Student Accommodation

Oxford

University of Oxford

The oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford has been providing the highest levels of teaching since 1096. It is rich with history, seen on every corner. In fact, the blackboard that Albert Einstein used when lecturing at the university is still in place at The History of Science Museum (including the equations he wrote on it!).

The University of Oxford is world-renowned as a centre of educational excellence. It is famous for its exceptional teaching, the standard of research available, and the learning opportunities and advantages that it has offered students over its long and important history.

Students at the University of Oxford enjoy personalized, tutorial teaching with experts in specific subject fields, and live and work within college communities (there are 39 colleges within the University) that provide a truly safe and supportive learning environment.

The Bodleian Library

As you would expect from such a high-quality learning establishment students have access to some of the finest library and study spaces anywhere. There are over 100 libraries in total, which places it firmly at the top, as the largest library system in the UK.

The Bodleian Library is a legal deposit library, which means that it can request a copy (both print and digital) of any item that has been published in the UK or Ireland. As a student in Oxford, you might never actually need to purchase a book in your entire time there. Radcliffe Camera (the Rad Cam), is known for being somewhere you can meet new people, whilst The Upper Gladstone Link is the relaxed library in town, with large, comfortable sofas and study areas that allow for some relaxation between hard work sessions. Codrington Library at All Souls College on the other hand is a members’ club, and your tutor must endorse your application.

The Students’ Union

The Students’ Union has a wide range of student-led work available, including in-house student media positions and an extensive volunteering network. The SU is a place you can come to study, for meetings, find free advice on a wide range of issues, and even get your bike fixed (Oxford is a town that is well-known as being cycle-friendly).

Your Oxford student accommodation is also well placed for one of the highest-ranked modern universities in the UK, in Oxford Brookes. It has a reputation as a university with plenty of exciting student opportunities, international students, excellent teaching provisions, and strong links with industry on a local, national, and international level. The emphasis at Oxford Brookes is for students to gain direct learning opportunities through innovative course provision and industry links.

Oxford Brookes

Oxford Brookes was initially Oxford School of Art when it was founded in 1865, before later joining with the School of Science and eventually renamed Oxford City Technical College in 1891. After various iterations, Oxford Brookes became a university in 1992.

Career Advice

Combined, there are over 400,000 physical books and journals at the university’s libraries, alongside 25,000 online resources. As such emphasis is placed on hands-on experience it is no surprise that there is stellar career advice at Oxford Brookes. This includes one-to-one career consultations, help searching for part-time and graduate jobs, employability training, and interview advice. There is also an extensive industry network to take advantage of and to sign up for work placements.

Societies for Students

The students’ union provides over 100 societies for students to explore, hosting a wide range of events throughout the year, and it runs a Safety Bus to help students travel safely around the city at night when they are stuck without transport.

The Best Student Cheap Eats

You’ll never go hungry as a student in Oxford. It can be a little expensive in this city when considering everyday life, and it is important that when you first move into your new Oxford student accommodation, that you get to grips with the different food options, find the best student cheap eats, and discover the cuisine that you like. There is certainly plenty on offer in this diverse city.

Cheap Student Meals

Don’t worry, although at our comfortable student accommodation in Oxford you’ll have a great kitchen to cook some cheap student meals (you know, the stereotypical beans on toast that generations of students have survived on!), we can help you find some great places to eat without breaking the bank.

Falafel House on the corner of Gloucester Green is one of the best examples of great and cheap student eats in Oxford. You can get something incredibly tasty for under £3, including the tortilla wrap packed full of fresh falafel, hummus, spinach, halloumi, and tahini. It’s a great way to recharge your batteries.

If you are looking for fantastic South Indian cooking, Dosa Park is the place to turn. Serving up cheap and authentic dosas, idlis, thalis, and a wide range of curry and rice, head on over to Park End Street and fill your boots for under a tenner.

Independent Dining

With any type of cuisine, you can think of Oxford has some fantastic examples of independent dining, and for classic Italian trattoria head on over to Buongiorno E Buonasera. The prices are relatively cheap, it has an ultra-relaxed vibe, and the stone-baked pizzas are incredible.

Hidden away between Magdalen Street and Gloucester Green the White Rabbit is a traditional pub serving up some of the best pizza in the city (actually some of the best pizza you’ll find anywhere). You can’t book here, so be sure to get down early when you fancy it, with the pizzas always a decent price. Take a look at the lunchtime deals on offer though, the ‘paninis’ can be bought for under a fiver and are basically a pizza folded in half and stuffed with your choice of filling – incredible stuff! Another cheap daytime food option in Oxford is Will’s Deli, selling sweet potato curry, goulash, a range of salads, chicken porcini, and much more for anywhere between £4 and £7 at lunch.

Fast Food

What about at night though? There are some incredibly tasty options for you to consider after a night out, or as a break before heading on to a big night out after the pub. Express Pizza in Gloucester Green is a hole-in-the-wall pizza place selling £1 slices of whole pizzas for £6.99 up until midnight. They also have branches on Fleet Road and in Cowley. The best thing about late-night food as a student in Oxford though is that you’ll find chip vans at all times of night service cheesy chips, burgers and kebabs, and greasy treats to soak up the alcohol after a night out.

Great Nightlife on Offer

There are so many hidden gems in Oxford on a night out. Whether you are looking for a traditional old pub, a student night out, or a club, you’re Oxford student accommodation is the perfect base from which to explore the great nightlife on offer in this fine city. One of the biggest pubs in Oxford, and one of the most central is the King’s Arms. The KA is open later than most other pubs in town, and can often be seen as the home of some of the more well-spoken, louder students in town. It is the favourite watering hole of the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS).

Another firm favourite for students, locals, and tourists alike is the ‘Turf’. The Turf Tavern is hidden away up a narrow and winding alley that begins at the Bridge of Sighs. It is famous for its range of ciders and is the place to go after study and definitely to celebrate after graduation.

Rose & Crown

If you are looking for something a little bit out of the way, the Rose & Crown is just a short 15-minute walk up Banbury Road. It offers some of the finest pub grub in the area, and is known as a friendly and welcoming place where you can expect to sit down with the landlord and staff and have a few beers and a chat about anything and everything.

Moving on to bars and the Duke of Cambridge is a place where you can sit with a cocktail in hand and feel very grand (without having to pay extortionate prices if you go at the right time). Visit during happy hour between 4pm and 9pm during the week, and between 4pm and 7.30pm at weekends and drink great cocktails for under a fiver. Another great place to hang out is the underground bar at the Oxford Union. Purple Turtle is so cheap, and is a fantastic place to have some drinks before heading out into town. Cellar Club nearby is another treat.

Nightclubs and Bars

For clubs, Oxford has some great student nights to explore. Each college tends to have a specific club to call its own on a unique night of the week. Fever is a club that’s worth visiting for its reputation as one of the worst nightclubs in Britain alone! As there are not a large number of nightclubs in town you will probably end up in here at some point and you can have a laugh with your mates despite its reputation. JTs Cocktail Bar is both bar and nightclub, but it is definitely a place that is better served as a bar, where you can get relatively cheap drinks before heading out to a better club.

Go Clubbing

For proper clubbing try out Bridge Thursdays at, well, The Bridge on Hythe Bridge Street. It is probably the best night out of the week and is really popular. You’re always likely to bump into someone you know at The Bridge.

The Cellar (previously mentioned) is an alternative club that can provide some of the best nights out you’ll have as a student in Oxford, and some of the sweatiest too! Tuesdays and Wednesdays are popular nights, as they play a range of music, from the garage to 80s pop classics. It’s a great place to switch your mind off and have a great time – you never get a phone signal down there. Another great club option is Plush, which is Oxford’s only gay club. It is open to all and is host to Haute Mess, the drag night each term where drag performers from across the university perform.

College Sports Teams

At the University of Oxford students have access to over 80 sports clubs. On top of that they can also choose to join any number of college sports teams and take up recreational activities. Oxford is a town that is great for those who like to cycle, with plenty of opportunities to cycle everyday as you go about your life in the city. It is certainly a pleasant city to walk and cycle around, with plenty of sights to see and a pleasant environment right from your base at our Oxford student accommodation.

Within many of the colleges you’ll find sports pitches and facilities to take advantage of, whilst the main hub of activity at Oxford University Sport on Iffley Road has a swimming pool, sports hall, racket sports courts, gym, and is also the location of the running track where Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. Over at Oxford Brookes University there are plenty of sports club and team opportunities also, with the university actually coming in at number one for rowing at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Regatta in 2017!

The Varsity Matches

The beauty of sport when living in any university town is that if you want to take part you can do so. It doesn’t matter whether you want to take up running to stay fit and healthy, to join a team sport to make new friends, or play competitively, you’ll find what you are looking for.

When it comes to sport at Oxford however, there is the added competitive edge of Varsity Matches against rival Cambridge. This has been an annual state of affairs since 1827, and those representing Oxford in major sports are awarded Blues (with half-Blues awarded to those representing Oxford in minor sports).

Rowing Culture

The most iconic of sports at Oxford is rowing, with many students trying it out in their first year. There is a rowing culture in many of the colleges in town, but remember that to train you’ll be getting up very, very early (so be prepared for 6am runs down to the Isis). There are many different races and aspects to rowing at Oxford, with the world-renowned Boat Race on the Thames every April the pinnacle of the sport for many.

English Football

Football is another major sport and The Varsity Match is the oldest regular football match in the entire world, as it has been played every year since 1873 (apart from during the wars). It has even been played at some top venues, including Selhurst Park, The Hive, and Craven Cottage. If you fancy watching some football during your time living in Oxford head on over to the Kassam Stadium to watch the U’s take on their competitors in League One (the third tier of professional English football).

Rugby

Rugby is also an important part of university life, with the Varsity Matches bringing in up to 15,000 spectators at the home of English rugby at Twickenham. It often includes current or former professional players who happen to be studying at the universities at the time. Other big sports at Oxford include hockey and croquet.

Good Value Supermarkets

When you first move into your new Oxford student accommodation you’ll want to get to grips with the shopping situation as soon as possible. There are plenty of shops and good value supermarkets close by, so you’ll never starve, but Oxford is home to a plethora of exciting and vibrant markets, shops, independent boutiques, as well as your go to high street brands and big name stores.

For your main shopping areas and high street brands, Queen Street, Westgate Shopping Centre, and Cornmarket Street are the areas to visit. You’ll find all the brands you know and love in these areas, with the Westgate Shopping Centre a particular delight after years of refurbishment.

High Street Rabbit Holes

There is more to shopping in Oxford than just the big name brands though. On the High Street you’ll find a fantastic rabbit-hole of an antiques centre with over 25 dealers selling books, prints, collectables, and jewellery. Across the Magdalen Bridge onto Cowley Road you’ll find plenty of stores to explore, suitable for all budgets. Indigo is one such place, selling ethically sourced clothing, whilst Vanilla at Summertown is full of colourful clothes, accessories, and homewares.

Gloucester Green Market

Markets are a great way to get to know a new city, and there are plenty in Oxford. On Gloucester Green you can find some great street food, local vegetables and fruit, and many other delights at the market on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The farmers market on a Wednesday is the best bet to find some cheap produce to cook with at home. The covered market is an 18th-century treat, with access from High Street, Golden Cross, or Market Street. Inside you’ll find a treasure trove of local suppliers, butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg stalls, little boutique stores selling vintage clothing and traditional gifts and arts and crafts.

The Oldest Museum in The Uk

For history, art, and culture, there are few better places in the entire country than Oxford. From your home at our comfortable Oxford student accommodation you’ll be just a short walk from some interesting and exquisite attractions and events throughout the year.

The Ashmolean is the oldest museum in the UK, and has a permanent collection of art and archaeology that is astounding (including Guy Fawke’s lantern in the British collection). It also hosts some brilliant art exhibitions throughout the year.

The Museum of Natural History on Parks Road is another fantastic museum, home to some amazing dinosaur artefacts and information, whilst Pitt Rivers Museum is a famous collection of ethnographic and archaeological objects from around the globe.

Fantastic Calm Sanctuaries

The city is stunning, providing many pleasant walks. Visit The Botanic Gardens opposite Magdalen College to find a spot of calm just away from the hustle of modern-day life and studies. If you fancy getting away from the stresses of the day why not head to the river to take part in Punting. You can choose to do it on your own, or hire someone to punt for you, allowing you ample time to enjoy the scenery with a drink and a picnic. Port Meadow is another fantastic calm sanctuary, just a short walk away from the city centre.

Debate Society

At the Oxford Union you can tap into one of the world’s most prestigious debating societies. It invites the highest level of guest speakers from all areas of culture, politics, history, entertainment, and society, and has over 200 years history of debate and discussion.

May Morning

Big annual events in the city include Cowley Road Carnival in July, which offers street food, music, drink, and entertainment. Oxford Literary Festival in March and April attracts some of the leading figures in the industry, whilst St. Giles’ Fair in September is an exciting time with a fair and rides, food stalls, and large crowds of locals and students.

May Morning is a 500-year old tradition where the Magdalen College choir sine two hymns at 6am on May 1st, always attracting a large crowd of people (many of whom have stayed up all night to witness the dawn chorus). Most year’s students will jump from the bridge into the river.