View source for Oxford Trip - 22nd March 2008

The idea of this trip is to fuse some pool & snooker action, with the historical sites & modern sounds that the 'city of dreaming spires' has to offer.

== Who's going on this thing?==

* Matt

* Elin & Graham

* Neil

* Hopefully Tim and some other people...

* Not Marc or his girlfriend :-(

== When to go:==

One weekend should do the trick - to get there on a Saturday, and come back on the Sunday/ Monday. 

Let's go on Saturday 22nd March 2008.

== What to do:==

=== During the day: ===

- ''Snooker &/or Pool'' - 

* Colours (pool & snooker) 28-31 St. Ebbes St, OX1 1PU, tel. 01865 792793 

* A1 Pool Hall, 10 Crown St, OX4 1QG, tel. 01865 244300

- ''Punting on the Thames'' - There are two central boat rental places: Magdalen Bridge boathouse (01865 202643), beside the Cherwell at the east end of the High Street; and the Thames boat station at Folly Bridge (01865 243421) - (open on fri 21/ sat 22 - 10am to 6pm), a five- to ten-minute stroll south of the centre along St Aldates. In summer, the queues soon build up at both, so try to get there early in the morning – at around 10am. At both boathouses, expect to pay about £12 per hour for a boat plus a £30 deposit, and remember that sometimes ID is required. Punts can take a maximum of five passengers – four sitting and one punting. Call the boathouses for opening times – which vary – or if there are any doubts about the weather. Both boathouses also rent out chauffeured punts (about £25 for 30min) and pedaloes, which cost less, but aren't as much fun.

- ''Covered Market'', [http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/oxfordtour/coveredmarket/ Virtual Tour], High Street. Oxford has the oldest covered market in England. Unusual small shops, including the first '''Ben's Cookies!!!''' shop (open 9.15am to 5.30pm Mon to Sat), a chocolate shop, cake shop, fine butchers, hat shop, florists, glassware, and charming cafes. 

- [http://www.roughguides.co.uk/website/travel/destination/content/default.aspx?titleid=54&xid=idh569265560_0271 ''Christ Church College''] - (Mon– Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm; £4.50; 01865 276492), founded in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey as "Cardinal College", it's distinctive Tom Tower was added by Christopher Wren in 1681 to house the weighty "Great Tom" bell. The tower lords it over the main entrance of what is Oxford's largest and arguably most prestigious college, but visitors have to enter from the south, a signed five-minute walk away – just past the tiny War Memorial Garden and from the top of Christ Church Meadow. Albert Einstein, William Gladstone and no fewer than twelve other British prime ministers studied here. 

- ''Magdalen College'' - eastern end of the High Street, tel 01865 276000. 1 October-21 June 1PM-6PM or dusk (whichever is earlier), 25 Jun-30 Sep noon-6PM, closed 22-24 June. Founded in 1458 by William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, Magdalen is frequently the first college seen by many visitors if coming into Oxford on the London Road, its high tower serving as a much-loved landmark. Significant Magdalen alumni include CS Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Seamus Heaney and Edward Gibbon. Visitor shop and afternoon café. Maximum 20 people in a group. Adults £3, seniors, children, students £2.

- ''The Radcliffe Camera'' - (no public access) A mighty rotunda, built between 1737 and 1748

- ''[http://www.ashmolean.org/ The Ashmolean]'' - (tues to sat 10am to 5pm; sun 12pm to 5pm, bank holidays 10am to 5pm)

=== Nightlife: ===

'''Restaurants:''' 

''Aziz'' - Cowley Road - Best curries in the South East. [http://www.britishcurryaward.co.uk/pressRelease.html British Curry Awards]

'''Pubs:''' 

- ''Turf Tavern'', 4 Bath Place (off New College Lane), +44 01865 243 235. 11AM-11PM, Su 12noon-10.30PM. A well-hidden pub, but also well known by locals. Good range of beers. Nice beer garden with coal fires where you can roast marshmallows on chilly evenings in spring and autumn. This ancient pub (a favourite with Inspector Morse) is an unmissable Oxford institution that many consider to be the best pub in the city - in the summer watch out for drenched students enjoying the end of their exams. Pint £2.50. 

- ''the Eagle and Child'', 49 St Giles. Popularly known as "the bird and baby", this pub was the frequent haunt of the Inklings, a group of Oxford literary dons that included CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien 

- ''The Jericho Tavern'', Jericho. Great place for a drink and maybe some food. Also famous for being the place that Radiohead played their first show. 

- ''Head of the River'', Folly Bridge, +44 01865 721600. Perfectly located, right on the Thames. Follow St Aldate's down past Christ Church college until you reach the river (the pub's on the far bank). This place buzzes on summer evenings, when the large garden gets extremely busy. 

'''Clubs:'''

- ''Po Na Na's'', 13-15 Magdalen Street. Don't be put off by the inconspicuous entrance - below is a relatively small, mysteriously decorated (apparently its Moroccan), funky cave, with great not-too-loud music, and an unusual and relaxed atmosphere. Cocktails 2 for 1 between 9 and 10:30.

- ''Maxwell's'', 36-37 Queen Street, 01865 242192. 11:30AM-2AM daily. Bar and restaurant by day; cocktails and nightclub by evening. Claims to have the longest bar in Oxford. £3-£5 cover (after 10PM).

== Where to stay? ==

Oxford Uni dormitories...?

'''B&Bs:''' 

- ''Sports View Guest House'' - 106-110 Abingdon Road, OX1 4PX; £35 ppn, half mile from centre. Off-street parking available. 

'''Youth Hostels:'''

*''YHA Oxford'' , 2a Botley Road, (in UK) 0870 770 5970, (outside UK) ''+44 0''1865 727275, fax ''+044 0''1865 251182, [mailto:oxford@yha.org.uk] [http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/hostelpages/836.html] Housed in a brand new, purpose-built building next to the railway station and minutes from the city centre, prices from £20.50 adult, £15.50 under 18s.
*''Central Backpackers Hostel'', 13 Park End Street, ''+044 0''1865 242288 [http://www.centralbackpackers.co.uk/] Only recently opened and situated on one of Oxford's liveliest streets.  Clean and airy. From £14.
*''Oxford Backpackers'', 9a Hythe Bridge Street, ''+044 0''1865 721761, fax ''+044 0''1865 203293. [mailto:oxford@hostels.co.uk] [http://www.hostels.co.uk/oxford/]  Cheap and a little dingy. Conveniently located for both the rail and bus stations (2 mins walk). Dorm beds from £13.

[http://www.stayoxford.co.uk/ Hotels & Guesthouses]

==Useful websites:==

[http://wikitravel.org/en/Oxford Wikitravel]

[http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/oxfordtour/ Virtual Tour of Oxford]