If you are a Tolkien fan, there is a good chance that you share his interest in nature. Tolkien was a lover of trees. Just like Elven queen Galadriel called the gardener hobbit Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings a lover of trees.

The sun is just about starting to peak through the clouds and, as we all know, there’s nothing better on a sunny day than to loaf about in a park with a picnic and a Frisbee, or just wander about among the flowers and trees enjoying nature’s finest delights. But how can this be done […]

Oxford’s dreaming spires is perhaps unparalleled in its rich literary history, having been the inspiration behind many volumes of fiction and poetry over the centuries. From Shelley to Pullman. It continues to feature as both the film and literary settings to many contemporary works, such as JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. If you have some […]

1. The City of Dreaming Spires You’ve probably heard Oxford being referred to as “The City of Dreaming Spires”, which befits the town perfectly. Indeed the phrase was referenced in The Faces’ “Itchycoo Park” back in the 1960s. But the phrase was originally coined by Oxford Poet, Matthew Arnold in his 1865 poem “Thyrsis”: “And […]

Discover educational workshops, thrilling boat rides, and delightful storytelling sessions that bring Oxford’s rich history and culture to life.