English Courses in Oxford
Overview
Oxford, “The City of Dreaming Spires,” is a beautiful city of stunning architecture, history and culture. For over 800 years, it has been home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century, an established town, although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Nowadays, the city is bustling and cosmopolitan. The visitor will find traditional and modern colleges, fascinating museums and galleries, and plenty of parks, gardens and green spaces in which to relax. The city center is compact enough to cover on foot, and only a few minutes’ walk from both the main rail and coach stations. With its mix of old and new, there is plenty for both the tourist and resident to do, and for more, Oxford is a just a short hop away from many other attractions and from London.
Language Schools and Camps in this Destination
In Oxford, Marshall Language Services also works with the following schools:
For adult students:
- Centre of English Studies Oxford (CES Oxford), Wheatley
- Kaplan Oxford
For juniors and teenage students:
- St. Clare’s Oxford
- Oxford Royale Academy
Images of Oxford, England
Things to Do and See During a Vacation Study
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Its world famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time.
Museum of Natural History
This museum is divided into three sections: Earth Collections covering of Paleontological collections and mineral and rock collections, Life Collections, which include zoological and entomological collections, and the Archive Collections. Most importantly, it has a display of dinosaurs.
Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers is the best place to visit for archaeology and anthropology. The museum displays archaeological and ethnographic objects from all parts of the world.
Port Meadow
Port Meadow is a large meadow of common land, where in 1862, Charles Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, told Alice Liddell the story of Alice in Wonderland for the first time.
South Park
Oxford’s South Park is a beautiful place to stroll, photograph or draw. It has one of the best views of the city of the city.
Wadham College, Oxford University
Wadham College, founded in 1610 by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, is considered to be one of Oxford’s most progressive and liberal Colleges.
The Bear Inn
The Bear is possibly Oxford’s oldest pub, dating back to 1242. Besides the usual fare, the pub is also the home to over 4,500 snippets of neck ties, collected by a former landlord.
The Weston Library
The Weston Library was established in 1940 and originally called the New Bodleian Library. It currently houses the Treasury, home to some of the rarest books owned by Oxford University.
The Radcliffe Camera
The Radcliffe Camera was built from 1737 and 1749 for Oxford University to house the Radcliffe Science Library. A to visit the Radcliffe Camera is available on a Bodleian Library Tour.
Christ Church College, Oxford University
Christ Church College is associated with Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, which serves as the college chapel and whose dean is head of the College. The College is a popular tourist attraction for its use as a location in the Harry Potter films. Other Oxford locations, such as the New College, Blenheim Palace and Bodleian Library, also appear in the series. The Great Halls is a replica of the Christ Church.
Magdalen College, Oxford University
Magdalen College was founded in the year 1458 and has given the world Oscar Wilde, Howard Florey, John Betjeman and King Edward VIII. The College’s Choir is particularly famous for its May Day Celebrations, which include the singing of Hymnus Eucharisticus.
The Perch
With its traditional thatched roof, The Perch is one of Oxford’s oldest pubs, just a few minutes’ walk from the Isis (Oxford’s stretch of the Thames) and Port Meadow. In summer, its garden is the envy of the city.
The Eagle and Child
Authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien used to drink in this Oxford pub, so visitors can enjoy a pint and relive Lord of the Rings, or simply indulge in the real ales and hearty food.
Bridge of Sighs
Hertford Bridge, often called “Bridge of Sighs,” joins two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane in Oxford, England. Its distinctive design makes it a city landmark.
The Oxford Covered Market
The Market was officially opened in 1774 and has a unique and wonderful atmosphere. It provides visitors with the wonderful aromas of fresh fruit, coffee, fresh baking, and to a feast of sights and sounds.
Oxford’s Restaurants
Oxford has a fantastic selection of high quality restaurants, including the Oil Thai, Yeti, Big Bad Breakfast and many others. For dessert, George & Davis has some of the best ice cream in the city.
How to Arrive at your Language Course
London’s Heathrow is the closest international airport to Oxford. Heathrow and Gatwick Airports are linked to Oxford by the Airline Coach Company, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From Heathrow, a return ticket costs approximately £19 and takes approximately 80 minutes from Terminals 1, 2, and 3, and 100 minutes from Terminal 5.
From Gatwick, a return ticket costs approximately £27 and takes approximately 120 minutes. The buses make a few stops once they reach Oxford; the main bus station is at Gloucester Green (pronounced “Gloss-ster”).
Stansted Airport is linked to Oxford by National Express Bus 757, which runs approximately every two hours.