People can be forgiven for believing that a short break in Oxford is all about visiting all those historic university colleges and Inspector Morse’s favourite pubs. The reality is that there is also a wide variety of other fun activities to be enjoyed in the city and the surrounding area.

Provided the weather is reasonably clement, you just have to take one of those famous punting trips on the 2 rivers with which Oxford is blessed, the Cherwell and the Thames, or the Isis as it is known in the area. Each flat bottomed punt holds up to 5 people including the punter. A bottle of Pimms or Champagne is considered obligatory if the experience is to be optimised. You can hire your punt from Howard C & Sons at Magdalen Bridge or from Salters Boat Hire next to the Head of the River pub on Folly Bridge.

If you are feeling even more adventurous, why not consider hiring a comfortable canal boat and exploring the Thames and the South Oxford Canal which meander through local countryside and through the city itself. College Cruisers are a family firm and their boats are painted in traditional Oxford Blue. They are located at Combe Road Wharf.

For really sensational views of the City of Dreaming Spires and Blenheim Palace, why not book a balloon flight from adventureballoons.co.uk ?  Lift off is from Oxford’s South Park.

If you have children aged over 8 or are just simply young at heart yourself, Outdoor Lasertag is a fun way to exercise and the harmless infrared guns they use cater for all levels of fitness and are sturdily built with life-like sound effects, realistic weights and real scopes. This is just one of the novel activities available at the Culham Adventure Park, a few miles outside the city.

The park also boasts Oxfordshire’s first ever Tree-Top High Ropes course with Rope Bridges, Tarzan Swings and Zip Slides set high in the trees in 50 acres of woodland. There is full safety training for all new participants and this is a great way of kicking off birthday, stag and hen parties (ideally before anyone starts drinking).

For anyone with any energy left, Oxford has its own ice-rink and is one of the few locations where speedway and greyhound racing take place. Both are staged at the Greyhound Stadium in Sandy Lane and are well worth trying once if you’ve never been before.

Visit hotels in Oxford and explore this beautiful city.

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Oxford has been home to some of Britain’s most famous writers, poets and novelists and there’s no better time to visit this historic city than to coincide with the UK film release of The Hobbit and January’s 200^th anniversary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice.  Both J. R. R. Tolkien and Jane Austen have links to the city, and local hotel group Four Pillars Hotels is offering a range of amazing offers on winter breaks from December through to March 2013 starting at just £59 per person per night including dinner, bed and breakfast.  And children stay and eat breakfast for free*.

The four-star Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel is located less than half a mile from the centre of Oxford, where both Tolkien and his great friend C S Lewis – author of The Chronicles of Narnia – were professors, at Pembroke College and Magdalen College respectively.     Jane Austen was tutored in Oxford by the widow of a former Principal of Brasenose College, and her father and brother became Fellows of St John’s College. The perfect location for your literary explorations, Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel is set in acres of tranquil parkland and features 170 stylish bedrooms and suites, a full-service restaurant and bar, as well as recreational facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam-room and gymnasium.

Four Pillars also have three other hotels in and around the Oxford, the picturesque riverside Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, Oxford Whitney Four Pillars Hotel and Oxford Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel.  Prices at Oxford Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel start at just £42 per person per night.

For full details and conditions on Four Pillars Hotels’ winter offers, or to book, please visit www.four-winter.co.uk or call 0800 374 692.

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22 new ‘Garden Rooms’ and The Conservatory

Over the coming months we will be investing £2 million on new and upgraded bedrooms along with a multi-function Conservatory for dining and events at our Oxford Thames Hotel. Due to open in May 2013, the new bedrooms will increase the capacity to 84 rooms and The Conservatory will add 135m² of space to their current choice of 9 rooms for private events.

The 22 new ‘Garden Rooms’ will have views of the beautiful gardens with many benefiting from views of the River Thames, and will feature a contemporary style to complement the rest of the hotel. Additionally, 22 bedrooms in Sandford House have recently been refurbished with new décor, seating and furniture, drapery, soft furnishings and bathroom upgrades to give them a fresh new look.

At the same time, we are converting the existing courtyard area adjacent to the River Room Restaurant into a bright and airy Conservatory for Sunday lunch, afternoon tea and other dining, as well as private events. New car parking will be added to support the new facilities.

There will be minimal inconvenience to guests during the work and the majority of the bedrooms and public areas of the hotel, will be unaffected.

For bookings and further details visit www.four-pillars.co.uk/thames or call 01865 334444

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As Christmas approaches once again, people are gripped by the usual mixture of warm anticipation and sheer panic. Christmas Day itself is always a time for celebration and family get-togethers and the subsequent days leading up to New Year’s Eve are an opportunity for restful recovery and socialising with friends and relatives. The problem is in getting from here to there without getting too stressed out. This is particularly applicable to the fairer sex as they seem to be the ones lumbered with most of the work.

Considerate husbands and partners can help by either doing more of the work themselves and / or arranging a short break away from it all in either November or early in December. The beauty of the latter is that this time of year is classed as low season and there are some really tempting deals on offer from well- appointed hotels which have every facility on hand including swimming pools and relaxing spa treatment rooms.

Having someone else take care of the cooking, cleaning and bed-making somehow makes Christmas shopping less of a strain and can actually make the exercise an enjoyable experience. Those taking such a pre-Xmas break in the Oxford area will find all the big name shops that they are likely to need together with the unique seasonal ambiance of the City of Spires.

The Christmas atmosphere in Oxford is brought vividly to life in the city on Friday November 23^rd when the Christmas Light Night is staged. Centred on the famous lantern procession this evening event features light, dance, art, live music and performance, all thrown together with a generous helping of festive cheer. Oxford’s museums, Castle Quarter, Town Hall and Museum of Oxford, theatres and galleries throw open their doors to the public for one-off late night viewings of their exhibitions and displays enhanced by special performances.

This kicks off the build-up to Christmas in style and sets the tone for what visitors can expect during the run-up to the big day itself. 2012’s events include the ever popular Christmas choral concert at Christchurch Cathedral on Friday 14^th and Thursday 20^th of December at 8pm. Recent readers of Christmas writing at this perennial favourite include Jeremy Irons and Robert Hardy and it is a closely guarded secret which star is booked for this year.

For a complete contrast, it is well worth making the short journey to Blenheim Palace, arguably Britain’s finest.  This year from 10^th November – 14^th December (Wednesday to Sunday inclusive) the Palace will be decorated in a very special theme telling the Christmas story of the Three Kings.

Visitors to the Palace will be able to follow the journey of the Three Kings through the State Rooms decorated in glittering gold and festooned in silk. Two magnificent Christmas trees will stand in splendour in the Great Hall, surrounded by palm trees in pots bejewelled in the colours of the Far East. From the balcony above the Great Hall, the Star of Bethlehem will shine out to guide the Three Kings on their way. Baubles and crystals on lush ribbons, shining golden leaves, clusters of peacock feathers and striking turquoise and emerald green marabou fans will provide an exotic welcome to the Palace.

http://www.four-pillars.co.uk/

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Oxford Lieder Festival – Friday 12th – Saturday 27th October

The Oxford Lieder Festival is held throughout October every year. It aims to celebrate singers and musicians and this year will include: Sarah Connolly, Florian Boesch, Lucy Crowe, Alice Coote, James Gilchrist, Katarina Karnéus, Robert Murray, Birgid Steinberger, Wolfgang Holzmair and many others.

Concerts will be held every night and in addition there will be a series of lunch-time and late-night recitals, a programme of master classes, workshops and talks.

The opening recital will be performed by the French soprano Sandrine Piau at 8pm on the 12th October. She’s known throughout the world for her opera performances and she will be accompanied by Roger Vignoles; they will open the festival with a selection of French songs.

For music lovers, this festival is one not to miss. There are recitals everyday so you’ll be able to attend at least one on your visit!

Alison Pullen New Paintings – Tuesday 2^nd October – Tuesday 6^th November

Alison Pullen is a sought after interiors painter, she will be showing a series of new paintings throughout October at the Sarah Wiseman Gallery. Her work includes a beautiful illustration of the Observatory at Green Templeton College.

Alison is said to be an expert at portraying daylight, pattern and textures; she has also been commissioned to complete works for private collectors and for the throne room at Buckingham Palace. Her collection is worth a look for art lovers.

It’s almost Halloween!

There are a number of events around Oxford at Halloween, located in some of the eerie and old buildings – Perfect to get a little spooked!

Blenheim Palace – Witches and Wizards –  27th October – 4^th November

The palace offers Halloween activities for all the family throughout the half term week.

Witches and Wizards Trail at the Pleasure Gardens – The trail is great for the kids and will be held during the weekdays in half term. Hunt the gardens and follow the clues to find the ten items you’d find in a witch or wizards house! After exploring the palace, children will also get the chance to decorate their own scary pottery in the Garden room.

At the weekends, Cat Weatherill will tell ghostly tales at the indoor cinema and also during half term week you can take part in one of the spooky palace tours. Hear stories from the night guards and visit Grace Ridley in the visitor experience “Blenheim Palace: The Untold Story”.

Ghost Fest

Ghost fest is a universal tradition and was launched in Oxford 7 years ago; ghost hunting is back at Oxford Castle – Unlocked.

There are a number of thrilling events at Oxford Castle throughout October as part of Ghost Fest!

After Dark Dinners

The castle has got together with The Big Bang, Pizza Express, The Living Room and Malmaison Brasserie. They will offer visitors a sinister journey through the castle, taking you to the most haunted locations, which will be topped off with a stunning three course meal in the castle quarter.

Scary Tours

The tours take you to the dark side of the castle; explore the most haunted rooms including the dark atmospheric 900 year old underground Crypt.

Overnight Ghost Hunts – Not for the faint-hearted!

The castle is steeped in history of bloodshed and imprisonment, and has had a number of reported ghost sightings. If you’re brave enough stay overnight for Vigils and Séances in some of the most eerie rooms of the castle. Will you spot the figure often seen in the Crypt?

Make plans for half term now and book your hotel in Oxford.

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The impressive buildings combined with winding rivers and hidden nooks all work to create a romantic and inspiring atmosphere that many experience when visiting Oxford.

If you haven’t visited before, there are many sights you can admire, the architecture of Oxford being some of the biggest highlights.

Oxford University Buildings

With over 39 college buildings dotted around the city that make up the university, you may not get time to visit them all; here are a couple of the best picks well worth a visit…

All Souls College

This is at the heart of the university, and was founded in 1437 by Henry Chichele for the clergy as a centre for prayer and learning. This is the most prestigious of all the colleges.

The college boasts a four-storey gate tower and two-storey ranges either side, when you pass inside the gate house you enter the Great Quad, here you will be able to view the medieval buildings and spectacular twin gothic towers.

The quadrangle still houses fellows’ bedrooms and studies; additionally the Chapel sits in the whole north quarter and is well worth a visit.

On your visit, don’t miss out on taking a look at the sundial made by Wren and the mallards (the college symbol) that can be spotted all over the college.

Brasenose College

College of Brasenose and the King’s Hall is situated in Radcliffe Square in the heart of the University. It was founded in 1509 by William Smythe, Bishop of Lincoln, and Sir Richard Sutton.

The unique name of the college is thought of have come from a 13^th century knocker with a lion face that decorated the original academic hall.

Brasenose College has an intimate and romantic feel, typical of smaller medieval buildings. As you pass through the entrance on Radcliffe Square you will be led through to the Old Quadrangle, from here you can browse the beautiful buildings located inside.

Well worth a look is the Chapel Quadrangle, known also as Deer Park, it is home to the library and chapel – both were built in 1656-63 and were designed by mason John Jackson in an unusual Gothic-Classical hybrid.

The Chapel was the last to be designed and built in the traditional T plan, with a crossing antechapel, and replaced an earlier chapel that was located alongside the Hall.

Go inside the Chapel and take a look at the impressive antechapel, it comprises a memorial to Walter Pater a Fellow 1864-94, flanked by figures of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Plato and Dante.

You also won’t be able to miss the stained glass of the west window; it is by James Pearson to designs by J.R. Mortimer, from 1776.

Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library is the main research centre for the university. It was founded in 1602 and opened with about 2000 books collected by Thomas Bodley. It is considered to be one of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture in the UK.

The collection of books grew fast as Bodley made an arrangement with the Stationers’ Company in London to include a copy of every book registered with them, in the Bodleian library in 1610.

As the collections grew, the library was extended in both 1610-1612 and again in 1634-1637. Then, in the 1930’s the New Bodleian building was constructed – a tunnel under Broad Street connects the Old and New library buildings and contains a walkway, , a mechanical book conveyor and a pneumatic Lamson tube system for book orders.

Other places in Oxford well worth a visit include:

-          Christ Church Cathedral

-          University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

-          Harris Manchester College

-          House of C.S.Lewis

-          Eagle and Child Pub – patrons included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

This is just a snippet of what you can see on your Oxford break, all that’s left to do now is discover the city for yourselves!

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Put on your tourist hat and take a look at just 15 of the most fascinating facts about Oxford.

1. Oxford was the capital of England during the English Civil War.

2. Adolf Hitler had plans to invade England and use Oxford as his base if he won World War II.

3. The first colleges at Oxford were erected in the 13^th century. Women weren’t admitted until 1878 and it was 1920 before women were allowed degrees. Women were finally admitted to the last of the previously all-male colleges in 1974.

4. Someone is picking his nose…and that’s just one of the strange and fascinating gargoyles perched around the colleges of Oxford, much to the delight of visitors.

5. Oxford residents are called Oxonians. Oxford is hardly a unique name – there’s one in Canada, one in New Zealand, and the United States boasts 21 Oxfords.

6. The Oxford Comma (used after a conjunction in a list of three or more) gets its name from the Oxford University Press.

7. A bell located in a tower of Christ Church Cathedral goes by the name Old Tom. It strikes 101 times each night, once for each of 100 original scholars plus one added in 1663. The bell tolls at precisely 9:05 p.m., a holdover from the traditional curfew time.

8. Scenes from the Harry Potter series were filmed at Oxford. So were several TV series, including Brideshead Revisited and Inspector Morse.

9. Author Lewis Carroll was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland while living at Oxford.

10. Other authors with an Oxford connection include J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia; Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse novels; and Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’s Diary. And let’s not overlook the Oxford English Dictionary, which published its first edition in 1884.

11. In 1954, med student Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes at Iffley Road track in Oxford.

12. The world’s first public museum, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, opened its doors in 1683.

13.Two roads, two miles apart, run parallel to each other in North Oxford. The southern road is called North Parade. The northern road is called South Parade.

14. Twenty-six British Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford.

15. Participants try to knock a wooden skittle off the top of a post by throwing sticks at it. Aunt Sally is the name of this quirky pub game you probably won’t see anywhere but Oxfordshire.

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