Oxford

[noddyholder]

I am going to oxford next week just overnight but will have all day weds and thurs til about 4. Any suggestions on what to do. Like art design and bars !

Also on the tour, or another time, a lovely place for lunch/coffee is the Vaults and Gardens coffee shop at the back of St Mary's Church. It's particularly nice to sit in the graveyard (?) looking at the Radcliffe Camera, though it's in the shade not surprisingly since you're on the gravestones, so would need a cardy.

I have very happy memories of a weekend in Oxford with DH. DD was conceived if you want the tmi version

We enjoyed the university and city tour with this guy:

www.oxfordwalkingtours.com/

My honest view of the current exhibition at modern Art Oxford is that it's nauseating, but you might enjoy it - Jenny Savile at her most fleshly.

I am looking forward to that ! This is so great i think we may stay another night but leaving 18yr old ds for 2 nights would mean a definite party

Ah, but think how cheated you'll feel if you hurrt home and he's had a party!

*hurrt? hurry!

Daily Info is the listings sheet/website for oxford. Click on What's On and you now seem to have to choose what kind of event you want to look at. Gives you a nice range of options.

Oxford tends to be a bit short on night life so you might want to plan that a bit. The Cowley Road is the liveliest area with a proper music venue. A good quieter option is a walk up the river to a pub - e.g. the Perch - can give you exact details if you like. Also there are 3 cinemas and a couple of theatres in the city centre. If you do stay Thursday night, the best open mic event is the Catweazle Club apparently - DH and I have never yet made it in ten years - but it's well established.

1 night =gathering
2 nights= rave

And 3 nights?!

I just heard a snippet of conversation from the students across the road (who had a party last night):

'D'you reckon if I just pour bleach on it, then scrub it, and spray loads of febreezy stuff, it'll work?'

I dread to think.

I lent our hoover to the students across the road after a party and it came back with the bag bursting and stinking of shake and vac.
3nights= locks changed

For retain therapy get the bus from the Reubans(I think) hotel and head to Bicester Village!

Thanks all have shown dp these and we are now going for 2 nights!

Oh noddy! Good work!
The old bank's restaurant, quod, is possibly my favourite in central Oxford. Go for their lunch menu, steak with bearnaise sauce. Eat it medium rare, for me, follow with lemon posset.

They have a lovely courtyard at the back if it's sunny

Noddy - from their website - "The hotel has a large secure private car park which provides up to 40 spaces for hotel guests and is accessed via an automated barrier" - you just need to stop outside the front of the hotel (taking care not to stray into 'bus only' territory further down the road) and go in to reception - they will explain how to get to the car park (it's not obvious) and send someone out to lower the barrier outside Oriel (it's not automated, unless it has been done in the last 9 months).

ooh I am a bit jealous and really nostalgic having read this thread - have a great time, noddy - second mooching up Little Clarendon street to decide what you fancy for dinner, and The Old Bank does nice food so you're sorted there if it's pissing it down you fancy staying it.

Nice day and you're done punting? Walk around Christ Church meadows. Ooh! And the botanical gardens! (not in the same place) - v. nice. And definitely get a G&D's ice cream - there's one on St.Aldates, too.

So excited apart from leaving ds in charge of 2 spoilt cats! Think 1st night we will eat in hotel as dp finishes work Tues about midday and we will get there about 3 and just read and chill. Will go out all day weds and thurs better take 'sensible' shoes

The Old Bank is close to the Botanic Gardens and Christ Church Meadow, which are nice for a stroll around, and there is a posh cocktail cafe on the High Street called the Grand Cafe.

It is going to tip down next week Shall we cancel or is there still enough to do?Gutted!

Love this thread! (I miss Oxford)
Even if it rains, the pubs and museums are great!
Turf Tavern, Lamb and flag, eagle and child, the bookbinders (if memory serves), I am most jealous!
The natural history museum and the Pitt rivers are great (look out for the shrunken heads)

Really want to go still as we sooooooo need a break!

go! Oxford is quite cosy in the rain - masses of wood-panelled pubs, the shops, the museums, the covered market, hours spent shagging your hotel, and visiting colleges is still fun - you see their great halls and their chapels and stuff.
Plus, it's a realistic experience as I thought it rained all the sodding time a lot while I was there.
Get a posh mac, a couple of nice brollies, some good shoes and do it!

Ok am going to go regardless

Absolutely, go!

If it is wet and miserable you're right in the centre so won't be far from good stuff.

Yes, come to Oxford anyway, plenty to do despite the rain! Also an extra temptation: didn't you say on another thread that you loved the clothes shop Toast? We have one of those, on the High St.