The historic charms of Oxbridge

By Travel Editor Ruth Jackson Apr 10, 2008

Ruth Jackson

This weekend 18 students will pile into two boats and fight for the glory of their university in the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race. But which historic city is best for tourists? 

Oxford is the better known and attracts visitors all year round. Yet you can still feel as though you have the city to yourself. A short stroll from the train station and you’ll come across one of Britain’s most beautiful routes for walking, says Richard Morrison in The Times – taking in dreaming spires, weeping willows and some congenial pubs on the way. “Follow the Isis river north out of the city, cut across Port Meadow, then return along the Oxford Canal and through Wolfson Nature Reserve, before making a brief circuit of one of England’s grandest townscapes.”

If it’s damp, head for the Pitt Rivers Museum, which displays archaeological and ethnographic artifacts from across the globe, offering an unrivalled insight into the cultural diversity of our species. 

For a more relaxing cultural experience, you can’t beat a stay at the Randolph Hotel, a true gothic masterpiece. You can see why Inspector Morse spent so much time there. It’s perfect in every detail – from the spacious, elegant rooms to the fantastic restaurant and spa. Your wallet will be considerably lighter when you leave, but so too will your mood (see Macdonald Hotels or call 0844-879 9132. Rooms cost from £165 a night; spa treatments from £60).
 
Oxford may be the more famous of the two cities, but Cambridge too also has its charms. You can’t beat a punt on the River Cam – although it’s harder work than you’d expect, so get someone else to do the punting while you relax and watch the world go by. When it’s time to eat, head to the quayside, where Galleria offers a Mediterranean menu and a great view. For fancier fare, visit the double Michelin-starred Midsummer House, which has plenty on offer to dazzle your tastebuds.  

After eating and drinking yourself merry, retire to the Hotel du Vin (01223-227330). The hotel group has been voted the UK’s best for the fourth year running by The Guardian and its Cambridge outlet shows why. Each of the 44 rooms has everything you could need (including a private cinema in one suite) and “a bed so big it would frighten an agrophobe”, says Sally Shalam in The Guardian.

Published in Travel | More articles by Ruth Jackson

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