Discover Oxford

Just outside the gates of Somerville lie the streets of Jericho and St Giles. A veritable paradise for foodies, you’ll find an excellent restaurant or café pretty much everywhere you turn among these quiet and pretty streets. With a little exploring (or some light googling), you’ll also find some of Oxford’s best pubs and bars. Alternatively, if you want to soak up some classic Oxford atmosphere, head up to St Giles for a drink in the famous Eagle and Child pub frequented by JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.

Oxford offers excellent shopping options to suit every taste. If you’re feeling literary, you can walk up to the Broad and browse its famous book shops. If it’s retail therapy you’re after, head on over to the world-class Westgate Shopping Centre, home of international brands, a restaurant terrace with views over the city and a Curzon cinema. There are also plenty of shops close by and on Cornmarket for any food and essentials you may need.

Being one of the few colleges in Oxford where visitors and students can walk on the grass, we’re obviously going to say that your first destination for some scenic R&R is our very own College Quad. There you can laze under the spreading cedar planted by Harold Macmillan or while away a happy hour beside the stunning flowerbeds.

If you fancy venturing further afield, you can head east to the University Parks for a stroll beside the Cherwell or head west towards Port Meadow with its famous views over Oxford’s dreaming spires and lazy expanse of river where cows come down to drink at sunset.

All of the university’s most famous buildings lie within easy walking distance – including the Bodleian Library, Weston Library, Sheldonian Theatre and Radcliffe Camera. There’s also a good art house cinema in nearby Jericho.

Oxford Railway Station is fifteen minutes from Somerville, offering regular trains to London termini and other mainline destinations. You can also take a cab or bus to Oxford Parkway, where you can catch a fast train to London Marylebone every half hour. For coaches to cities throughout the UK as well Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, head to Oxford Bus Station, a mere ten minutes’ walk away. 

Oxford Station

Oxford Parkway

Oxford Bus Station