbrookes hospital - if you're ever unlucky enough to need to go there, be prepared to get lost on the campuses as it's so vast, which adds to the stress of whatever illness you or a relative is suffering from.

We tend to go for shopping days out in Bury St Edmunds, Ely or anywhere that isn't Cambridge.

Oxford property prices just wow 😮

Indeed …

Wondering what you mean by less green?

If you mean green space - parks, woods, nature reserves, rivers, canals, gardens, etc - the city has an astonishing amount both in the very centre and in the surrounding area. I’m aware that people who visit for a limited time, and often even students, simply aren’t aware of what is available and open to everyone. (And residents have access to college gardens as well.)

If you mean making efforts to be environmentally sound - well, I see all sorts of engagement with the idea - but until they rid the city of the entire world’s supply of cars () it’s all a bit meaningless.

So it’s a city of extremes - vast acres of trees and peace, but an horrendous amount of traffic.

Less green as in green space.

It just feels it, whether it is is another thing. But Cambridge feels more green oddly.

Cambridge feels 'sweeter' in a sense. I live half way between both which is rather lovely. I know the traffic is awful in both so always get the Park and Ride to both which is cheap and excellent. Never driven in..

Is there anywhere that hasn’t been ruined by wokeness? Isn’t it just a scourge that lowers all culture, the zeitgeist that everyone wishes would go away.

I work in central Oxford, having studied there as a student. The company I work for is very divided - lots of Oxford graduates living quite charmed lives in central Oxford, often subsidised by generational wealth , the support staff can’t afford to live in Oxford - the housing is London prices without London wages . They have very little to do with the university. Friends who live in Oxford have moved their for the amazing private schools and quiet city life. Culturally I really don’t find there much on unless you like classical music.

@Spirallingdownwards a new cancer hospital and a separate new children's hospital

I used to live in Oxfordshire. I think the satellite towns were better places (Thame, Witney, Abingdon and Bicester. Even Swindon was better for shopping). Oxford was beautiful, lots of cafes in the covered market and so many book shops. but the city had this really seedy underbelly (even ignored by Inspector Morse). Racial tension, car crimes, grooming gangs and a class A drug culture.
I stayed in St Ives for a weekend and spent a few hours in Cambridge. Nice looking city, but I can imagine it has it's fare share of problems beneath the surface.

I've only just found this thread and bless my soul it's full of Hills Road types!
I went to Long Road, we always felt sorry for you lot, you all worked so hard.

To be fair Cambridge is less dominated by the uni research days and more by scientists with the likes of Astra Zeneca and other big Pharma, Microsoft, Apple and Samsung AI all employing thousands in "Silicon Fen".

Cambridge prices too!

Feel like Oxford has gone a bit downhill when I visited two weeks ago! Is it just me?

The city centre? It's not just you. We used to have loads of amazing little independent shops and it was kept cleaner and in better condition. Now it's permanently grubby, there are empty units everywhere, and constant construction work because they keep trying to do things like resurfacing on the cheap.

Around the suburbs though it's better - there are really nice little pockets of interesting shops, independent businesses and restaurants, second hand bookshops, and Cowley Road is still a multicultural 'buy everything you could possibly want within 50 metres' kind of place.

IDK, just feels a bit grubby and gone down since I was last there, the independent-ness of it is going in the covered market. Lots more homeless than I thought and Westgate was a massive disappointment.

The covered market is more like a food hall these days really. Great food, but nothing like the variety of shops it used to have. And yes, the Westgate is a really weird mix of high end expensive brands in a weird, bland, cold sort of open ended barn. That open sided escalator up to the rooftop restaurant is just hideous on wet windy days 😆 When you go to shopping centres in places like Milton Keynes and Reading you really wonder what they were thinking. And if you compare the city centre shopping to places like Norwich and Chester it's just sad.

Agreed. A lot of the very centre is not very nice at all I'm afraid. I think the Westgate killed it. You still have some beautiful buildings and corners obviously, but the main shopping streets etc are a bit of a shame. However, a bit further away in Jericho, Summertown, parts of East Oxford (the parts tourists don't really get to) there are still lots of buzzy independent shops and restaurants etc.

Oh will pop over there lol!

I like summertown but I think:

1. the old adage Cambridge is a town with a uni, oxford is a uni in a city is outdated. Their populations are 15k difference really. Both have a lot going on now.

2. Cambridge is less "sophisticated"

I think Cambridge feels quieter as tbh, it has a council that knows how to run the city better and remove traffic more effectively, it has more "space" and feels less cramped. With Silicon Fen, I find Cambridge feels much more future-forward, less fusty and more dynamic. Weather-wise, although maybe a little bit cold? Cambridge is 100% drier in summer, and warmer.

But I prefer the part of England Oxford is in.

There’s more to a city than shopping! I expect nothing of Oxford in terms of shopping beyond John Lewis. And would never recommend the city centre for eating - all the good places are around Cowley Road / Magdalen Rd (definitely not high end though).

What Oxford does have is an astonishing amount of relatively wild green space both within and around the city. You do have to know where to find it, of course. And it helps if you’re a resident and have a pass for the college gardens too. Then you get to see the place in an entirely different light.

I used to live outside of Cambridge and loved it. However, in the summer the number of tourists make it a bit of a nightmare! Think Oxford Circus everywhere, everyday!

I grew up in Oxford. It was great
The WESTGATE has been rebuilt and the centre where littlewoods was has closed The cinema on George street has closed and will Cecile a hotel McDonald’s has just moved from its original place down the street. There is also a Wendy’s

I currently live south of Oxford and commute in daily by car.
The traffic is unpredictable. Sometimes I can do the journey in 20/25mins, other times it can take almost 2hours to get home.
I think Oxford is a beautiful city to work in. Lovely place to wander round, and you are never far from a quiet green space.
I find it quite diverse culturally. Lots of international workers drawn to the big employers (University, BMW and the hospital). Lots of tech/medical businesses around as well.
Some colleges are better than others for involving local state schools in events and outreach.
Because of the students, there is always something to go and see (concerts/plays/talks).
I like it, but it is expensive. House prices and parking are ££££
And the constant crocodiles of school trips and guided tours blocking the pavements is annoying! My son is at the uni, and he says he gets stopped by tourists for a photo every time he walks to exams.

I read Waterstones is moving.
I remember when it was Dillons Bookshop.
Won't be the same wherever it is they are going (Westgate I assume?)