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The
Heart of England stretches across the south central area
of the country from the Cotswolds in the west to the flat
fens of East Anglia. Along the way it takes in some of the
prettiest countryside in England, a patchwork of green fields
and small villages, though nowadays the scene is punctuated
with commuter towns that serve the sprawl of Greater London.
A good central location from which to explore the Heart
of England is the university town of Oxford.
The
history of Oxford is twined around the growth of Oxford
University, though Oxford citizens had what could charitably
be described as a love/hate relationship (little of the
former and a heaping helping of the latter) with the students
who have flocked to the Oxford University colleges since
at least the 12th century.
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Christ
Church College
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Oxford
University is not a homogenous whole, rather it is a collection
of independently founded colleges, each with its own history
and its own administration. Christ
Church is the largest of the Oxford University colleges.
Its grandeur owes much to the pride of one man, its founder,
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Tradition has it that Brasenose
College takes its unusual name from its original 13th
century door knocker (now in the college dining room), shaped
like a snout, or nose. Most colleges can be visited at certain
times of day, and when school is not in session.
The
circular dome and drum of the Radcliffe
Camera is one of the most distinctive landmarks in a
city full of distinctive buildings. Facing the Camera is
St.
Mary's church, where a stiff climb to the top of the
tower provides superb views across this "city of dreaming
spires".
To
the south west of Oxford lies the Vale
of the White Horse, named for the striking figure of
a horse carved into the chalk hillside below the prehistoric
fort of Uffington Castle. The horse was probably the work
of Iron Age Celts about 700 BC, though it may be even older.
A short distance away is Wayland's Smithy, one of the finest
chambered tombs in England.
Of
more recent vintage is Blenheim
Palace, built in extravagant Baroque style for Sir John
Churchill as a gift of thanks by Queen Anne for his military
victories. Blenheim is ornate beyond belief, but the most
famous room at the palace is a simple one just off the main
entrance, where Sir Winston Churchill was born. There is
a permanent exhibit detailing Churchill's life and times.
If
you follow the twists and turns of the River Thames east
from Oxford, past pretty villages like Clifton Hampden and
Goring, you come to Henley-on-Thames, home of the most prestigious
rowing regatta in the world. Every year the cream of English
society flock to Henley to see and be seen. For those more
interested in the sport, the regatta museum traces the history
of this traditional highlight of the social and sporting
calendar.
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Windsor
Castle from Windsor Great Park
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Further
east still is Runnymede, where King John reluctantly signed
the Magna Carta into law in 1215. For still more royal connections,
visit Windsor
Castle, official residence of English monarchs since
the Middle Ages. Highlights include the magnificent St.
George's Chapel and the State Apartments. Within the grounds
of Windsor Great Park is Savill Gardens, 35 acres of woodland
boasting wonderfully colourful displays in spring and summer,
and across the river is Eton, home to the most prestigious
public school in Britain.
North
west from Oxford lies Warwick, where Warwick
Castle has been called the most perfect example of a
Medieval Castle in England. A little further west is Stratford-on-Avon,
birthplace of William Shakespeare. Stratford preserves a
number of historic buildings associated with The Bard's
life, including the school he attended and the lovely cottage
where his wife, Anne Hathaway, lived before their marriage.
The Royal Shakespeare Company gives regular performances
of Shakespeare's classic plays from the modern Theatre in
Stratford.
For
more in depth information about the Heart of England:
Attractions Map
Oxford Guide
Vale
of the White Horse
William
Shakespeare Biography
Tourist Information
Centres
Web links
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Britain
Express Virtual Tour of England
