So as well as (finally) blogging about my visits to Kew Gardens, I'll also be putting together a series of posts throughout this year to sing the praises of beautiful Oxford. I hope you'll enjoy them!
Let's start with one of my favourite colleges: Magdalen (pronounced "Maudlin").
Magdalen College was founded in 1458 which sounds like a ridiculously long time ago but was actually a couple of centuries after the first of Oxford's colleges were founded!
It can be a slightly surreal and really quite humbling experiece to visit places like this and to stop and think about all the people who have stood in that same spot over the years, enjoying much the same views as you are now.
You can read about the College's history here, and about the College buildings here. I particularly loved the cloisters, of course, but also found myself very charmed by this gate.
As always when visiting Oxford's colleges, you can't help but appreciate the grandness of the architecture, the views across quads and courtyards, and the way buildings of different ages nestle up against each other.
It's always worth taking the time to pay attention to the small things, too. To look closely at craftsmanship and decorative details, to look up at gargoyles and carved ceilings or down at intricate tiles or beautifully weathered paving slabs.
I especially loved these angels...
... and that lock! What a thing of beauty.
Magdalen is open to visitors regularly throughout the year, there is an admission charge but you may be able to visit it for free during the annual Oxford Open Doors heritage festival held in September (I adore Oxford Open Doors!).
Want more Oxford pics? You can read about a spring visit of mine to the city here and here, and a summer day trip here. All my Oxford-related posts can be found here.
7 comments:
I totally enjoy these posts! Beautiful pictures, a grand place!
I've been to Oxford once many years ago and I will always remember that day .Thank you for the nice pictures and the info about Magdalen college .Tina
bairozan - Thank you! I'm loving looking back through my photos of Oxford to prepare these blog posts :)
Tina - Oxford is definitely a memorable place! I hope this series sparks lots of happy memories for you xx
Beautiful photos... making me feel quite homesick as I grew up in Oxford!
Sarah - oh gosh, you must miss it a lot, but what a lovely place to grown up! :)
There's a lovely walk you can do from Magdalen through the gardens and round the grounds. One of my favourites when I was a student in Oxford.
Ooh, that sounds delightful, Emma!
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