Tourist attractions Abingdon

Blenheim Palace, the residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, is the greatest building of the English Baroque, matched in splendour by the sublime landscape of its vast park. A gift from Queen Anne Stuart to the Duke of Marlborough to mark his victory ..

This former hunting reserve planted with ancient trees is surrounded by a 15km deer-proof wall. Capability Brown got rid of the perfectly straight alleys and geometrical flowerbeds designed in the early 18C, but the original spirit of the park remain..

The largest and most majestic Oxford college, founded in 1525, is built around the vast «Tom Quad». The main gate built by Wren, «Tom Tower», the Tudor hall and the portrait gallery should not be missed.

The college, once St-John's hospital, was founded in 1456. The wall along the High Street dates from the 13 C. The chapel, bell-tower and cloister are late Perpendicular. The 46 m high bell-tower , is still, as James 1 said, «the most perfect struct..

The Bodleian Library, founded in the 14C and reconstructed in the 17C, is one of the richest libraries in the world with its almost five million books, manuscripts and maps. On the right-hand side of the courtyard stands the Tower of the Five Orders..

Built by CR Cockerell in a very free neo-Grecian style (1845), the Ashmolean developed from the collections of John Tradescant, the gardener at Hatfield House, and his son. Nowadays, the Ashmolean is a university museum housing rich and varied collec..

The 17C County Hall is quite interesting, it was designed by Christopher Kempster , who assisted Wren with the construction of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral.

Built in late Roman style with a 16 C roof, it was originally the priory church of St Frideswide, which explains why it is today the smallest cathedral in England. The 15 C starred choir vaulting is magnificent. Notice the window dating from c. 1..

It was founded and received its charter in 1427. The chapel, 1610-1631, in the second quad has Flemish stained glass of 17 C origin. Between the two quads are the two oak-panelled rooms where John Wesley, founder of Methodism, taught for 25 years. Th..

Founded in 1340, and rebuilt between 1671 and 1760, this is the only Oxford college in which the architectural styles have been harmonised. The Front Quadrangle , has cloisters on three sides and the hall and chapel on the fourth. The Classical cha..

The Sheldonian Theatre was the first classical building in Oxford (1664-1669), and the first architectural work of Wren . It houses official university ceremonies. The roof structure is an engineering masterpiece, even if the rest of the building ..

Founded in 1555, it stretches back from the original 16 C façade. The grounds were designed by Capability Brown . The front quad contains remains of the medieval St Bernard's college (1437), while the columns of Canterbury quad (1631-1636) give a to..

Today the contents of this natural history museum pale into insignificance beside the extraordinary building that contains them. The building is a cast iron neo-Gothic cathedral designed like a railway station, and decorated with delicate 19C stone c..

This anthropological collection is housed next to the natural history museum. It includes masks, musical instruments, jewellery, skulls, totems and armour, displayed by category rather than by country of origin, to show traditions that are common to ..

The view across the rooftops of Abingdon is dominated by the 15C spire of St Helen's Church , a wide building with 5 side aisles, almost entirely rebuilt in the 15C; note the 14C paintings on the ceiling of the north aisle and the delightful 15C ..

The main part of the church is in Decorated style and its masterpiece is undoubtedly the 6-opening Great East Window dating from 1340. In the north wall is the stained glass Jesse window , equally as spectacular, its tracery showing Christ's genea..

Founded in 1517, the gate (notice the fan vaulted ceiling) and entrance are early Tudor. The sundial in the centre of the quad was designed in 1581. The 16 C hall has a good original hammer-beam roof. The 16 C chapel has a retable (The Adorat..

The 14 C tower is all that remains of St-Martin's church, the centre of the Saxon and Medieval town. From the top of the tower, enjoy a superb view of the High Street.

Founded in 1326, it was entirely rebuilt between 1642 and 1649 in Jacobean style. A second quad was added in the 18 C. The library is by James Wyatt.

Founded in 1264, its buildings are the oldest and most surprising in Oxford. The oldest quad, Mob Quad , is 14 C, a perfect square opening onto the library (1371-1378), the first in the kingdom to display books on shelves. The adjoining chapel (..