Oxford, Part Two
Continued from Oxford, Part One
Tom Tower and Tom Quad at Christ Church
Once you’ve eaten and shopped your way out of Covered Market the walking tour will have you continue on towards St. Martin’s Tower. The locals refer to this monument as Carfax Tower. From here you will head to one of the most popular locations, Christ Church Cathedral and College. The current popularity stems from the fact that various parts of Christ Church were the inspiration for, or actual film locations, for the Harry Potter series. You’ll first pass by Tom Tower, created by the famed English architect Sir Christopher Michael Wren, as you make your way to the entrance to the Christ Church Meadow. The path to the Christ Church Meadow is through the War Memorial Garden. After exiting the War Memorial Garden to your left will be the public entrance to buy tickets into Christ Church.
Turf Tavern
Your ticket gains you access into the Tom Quad, The Great Hall, and the Cathedral. Harry Potter fans will recognize The Great Hall as the inspiration for the dining hall at Hogwarts. Once inside the Cathedral you will want to pick up their pamphlet, “A Brief Tour of the Cathedral”, as it highlights the main points of interest inside the Cathedral. Once done inside take a moment in Tom Quad to soak in your surroundings and breathe in the same air as the Oxford intelligentsia. After Christ Church the walking tour takes you past the Botanic Gardens, which has its own admissions price. You will see other colleges such as Corpus Christ, Merton, and Magdalen. On New College Lane you will see a bridge that connects two parts of Hertford College. This bridge is known as the Bridge of Sighs, a reference to the bridge of the same name in Venice.
Lamb and Flag Passage
At this point in your journey you may have a hankering for a pint or pub food. Near the Bridge of Sighs is the famous Turf Tavern, which offers a self-described “education in intoxication”. On a sign by the tavern are the words “If you’ve been to Oxford before, without visiting the Turf, then you haven’t really visited Oxford”. Even famous people have visited the Turf Tavern such as Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Thatcher, and Ben Kingsley. The Turf Tavern boasts high quality cask ales fresh from the tap. If available be sure to try a pint of the Damson Porter, a smooth on the palate dark beer. If the pub fare at Turf Tavern doesn’t pique your interest head to nearby Holywell Street and The Alternative Tuck Shop. At The Alternative Tuck Shop sandwiches are made to order for takeaway. The chicken tikka with mango chutney on a baguette isn’t spicy but cool and refreshing.
Peek Kai Tod Kraiem at Chiang Mai Kitchen
From Holywell Street you will resume your walking tour on Parks Road. You will pass by Wadham College, University Museum, Pitt Rivers Museum of Ethnology, and Keble College. From there the tour will take you through the Lamb and Flag Passage, a tranquil passageway that is charming. Try to capture a peaceful moment in this section of Oxford. If time permits before leaving Oxford you can head back near Covered Market, to the pedestrian zone on Cornmarket Street. Here you can spend time at a coffee shop or explore such stores as H&M, Moss, or Zara. If you decide to have dinner in Oxford try Chiang Mai Kitchen. This authentic Thai restaurant serves up delicious dishes such as Peek Kai Tod Kraiem. Peek Kai Tod Kraiem is a plate of chicken wings fried and slathered with a Thai sweet and spicy sauce. Traditional dishes of Pad Thai and Thai Curry are tasty. At this point your day in Oxford is over and you will walk back to the train station and onwards to your next destination.
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 |  Oxford, Part One University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part One Oxford Railway Station, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part One Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part One Martyrs Memorial, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part One Radcliffe Camera, Radcliffe Square, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part One The Covered Market Oxford, Market Street, Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Oxford, Part Two Christ Church, Saint Aldate's, Oxford, UK |
| Oxford, Part Two Bridge of Sighs, New College Lane, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part Two The Turf Tavern, Bath Place, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part Two The Alternative Tuck Shop, Holywell Street, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part Two Lamb and Flag Passage, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part Two Cornmarket Street, Oxford, United Kingdom |
 | Oxford, Part Two Chiang Mai Kitchen Ltd, High Street, Oxford, United Kingdom |
