Oxford 22308 226060172 2008-07-16T17:26:52Z Mpvide65 6986478 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 226057864 by [[Special:Contributions/Zero cool700|Zero cool700]] ([[User talk:Zero cool700|talk]]) {{Cleanup|date=May 2008}} {{otheruses4|the city of Oxford in England|other cities and other meanings}} {{coor title dm|51|45|7|N|1|15|28|W}} {{Infobox Settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> |official_name = Oxford |other_name = |native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> |nickname = "The City of Dreaming Spires" |settlement_type =[[City status in the United Kingdom|City]]<!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)--> |motto = "Fortis est veritas" <small>''"Truth is strong"''</small> <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = Oxsky.jpg |imagesize = 280px |image_caption = Skyline of the city of Oxford |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_link = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |blank_emblem_link = |image_map = OxfordshireOxford.png |mapsize = 115px |map_caption = Shown within [[Oxfordshire]] |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map =Oxford - Oxfordshire dot.png |dot_mapsize =115px |dot_map_caption =Oxford shown within United Kingdom |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]] |subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Constituent country]] |subdivision_name1 = [[England]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]] |subdivision_name2 = [[South East England]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]] |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = Admin HQ |subdivision_name4 = Oxford City Centre <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] |leader_title = Governing&nbsp;body |leader_name = [[Oxford City Council]] |leader_title1 = [[Lord Mayor]] |leader_name1 = Susanna Pressel |leader_title2 = [[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|MPs]]: |leader_name2 = [[Evan Harris]] [[Liberal Democrats|(LD)]]<br />[[Andrew Smith (politician)|Andrew Smith]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = 9th century |established_title2 = Town charter |established_date2 = |established_title3 = City status |established_date3 = 1542 <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 45.59<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of = {{English statistics year‎}} |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = {{EnglishDistrictPopulation|ONS = 38UC}} ([[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{EnglishDistrictRank|ONS = 38UC}}]]) |population_density_km2 = 3270 |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_title = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |population_blank2_title = Ethnicity<br><small>([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2005 Estimates]] |population_blank2 = 73.0% [[White British]]<br>9.1% [[Other White]]<br> 5.7% [[British Asian|South Asian]]<br>3.0% [[Black British|Black]]<br>2.9% [[British Chinese|Chinese]]<br>2.7% [[British Mixed|Mixed Race]]<br>1.9% [[Other ethnic group (United Kingdom Census)|Other]]<br> 1.8% [[Irish Briton|White Irish]] | |population_density_blank2_km2 = |population_density_blank2_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time]] |utc_offset = +0 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |latd = 51 |latm = 45 |lats = 7 |latNS = N |longd = 1 |longm = 15 |longs = 28 |longEW = W |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref> tags--> |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = Postcode |postal_code = [[OX postcode area|OX]] |area_code = 01865 |blank_name = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]] |blank_info = GB-OXF |blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]] |blank1_info = 38UC |blank2_name = [[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]] |blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SP513061}} |blank3_name = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3 |blank3_info = |blank4_name = |blank4_info = |website = [http://www.oxford.gov.uk/ www.oxford.gov.uk] |footnotes = }} '''Oxford''' ({{PronEng|'ɒksfəd}}, {{Audio|en-uk-Oxford.ogg|listen}}) is a [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]], and the [[county town]] of [[Oxfordshire]], in [[South East England|South East]] [[England]]. It has a population of 134,248 (2001 census). The [[River Thames]] runs through Oxford, where for a distance of some {{convert|10|mi|km}} it is known as [[The Isis]]. Oxford is home to the [[University of Oxford]], the oldest university in the [[Anglosphere|English-speaking world]]. Buildings in Oxford reflect every [[Architecture of the United Kingdom|English architectural]] period since the arrival of the [[History of Anglo-Saxon England|Saxons]], including the mid-18th century [[Radcliffe Camera]], the hub of the city. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet [[Matthew Arnold]] in reference to the harmonious architecture of Oxford's university buildings. ==History== Oxford was first occupied in [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] times, and was initially known as "Oxenaforda", meaning "[[Ford (crossing)|Ford]] of the [[Ox]]"; fords being very important before the days of bridges.<ref>[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Great_Britain/England/Oxfordshire/Oxford/_Texts/FLEOXF/2*.html#hijinks A Handy Guide to Oxford, ch. 2]</ref> It began with the foundation of [[St Frideswide's nunnery]] in the 8th century, and was first mentioned in written records in the [[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]] for the year 912. In the 10th century Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of [[Mercia]] and [[Wessex]] and was on several occasions raided by [[Danes]]. [[Frideswide|St Frideswide]] is the patron saint of both the city and university. The prestige of Oxford is seen in the fact that it received a charter from King [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], granting its citizens the same privileges and exemptions as those enjoyed by the capital of the kingdom; and various important religious houses were founded in or near the city. A grandson of King John established Rewley Abbey for the [[Cistercian]] Order; and friars of various orders ([[Dominican Order|Dominican]]s, [[Franciscan]]s, [[Carmelite]]s, [[Augustinian]]s, and [[Trinitarian]]s), all had houses at Oxford of varying importance. Parliaments were often held in the city during the thirteenth century. The [[Provisions of Oxford]] were installed by a group of barons led by [[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]]; these documents are often regarded as England's first written constitution. [[Image:Radcliffe Camera (2005).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Radcliffe Camera]]]] The [[University of Oxford]] is first mentioned in 12th century records. Oxford's earliest [[college]]s were [[University College, Oxford|University College]] (1249), [[Balliol College, Oxford|Balliol]] (1263) and [[Merton College, Oxford|Merton]] (1264). These colleges were established at a time when Europeans were starting to translate the writings of Greek philosophers. These writings challenged European ideology – inspiring scientific discoveries and advancements in the arts – as society began seeing itself in a new way. These colleges at Oxford were supported by the Church in hopes to reconcile [[Greek Philosophy]] and [[Christian Theology]]. The relationship between "[[town and gown]]" has often been uneasy — as many as 93 students and townspeople were killed in the [[St. Scholastica riot|St Scholastica Day Riot]] of 1355. [[Oxford Cathedral|Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford]] is unique as a college chapel and cathedral in one foundation. Originally the Priory Church of St Frideswide, the building was extended and incorporated into the structure of the Cardinal's College shortly before its refounding as Christ Church in 1546, since which time it has functioned as the cathedral of the [[Diocese]] of Oxford. The [[Oxford Martyrs]] were tried for heresy in 1555 and subsequently burnt at the stake, on what is now Broad Street, for their religious beliefs and teachings. The three martyrs were the bishops [[Hugh Latimer]] and [[Nicholas Ridley]], and the Archbishop [[Thomas Cranmer]]. During the [[English Civil War]], Oxford housed the court of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] in 1642, after the king was expelled from [[London]], although there was strong support in the town for the [[roundhead|Parliamentarian]] cause. The town yielded to Parliamentarian forces under [[Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron|General Fairfax]] in the [[Siege of Oxford]] of 1646. It later housed the court of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] during the [[Great Plague of London]] in 1665-66. Although reluctant to do so, he was forced to evacuate when the plague got too close. In 1790 the [[Oxford Canal]] connected the city with [[Coventry]]. The Duke's Cut was completed by the [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough|Duke of Marlborough]] in 1789 to link the new canal with the [[River Thames]]; and in 1796 the Oxford Canal company built their own link to the Thames, at Isis Lock. In the 1840s, the [[Great Western Railway]] and [[London and North Western Railway]] linked Oxford with London. In the 19th century, the controversy surrounding the [[Oxford Movement]] in the [[Anglican]] Church drew attention to the city as a focus of theological thought. [[Image:4516-Oxford-map-1510x1384.jpg|thumb|Map of Oxford (1904)]] Oxford's [[Oxford Town Hall|Town Hall]] was built by [[Henry Thomas Hare|Henry T. Hare]], the foundation stone was laid on [[6 July]] [[1893]] and opened by the future [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]] on [[12 May]] [[1897]]. The site has been the seat of [[local government]] since the Guild Hall of 1292 and though Oxford is a city and a [[Lord Mayor]]alty, it is still called by its traditional name of "[[Town Hall]]". By the early 20th century, Oxford was experiencing rapid industrial and population growth, with the printing and publishing industries becoming well established by the 1920s. Also during that decade, the economy and society of Oxford underwent a huge transformation as [[William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield|William Morris]] established the [[Morris Motor Company]] to mass produce cars in [[Cowley, Oxford|Cowley]], on the south-eastern edge of the city. By the early 1970s over 20,000 people worked in Cowley at the huge Morris Motors and [[Pressed Steel Fisher]] plants. By this time Oxford was a city of two halves: the university city to the west of [[Magdalen Bridge]] (from where students traditionally jump into the [[River Cherwell]] every [[May Day]] morning) and the car town to the east. This led to the witticism that "Oxford is the left bank of Cowley". Cowley suffered major job losses in the 1980s and 1990s during the decline of [[British Leyland]], but is now producing the successful [[New MINI]] for [[BMW]] on a smaller site. A large area of the original car manufacturing facility at Cowley was demolished in the 1990s and is now the site of a major business park.<ref>[http://www.oxford.gov.uk/business/oxford-business-park.cfm Oxford City Council].</ref> The influx of migrant labour to the car plants and hospitals, recent immigration from south-east Asia, and a large student population, have given Oxford a notable cosmopolitan character, especially in the [[Headington]] and [[Cowley Road]] areas with their many bars, cafes, restaurants, clubs, ethnic shops and fast food outlets. Oxford is one of the most diverse small cities in Britain with the most recent population estimates for 2005.<ref>[ONS Population Estimates 2005 http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/instanceSelection.do?JSAllowed=true&Function=&%24ph=60_61&CurrentPageId=61&step=2&datasetFamilyId=1809&instanceSelection=121810&Next.x=4&Next.y=4].</ref> showing that 27% of the population were from an ethnic minority group, including 16.2% from a non-white ethnic minority ethnic group (ONS). These figures do not take into account more recent international migration into the city, with over 10,000 people from overseas registering for National Insurance Numbers in Oxford between 2005/06 and 2006/07. <ref>[Department for Work and Pensions http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/nino_allocation.asp].</ref>. On [[6 May]] [[1954]], [[Roger Bannister]], as a 25 year old medical student, ran the first authenticated [[four-minute mile]] at the [[Iffley Road]] running track in Oxford. Oxford's second university, [[Oxford Brookes University]], formerly the Oxford School of Art, based on Headington Hill, was given its charter in 1991 and has been voted for the last five years the best new university in the UK. == Politics and governance == Many important and famous politicians and people in the political public eye were resident in Oxford, often due to their membership of the University. Most notably of recent times, this list includes [[Osama bin Laden]]<ref>Although Bin Laden was resident to attend a language course, rather than the University, see "Bin Laden's Oxford days", BBC News Online [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1595205.stm]</ref> {{#if:{{NAMESPACE}}|<!--null string-->|}} and [[Benazir Bhutto]]. ===Oxford City Council=== {{main|Oxford local elections}} Despite stereotypes of Oxford being a conservative city, there are no elected [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] on the city council, although two [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] councillors briefly sat as Conservatives during 2007-8. Since the [[UK local elections, 2004|2004 local elections]], the council has been in minority administration, first by councillors from the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], with the [[Liberal Democrats]] being the official opposition. In 2006 these roles were reversed, although two years later, the unpopularity of the Liberal Democrat administration led to the election once again of a minority Labour administration [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/38uc.stm]. With seven city councillors and five county councillors, Oxford has one of the highest [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] representation for a UK city. The [[Independent Working Class Association]] has two councillors, although their support is confined to a ward in the [[Blackbird Leys]] [[housing estate]] in the south east of the city. See [[Oxford Council election 2004]] for further information. Since 2002, elections have been held for Oxford City Council in even years, with each councillor serving a term of four years. Each [[electoral ward]] within Oxford is represented by two councillors, thus all wards elect one councillor at each election. Prior to 2002, the City Council was elected by thirds. ;Partisan Composition {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Labour !Lib Dem !Green !IWCA !Independent !Conservative !Source |- |2000 |21 |21 |7 |1 |0 |1 |[http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2002/local_elections/101.stm] |- |2002 |29 |15 |3 |1 |0 |0 |[http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2002/local_elections/101.stm] |- |2004 |20 |18 |7 |3 |0 |0 |[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2004/locals/html/3730.stm] |- |2006 |17 |19 |8 |4 |0 |0 |[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2006/locals/html/38uc.stm] |- |2008 |23 |16 |7 |2 |0 |0 |[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/38uc.stm] |- |} ;Partisan control *1974 &ndash; 1976: [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] *1976 &ndash; 1980: [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] *1980 &ndash; 2000: [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] *2000 &ndash; 2002: No overall control *2002 &ndash; 2004: [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] *2004 &ndash; ''Present'': No overall control ===Parliamentary representation=== [[Image:Hustings20050204 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|thumb|A pre-election [[husting]] at the [[Oxford West and Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford West and Abingdon]] constituency]] The two MPs are [[Andrew Smith (politician)|Andrew Smith]] from the [[Oxford East (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford East]] constituency, erstwhile Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the Labour government; and [[Evan Harris|Dr Evan Harris]] from the [[Oxford West and Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford West and Abingdon]] constituency, Liberal Democrat science spokesman. At the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]], Oxford East became a [[marginal constituency|marginal seat]] with a Labour majority over the Liberal Democrats of just 963. Oxford West and Abingdon is a [[safe seat]] for the Liberal Democrats with Dr Harris enjoying a majority of just under 8,000. ===Parishes=== Oxford has four [[civil parish]]es with parish councils &ndash; these are [[Blackbird Leys]], [[Littlemore]], [[Marston, Oxfordshire|Old Marston]] and [[Risinghurst and Sandhills]]. Littlemore, Marston and Risinghurst and Sandhills have only recently been brought within the city boundary. ==Geography== Oxford's latitude and longitude are {{coor at dms|51|45|07|N|1|15|28|W}} (at [[Carfax Tower]], which is usually considered the centre). === Wards, neighbourhoods, and suburbs === [[Image:Headingtonsharkfront.jpg|right|thumb|[[The Headington Shark]]]] * [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]] * [[Barton, Oxfordshire|Barton]] * [[Binsey, Oxfordshire|Binsey]] * [[Blackbird Leys]] * [[Botley, Oxfordshire|Botley]] * [[Cowley, Oxford|Cowley]] * [[Cowley Road|East Oxford]] * [[Cutteslowe]] * [[Donnington, Oxfordshire|Donnington]] * [[Grandpont]] * [[Headington]] * [[Iffley]] * [[Littlemore]] * [[Jericho, Oxford|Jericho]] * [[Marston, Oxfordshire|Marston]] * [[North Oxford]] * [[Northway, Oxford|Northway]] * [[Osney]] * [[Rose Hill, Oxford|Rose Hill]] * [[Risinghurst]] * [[Sandhills]] * [[St Ebbes]] * [[Summertown, Oxford|Summertown]] * [[Temple Cowley]] * [[Wolvercote]] * [[Waterways]] * [[Wood Farm, Oxford|Wood Farm]]<br clear=all> === Climate === [[Image:Broad Street in the Snow.JPG|thumb|Broad Street in the Snow (February 2007)]] Oxford has a Maritime Temperate climate ("Cfb" by [[Köppen classification]]). [[Precipitation]] is uniformally distributed throughout the year and is provided mostly by weather systems that arrive from the [[Atlantic]]. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Oxford was -16.6°C (2°F) in January 1982. The highest temperature ever recorded in Oxford is 35.6°C (96°F) in August 2003 during the [[2003 European heat wave]]. There is a field of thought that due to [[Climate change]], [[temperatures]] are increasing in Oxford, [[precipitation]] is decreasing in summer and increasing in winter. The average conditions below are from the Radcliffe Meteorological Station. It boasts the longest series of temperature and rainfall records for one site in Britain. These records are continuous from January, 1815. Irregular observations of rainfall, cloud and temperature exist from 1767<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/|title=Radcliffe Meteorological Station | accessmonthday = Mar 17 |accessyear =2008}}</ref>. <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> {{Infobox Weather |location = Oxford, UK |single_line =Yes |metric_first =Yes |Jan_Hi_°C = 6.8 |Feb_Hi_°C = 7.4 |Mar_Hi_°C = 10.1 |Apr_Hi_°C = 13.0 |May_Hi_°C = 16.7 |Jun_Hi_°C = 19.8 |Jul_Hi_°C = 21.7 |Aug_Hi_°C = 21.2 |Sep_Hi_°C = 18.5 |Oct_Hi_°C = 14.2 |Nov_Hi_°C = 9.8 |Dec_Hi_°C = 7.4 |Year_Hi_°C = 13.9 |Jan_Lo_°C = 1.4 |Feb_Lo_°C = 1.4 |Mar_Lo_°C = 2.5 |Apr_Lo_°C = 4.3 |May_Lo_°C = 7.2 |Jun_Lo_°C = 10.2 |Jul_Lo_°C = 12.2 |Aug_Lo_°C = 11.9 |Sep_Lo_°C = 9.8 |Oct_Lo_°C = 6.8 |Nov_Lo_°C = 3.8 |Dec_Lo_°C = 2.1 |Year_Lo_°C = 6.1 |Jan_Precip_cm = |Jan_Precip_mm = 52.6 |Feb_Precip_cm = |Feb_Precip_mm = 41.0 |Mar_Precip_cm = |Mar_Precip_mm = 41.1 |Apr_Precip_cm = |Apr_Precip_mm = 43.9 |May_Precip_cm = |May_Precip_mm = 50.6 |Jun_Precip_cm = |Jun_Precip_mm = 53.3 |Jul_Precip_cm = |Jul_Precip_mm = 59.5 |Aug_Precip_cm = |Aug_Precip_mm = 58.3 |Sep_Precip_cm = |Sep_Precip_mm = 60.3 |Oct_Precip_cm = |Oct_Precip_mm = 65.3 |Nov_Precip_cm = |Nov_Precip_mm = 61.8 |Dec_Precip_cm = |Dec_Precip_mm = 55.8 |Year_Precip_cm = |Year_Precip_mm = 643.5 |source =Radcliffe Meteorological Station ([[Nota bene|NB]]: Data from the period 1881-2004)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/summary.html|title=Summary of Long Period of Obsevations | accessmonthday = Mar 17 |accessyear =2008</ref>|accessdate = Mar 2008}} ==Economy== The Oxford suburb of [[Cowley, Oxford|Cowley]] has a long history of carmaking and now produces the [[BMW MINI]]. ===Brewing=== Morrells, the Oxford based [[regional brewery]] was founded in 1743 by Richard Tawney. He formed a partnership in 1782 with Mark and James Morrell, who eventually became the owners.<ref>[http://www.headington.org.uk/history/famous_people/morrellfamily.htm History of Headington, Oxford<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The brewery building, known as the "Lion Brewery", was located in St Thomas Street. It closed in 1998,<ref>[http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/1998/7/9/85120.html Morrells Brewery up for sale<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the beer [[brand]] names being taken over by the Thomas Hardy Burtonwood brewery.<ref>[http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/479 Morrells Brewery Ltd<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, while the 132 tied pubs were bought by "Morrells of Oxford"<ref>[http://www.pstalker.com/echo/f_45a.html Jericho Echo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, who sold the bulk of them on to [[Greene King]] in 2002<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/2051362.stm BBC NEWS | England | Brewer buys pub chain for £67m<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The Lion Brewery was converted into luxury apartments in 2002.<ref>[http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/2001/2/19/69009.html Brewery site plan nears final hurdle<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Commercial areas=== {{Cleanup-laundry|date=February 2008}} *[[Cornmarket Street]] *[[Queen Street, Oxford]] *[[High Street, Oxford|The High Street]] *[[Turl Street, Oxford|Turl Street]] *[[Little Clarendon Street]] *[[Broad Street, Oxford|Broad Street]] *[[The Covered Market]] *[[George Street, Oxford|George Street]] *[[Clarendon Shopping Centre]] *[[Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford|Westgate Shopping Centre]] *[[Golden Cross, Oxford|Golden Cross]] '''Outside the City Centre:''' *[[Iffley Road]], Oxford *[[Cowley Road, Oxford|Cowley Road]], Oxford *[[Templars Square]] Shopping Centre, Cowley, Oxford *[[St Clement's, Oxford|St. Clements]], Oxford *[[London Road]], Headington, Oxford *[[Banbury Road]], Summertown, Oxford *[[Walton Street, Oxford|Walton Street]], Jericho, Oxford *[[Botley Road]], Oxford *[[North Parade]], Oxford *[[Cowley Retail Park]], Cowley, Oxford ===Theatres and cinemas=== * [[Oxford Playhouse]], [[Beaumont Street]] * [[New Theatre Oxford|New Theatre]], [[George Street, Oxford|George Street]] * [[Burton Taylor Theatre]], Worcester Street * [[Old Fire Station Theatre]], [[George Street]] * [[Pegasus Theatre]], Magdalen Road * Ultimate Picture Palace, [[Cowley Road]] * Phoenix Picturehouse, [[Walton Street]] * [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]], [[George Street]] * [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]], [[Magdalen Street]] * [[Vue (cinema)|Vue Cinema]], Grenoble Road == Landmarks== {{main|List of attractions in Oxford}} [[Image:Oxford Skyline Panorama from St Mary's Church - Oct 2006.jpg|thumb|centre|500px|The Oxford skyline facing Christ Church to the south (Christ Church Cathedral on the left and Tom Tower on the right)]] Oxford has numerous major tourist attractions, many belonging to the university and colleges. As well as several famous institutions, the town centre is home to [[Carfax Tower]] and the [[University Church of St Mary the Virgin]], both of which offer views over the spires of the city. Many tourists shop at the historic [[Covered Market]]. In the summer [[Punt (boat)|punting]] on the [[The Isis|Thames/Isis]] and the [[River Cherwell|Cherwell]] is popular. ==Transport== ===Buses=== [[Image:ParkAndRideOxford20050129 CopyrightKaihsuTai.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A Stagecoach bus behind a Oxford Bus Company park-and-ride bus in Oxford.]] Oxford has 5 [[park and ride]] sites that service the city centre; * Pear Tree (Link to city centre with bus 300) * Water Eaton (Link to city centre with bus 500) * Thornhill (Link to city centre with bus 400) * Redbridge (Link to city centre with bus 400) * [[Seacourt]] (Link to city centre with bus 300) A service also runs to The John Radcliffe Hospital (from Thornhill/Water Eaton) as well as the Churchill and Nuffield Hospitals (from Thornhill). Standard bus services are provided by the [[Oxford Bus Company]] and [[Stagecoach Oxfordshire]]. Both companies also operate [[Oxford to London coach route|regular services to London]]. ===Rail=== [[Image:oxfordfront.jpg|thumb|right180px|Oxford railway station]] [[Oxford railway station]] is placed out of the city centre. The station is served by numerous routes, including [[CrossCountry]] services as far afield as [[Manchester]] and [[Edinburgh]], [[First Great Western]] (who operate the station) services to [[London]] and other destinations and occasional [[Chiltern Railways]] services to [[Birmingham]]. The present station opened in 1852. ===Roads=== ====A roads==== The city has a [[Oxford Ring Road|ring road]] that consists of the [[A34 road|A34]], the [[A40 road|A40]] and the [[A4142 road|A4142]]. It is mostly dual carriageway and was completed in 1966. The main roads that lead out of Oxford are: *[[A40 road|A40]]- which leads to [[London]] and [[High Wycombe]] (as well as the [[M40 motorway]] south) to the east, and [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucester]] and [[South Wales]] to the west. *[[A34 road|A34]]- which leads to [[Bicester]], the M40 north, [[Birmingham]] and [[Manchester]] to the north, and [[Didcot]], [[Newbury]] and [[Winchester]] to the south. The A34 is entirely [[grade separated]] dual carriageway all the way from Bicester to Winchester. *[[A44 road|A44]]- which begins in Oxford and leads to [[Worcester]], [[Hereford]] and [[Aberystwyth]]. *[[A420 road|A420]]- which also begins in Oxford and leads to [[Bristol]] passing [[Swindon]] and [[Chippenham]]. ====Motorways==== [[Image:M40 in Warwickshire Crop.jpg|thumb|left|The M40 Extension]] The city is served by the [[M40 motorway]], which connects [[London]] to [[Birmingham]]. The original M40 opened in 1974 went from London to [[Waterstock]] where the [[A40 road|A40]] continued to Oxford. However, when the M40 was extended to Birmingham in 1991, a mile of the old motorway became a spur and the new section bended away sharply north. Now the M40 does a large arc around Oxford (staying around {{convert|10|mi|km}} away from the centre) due to the woodland that the motorway had to avoid. The M40 meets the [[A34 road|A34]] a junction later, the latter now being in two parts, the A34 restarting in [[Birmingham]]. ==Education== There are two universities in Oxford; the [[University of Oxford]] and [[Oxford Brookes University]] as well as [[Ruskin College]], a [[normal university]]. Oxford is home to wide range of schools many of which receive pupils from around the world. Three are University choral foundations, established to educate the boy choristers of the chapel choirs, and have kept the tradition of single sex education. Examination results in state-run Oxford schools are consistently below the national average and regional average however results in the city are improving with 44% of pupils gaining 5 grades A*-C in 2006.<ref>Source: DfES Pupil Annual School Level Census 2006 see Neighbourhood Renewal Unit floor target results http://www.fti.neighbourhood.gov.uk/document.asp?id=123. </ref> == Media == As well as the [[BBC]] national radio stations, Oxford and the surrounding area has several local stations, including [[BBC Radio Oxford]], [[Fox FM (United Kingdom)|Fox FM]], [[Oxford's FM 107.9]],<ref>[http://www.fm1079.com/ Oxford's FM1079 - The Way I Are<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and new station JACK fm on 106.8 along with Oxide: Oxford Student Radio<ref>[http://www.oxideradio.co.uk/ Oxide Radio - Your Sound Education | Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (which went on terrestrial radio at 87.7 MHz FM in late May 2005). A local TV station, [[Six TV]]: The Oxford Channel is also available. The city is home to a [[BBC]] TV newsroom which produces an opt-out from the main ''[[South Today]]'' programme broadcast from [[Southampton]]. Popular local papers include ''[[The Oxford Times]]'' (compact; weekly), its sister papers ''The Oxford Mail'' (tabloid; daily) and ''The Oxford Star'' (tabloid; free and delivered), and ''Oxford Journal'' (tabloid; weekly free pick-up). Oxford is also home to several advertising agencies. ''[[Daily Information]]'' (known locally as Daily Info) is an events and advertising news sheet which has been published since 1964 and now provides a connected website. Recently (2003) DIY grassroots non-corporate media has begun to spread.<ref>[http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/oxford/ UK Indymedia - Oxford indymedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Independent and community newspapers include the ''Jericho Echo''<ref>[http://www.jerichoecho.org.uk Jericho Echo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and ''Oxford Prospect''.<ref>[http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk Oxford Prospect]</ref> ==Culture== {{Cleanup-laundry|date=February 2008}} ===Literature and film=== {{main|Literature in Oxford|List of films shot in Oxford}} Well-known Oxford-based authors include: * [[Oscar Wilde]] a nineteenth century poet and author who attended Oxford from 1874 to 1878. * [[Susan Cooper]] who is best known for her [[The Dark Is Rising Sequence]] * [[Lewis Carroll]] (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), [[Christ Church, Oxford#Governing Body|Student]] and Mathematical Lecturer of [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]]. * [[Colin Dexter]] who wrote and set his [[Inspector Morse]] [[detective novels]] in Oxford. Colin Dexter still lives in Oxford. * [[John Donaldson (author)|John Donaldson]] (d.1989), a poet resident in Oxford in later life. * [[Siobhan Dowd]] Oxford resident; who was an undergraduate at [[Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford]]. * [[Kenneth Graham]] educated at [[St. Edward's School, Oxford]] * [[J. I. M. Stewart|Michael Innes]] (J. I. M. Stewart), of [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]]. * [[P. D. James]] who lives part-time in Oxford. * [[T. E. Lawrence]], "Lawrence of Arabia", Oxford resident, undergraduate at [[Jesus College, Oxford|Jesus]], postgraduate at [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen]]. * [[C. S. Lewis]], Fellow of [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen]]. * [[Ian McEwan]], formerly an Oxford resident for many years. * [[Iris Murdoch]], Fellow of [[St Anne's College, Oxford|St Anne's]]. * [[Mike Philbin]], wrote his infamous Hertzan Chimera novels/stories in Oxford. * [[Iain Pears]], undergraduate at [[Wadham College]] and Oxford resident, whose novel ''[[An Instance of the Fingerpost]]'' is set in the city. * [[Philip Pullman]] who was an undergraduate at [[Exeter College, Oxford|Exeter]]. *[[Dorothy L. Sayers]] who was an undergraduate at [[Somerville College, Oxford|Somerville]]. * [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], undergraduate at [[Exeter College, Oxford|Exeter]] and later professor of English at [[Merton College, Oxford|Merton]]. * [[Richard Dawkins]] who is famous for such books as "The Selfish Gene" and "The God Delusion". Oxford appears in the following works: * ''[[Jude the Obscure]]'' (1895) by [[Thomas Hardy]] (in which Oxford is thinly disguised as "[[Christminster]]"). * ''[[Zuleika Dobson]]'' (1911) by [[Max Beerbohm]]. * ''[[Gaudy Night]]'' (1935) by [[Dorothy L. Sayers]]. * ''[[Brideshead Revisited]]'' (1945) by [[Evelyn Waugh]]. * ''[[A Question of Upbringing]]'' (1951 ) by [[Anthony Powell]] * ''[[Second Generation (1964 novel)]]'' by [[Raymond Williams]] * ''[[The Children of Men]]'' (1992) by [[P. D. James]]. * ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' (1995 onwards) by [[Philip Pullman]] * ''[[Endymion Spring]]'' (2006) by [[Matthew Skelton]] ==Sport== Oxford is considered to be an important centre of the sport of [[swimming]] in England.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} The [[Amateur Swimming Association]] was founded in 1869 in England, but it was much later, in 1909, that [[Oxford Swimming Club]] came into existence. In 1939 Oxford had its first major public indoor pool at Temple Cowley in the whole of [[England]]. After the pool was installed, swimming began to take off and soon Oxford Swimming Club became Oxford City Swimming Club, and [[Temple Cowley Pool]] was its home. Speedway racing has been staged on and off in Oxford since 1939 at Cowley Stadium. Most recently, it held Elite League Speedway and Conference League Speedway until 2007, when landlords Greyhound Racing Association apparently doubled the rent.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Speedway, for the time being, is not running in Oxford. Details of the 1949 and 1950 seasons at Cowley can be viewed on [http://www.oxfordspeedway.co.uk Oxford Speedway website]. Oxford is also home to [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], who are currently in the [[Conference National]], the highest tier of non-league football, but have seen great success in the past, mainly in winning the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] in the 80's and being one of the highest teams in the football league. ==Twinning== Oxford's [[Town twinning|twin cities]] are: *{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Bonn]], [[Germany]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Grenoble]], [[France]] *{{flagicon|Nicaragua}} [[León, Nicaragua|León]], [[Nicaragua]] *{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Leiden]], [[Netherlands]] *{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Perm]], [[Russia]] *{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Umeå]], [[Sweden]] All of these are university towns, except for *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Oxford, Michigan]], [[United States]] == See also == *[[Bishop of Oxford]] *[[Brill Tramway]] *[[Earl of Oxford]] *[[Oxfam]] *[[Oxford Union]] *[[Oxford United F.C.]] *[[Oxford City F.C.]] *[[Oxford Brookes University]] *[[Oxford comma]] *[[University of Oxford]] *[[Oxford bags]] *[[Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers]] ==Further reading== * ''Isolarion: A Different Oxford Journey'', James Attlee, 2007. ISBN 978-0226030937 *[http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/europe/articles/2008/06/22/history_learning_beauty_reign_over_oxford/ ''History, learning, beauty reign over Oxford''], Anne Gordon, [[The Boston Globe]], June 22, 2008 * ''Oxford'', [[Jan Morris]], 2001. ISBN 978-0192801364 == References == {{Refimprove|date=June 2007}} {{reflist}} ==External links== <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> <!--| DO NOT ADD MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF |--> <!--| LINKS. If you think that your link might be useful, do not add it here, |--> <!--| but put it on this article's discussion page first or submit your link |--> <!--| to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)|--> <!--| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. |--> <!--| |--> <!--| Links that have not been verified WILL BE DELETED. |--> <!--| See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details |--> <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> {{Commons|Oxford}} * [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/O/OX/OXFORD.htm Oxford] - [[1911 Encyclopædia Britannica]] article * [http://www.oxford.gov.uk/ Oxford City Council official website] * [http://www.seeoxford.com/ Virtual Tour of Oxford] * {{wikitravel}} * [http://oxford.openguides.org/ The Oxford Guide: an Open Guide to Oxford (wiki)] * [http://www.parkandride.net/oxford/html/oxford_frameset.html National Park and Ride Directory] * {{PDFlink|[http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/sheet/pdf/central_ox_map.pdf General Detailed Map of Central Oxford]|127&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 130166 bytes -->}} {{Oxfordshire}} {{SE_England}} {{UK cities}} [[Category:Settlements established in the 8th century]] [[Category:Cities in England]] [[Category:Oxford| ]] [[Category:Local government in Oxfordshire]] [[Category:County towns in England]] [[Category:University towns]] [[Category:Shire districts]] [[Category:History of Oxford|*Oxford]] [[Category:Tourism in Oxford|*Oxford]] [[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]] [[af:Oxford]] [[ar:أكسفورد]] [[an:Oxford]] [[bs:Oxford]] [[br:Oxford]] [[bg:Оксфорд]] [[ca:Oxford]] [[cs:Oxford]] [[cy:Rhydychen]] [[da:Oxford]] [[de:Oxford]] [[el:Οξφόρδη]] [[es:Oxford]] [[eo:Oksfordo]] [[eu:Oxford]] [[fa:آکسفورد]] [[fr:Oxford]] [[ga:Oxford]] [[gd:Àth nan Damh]] [[gl:Oxford]] [[ko:옥스퍼드]] [[hr:Oxford]] [[io:Oxford]] [[id:Oxford]] [[is:Oxford]] [[it:Oxford]] [[he:אוקספורד]] [[kw:Rysoghen]] [[la:Oxonia]] [[lv:Oksforda]] [[lb:Oxford]] [[lt:Oksfordas]] [[hu:Oxford]] [[nah:Oxford, Oxfordshire]] [[nl:Oxford (Verenigd Koninkrijk)]] [[ja:オックスフォード]] [[no:Oxford]] [[nn:Oxford]] [[nrm:Oxford]] [[oc:Oxford]] [[pl:Oksford]] [[pt:Oxford]] [[ro:Oxford]] [[qu:Oxford]] [[ru:Оксфорд]] [[se:Oxford]] [[scn:Oxford]] [[simple:Oxford]] [[sk:Oxford]] [[sl:Oxford]] [[sr:Оксфорд]] [[fi:Oxford]] [[sv:Oxford]] [[vi:Oxford]] [[tg:Оксфорд]] [[tr:Oxford]] [[uk:Оксфорд (місто)]] [[vo:Oxford]] [[bat-smg:Oksfuords]] [[zh:牛津市]]