Voted top UK city for culture by the Conde Naste Reader's Travel Awards 2007, Oxford has art, music and culture in abundance.
The world-famous University museums: the Ashmolean Museum (re-opens November 2009), Museum of the History of Science, Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum (said to have inspired the shops in Diagon Alley – re-opening spring 2009) are home to unrivalled collections. The Ashmolean Museum is the oldest public museum in the world, established in 1683. Christ Church Picture Gallery, displaying the Old Master paintings, drawings and prints is itself in an award-winning modern builing – hidden beneath Christ Church’s prestigious quadrangle.
Alongside these historic museums are a range of cutting edge contemporary galleries such as Modern Art Oxford, OVADA and the O3 Gallery - hosting exhibitions of work by international artists as well as local Oxfordshire- based ones. During Artweeks (2-25 May) the whole city comes alive as artists open their studios and homes to the public.
Oxford also offers a host of entertainment from theatre to college concerts. Theatres include the New Theatre, the Oxford Playhouse, the Burton Taylor Theatre and Pegasus Theatre which specialises in young people’s theatre. The Sheldonian Theatre and the Jaqueline du Pre Building offer various recitals and concerts by Oxford Philomusica or Oxford Contemporary Music, among others. The Holywell Music Room (the first purpose-built music room in Europe)is the frequent setting for Sunday morning Coffee Concerts. The North Wall is another arts centre to watch, as is the Theatre in Headington.
Oxford’s three choir schools at New College Magdalen College and Christ Church Cathedral continue the British choral tradition to international standards. Be sure to catch Evensong in one of these colleges – open to the public and a unique experience.
Watch out for free lunchtime concerts at St Michael at the Northgate – and organ recitals in the Town Hall and college chapels – after all, almost every college has its own organ scholar(s).
Oxford has strong links with Shakespeare in 1593, Shakespeare's players are thought to have performed "Hamlet" at the Golden Cross in Oxford en route between London and Stratford-upon-Avon. During the summer months there are often performances of Shakespeare in college gardens, parks and open spaces by the Oxford Shakespeare Company and the locally-based Creation Theatre Company. Creation Theatre Company continue performances through the winter with performances in the ornate setting of the mirrored Spiegel Tent, in the grounds of BMW Group Plant Oxford at Cowley.
The annual Oxford Literary Festival brings famous celebrities to the city for book signings and talks in spring.
For more up-to-the minute music check out O2 Academy the leading music venue on the Cowley Road (the setting for local band Radiohead’s video, ‘Creep’ ) and other nights spots such as The Jericho Tavern. Folk and jazz music also figure largely in Oxford – look out for the broadsheet Daily Information (available in most pubs and restaurants) or website to catch the latest gigs.
