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{{Short description|City and district in Oxfordshire, England}}
{{hatnote|This article is about the city in England. For the university, see [[University of Oxford]]. For other uses, see [[Oxford (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Oxford
| settlement_type = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] and [[non-metropolitan district]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple images
 |perrow = 2/2/2
 |border = infobox
 |total_width = 300
 |image1 = Museum of Oxford (5652685943).jpg
 |caption1 = [[Oxford Town Hall|Town Hall]]
 |image2 = Bridge of Sighs with Lampost, Oxford, July 25, 2023.jpg
 |caption2 = [[Bridge of Sighs, Oxford|Bridge of Sighs]]
 |image3 = Cathedral oxford.jpg
 |caption3 = [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford|Cathedral]]
 |image4 = Clarendon Building, Oxford, England - May 2010.jpg
 |caption4 = [[Clarendon Building]]
 |image5 = Sheldonian Theatre Oxford 2023 03.jpg
 |caption5 = [[Sheldonian Theatre]]
 |image6 = Radcliffe Camera, Oxford - Oct 2006.jpg
 |caption6 = [[Radcliffe Camera]]

 }}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms for the City of Oxford.svg
| shield_size        = 170
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = Coat of arms of Oxford
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = City of dreaming spires
| motto = {{force singular}} {{langx |la|Fortis est veritas |translation=the truth is strong}}
| image_map          = Oxford UK locator map.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Oxford shown within [[Oxfordshire]]
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|51|45|7|N|1|15|28|W|region:GB_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[South East England|South East]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Non-metropolitan county|County]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Oxfordshire]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 8th century
| established_title1 = City status
| established_date1  = 1542
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = Administrative HQ
| seat               = [[Oxford Town Hall]]
| parts_type         = 
| parts              = <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/oxford-councillors |title=Councillors |website=Oxford City Council |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| governing_body     = [[Oxford City Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Executive arrangements|Executive]]
| leader_name        = [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|Leader and cabinet]]
| leader_title1      = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1       = {{English district control|GSS=E07000178}}
| leader_title2      = [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|Leader]]
| leader_name2       = Susan Brown ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title3      = [[List of mayors of Oxford|Lord Mayor]]
| leader_name3       = Mike Rowley
| leader_title4      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| leader_name4       = {{Unbulleted list
 | [[Anneliese Dodds]] ([[Labour and Co-operative Party|L]]) <!-- Oxford East constituency -->
 | [[Layla Moran]] ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|LD]])<!-- Oxford West and Abingdon constituency -->
 }}
<!-- Area -->| total_type         = <!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{United Kingdom district population citation|area}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{English district area|GSS=E07000178}}
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E07000178}}]]
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats">{{United Kingdom district population citation}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{English district population|GSS=E07000178}}
| population_rank    = [[List of English districts by population|{{English district rank|GSS=E07000178}}]]
| population_density_km2 = {{English district density|GSS=E07000178}}
| population_demonym = Oxonian
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000178|title=Oxford Local Authority|access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 70.7% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 15.4% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 5.6% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 4.7% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 3.7% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 39.0% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 38.1% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 8.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 1.6% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.7% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.7% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.4% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.9% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 9.9% not stated
 }}
| timezone1          = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1        = +0
| timezone1_DST      = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +1
<!-- Codes -->| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code        = [[OX postcode area|OX]]1–4
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code          = 01865
| iso_code           = 
| blank1_name        = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info        = E07000178
| website            = {{URL|oxford.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Oxford''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɒ|k|s|f|ər|d|audio=En-uk-Oxford.ogg}}<!-- See [[MOS:RHOTIC]] and [[Help:IPA/English#Dialect variation]] for why the pronunciation is presented in this way. -->)<ref>{{cite book |editor=[[Clive Upton|Upton, Clive]] |title=The Oxford Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford, England |isbn=978-0-19-863156-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary00upto/page/734 734] |display-editors=etal |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary00upto/page/734 }}</ref><ref>Dictionary.com, "oxford" in Dictionary.com Unabridged. Source location: Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/oxford {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623104138/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Oxford |date=23 June 2012 }}. Available: http://dictionary.reference.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520140539/http://dictionary.reference.com/ |date=20 May 2015 }}. Accessed: 4 July 2012.</ref> is a [[City status in the United Kingdom|cathedral city]] and [[non-metropolitan district]] in [[Oxfordshire]], England, of which it is the county town.

The city is home to the [[University of Oxford]], the [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation|oldest university]] in the [[English-speaking world]];<ref>{{harvnb|Sager|2005|p=36}}.</ref> it has buildings in every style of [[Architecture of England|English architecture]] since late [[History of Anglo-Saxon England|Anglo-Saxon]]. Oxford's industries include motor manufacturing, education, publishing, science, and information technologies.

Founded in the 8th century, it was granted city status in 1542. The city is located at the confluence of the rivers [[Thames]] (locally known as [[the Isis]]) and [[River Cherwell|Cherwell]]. It had a population of {{English district population|GSS=E07000178}} in {{English statistics year}}.<ref name="popstats" /> It is {{convert|56|mi}} north-west of [[London]], {{convert|64|mi}} south-east of [[Birmingham]] and {{convert|61|mi}} north-east of [[Bristol]].

==History==
{{main|History of Oxford}}
{{For timeline}}
The history of Oxford in England dates back to its original settlement in the [[History of Anglo-Saxon England|Saxon period]]. The name “Oxford” comes from the Old English ''Oxenaforda'', meaning “ford of the oxen,” referring to a shallow crossing in the river where oxen could pass.<ref name="Historic UK">{{Cite web |title=The History of Oxford, City of Dreaming Spires |url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Oxford-City-of-Dreaming-Spires/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Historic UK |language=en-GB}}</ref> The town was of strategic significance, because of the ford and the town's controlling location on the upper reaches of the [[River Thames]] at its confluence with the [[River Cherwell]].

After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Norman lord Robert D’Oyly built [[Oxford Castle]] in 1071 to secure control of the area.<ref name="Historic UK" /> The town grew in national importance during the early [[Norman dynasty|Norman period]].

[[File:Merton College, Oxford from Merton Field.jpg|thumb|left|Merton College was established in 1264]]
Teaching began in the 11th century and by the late 12th century the town was home to the fledgling [[University of Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A brief history of the University |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/introducing_oxford/a_brief_history_of_the_university/ |publisher=[[University of Oxford]] |access-date=17 August 2012 |archive-date=2 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302031633/http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/introducing_oxford/a_brief_history_of_the_university/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Tensions sometimes erupted between the scholastic community and the town: in 1209, after a townsperson hanged two scholars for an alleged murder, a number of Oxford academics fled and founded [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]]. Town-and-gown conflicts continued, culminating in the [[St Scholastica Day riot|St. Scholastica Day Riot]] of 1355 – a feuding that lasted days and left around 93 students and townspeople dead.

[[Siege of Oxford (1142)|Oxford was besieged]] during [[The Anarchy]] in 1142.<ref>{{cite book|last=Crouch|first=D.|title=The Reign of King Stephen: 1135–1154|edition=2nd|year=2013|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-1-31789-297-7|page=203}}</ref> During the Middle Ages, Oxford had an important Jewish community, of which David of Oxford and his wife [[Licoricia of Winchester]] were prominent members.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abrams |first=Rebecca |title=Licoricia of Winchester: Power and Prejudice in Medieval England |date=2022 |publisher=The Licoricia of Winchester Appeal |isbn=978-1-3999-1638-7 |edition=1st |location=Winchester |publication-date=2022 |pages=57–58 |language=en}}</ref> The university rose to dominate the town.

A heavily ecclesiastical town, Oxford was greatly affected by the changes of the [[English Reformation]]. Oxford’s ecclesiastical institutions were dismantled — the city’s monasteries were closed in the 1530s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} University of Oxford |url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/engage-with-us/local-community/part-of-oxford/history |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.ox.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> Religious strife touched Oxford directly during the [[Marian persecution]]: the [[Oxford Martyrs]] were tried for heresy here. Bishops [[Hugh Latimer]] and [[Nicholas Ridley (martyr)|Nicholas Ridley]] were burned at the stake in Oxford in October 1555, and the former Archbishop [[Thomas Cranmer]] was executed in March 1556. A Victorian-era monument, the [[Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford|Martyrs’ Memorial]] in St Giles’, now commemorates these events.

Oxford was elevated from town to city status in 1542 when the Diocese of Oxford was created – ''Christ Church'' college chapel was made a cathedral, officially granting Oxford its city privileges.

During the [[English Civil War]] [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] made Oxford his de facto capital (1642–1646): he moved his court to Oxford, using the city as his headquarters after being expelled from London.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hargreaves-Mawdsley |first=W. N. |url=http://archive.org/details/oxfordinageofjoh00harg |title=Oxford in the Age of John Locke |date=1973 |publisher=Norman, University of Oklahoma Press |isbn=978-0-8061-1038-7 |pages=41 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Myles Birket Foster The High Oxford.jpg|thumb|left|19th-century view of the [[High Street, Oxford|High Street]] in Oxford]]
The city began to grow industrially during the 19th century, and had an industrial boom in the early 20th century. Traditional industries included brewing and publishing – Oxford University Press and other print houses were major employers by the 19th century. In 1910 entrepreneur William Morris (later Lord Nuffield) founded a motor car business in Oxford, opening an assembly plant at Cowley.

The city’s population and economy grew with this industrial boom, diversifying beyond the university.

==Geography==
===Physical===
====Location====
Oxford's latitude and longitude are {{Coord|51|45|07|N|1|15|28|W|type:city_region:GB|display=inline}}, with Ordnance Survey {{gbmapping|SP513061}} (at [[Carfax Tower]], which is usually considered the centre). Oxford is {{convert|24|mi|km}} north-west of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], {{convert|26|mi|km}} north-east of [[Swindon]], {{convert|36|mi|km}} east of [[Cheltenham]], {{convert|43|mi|km}} east of [[Gloucester]], {{convert|29|mi|km}} south-west of [[Milton Keynes]], {{convert|38|mi|km}} south-east of [[Evesham]], {{convert|54|mi|km}} south-east of [[Worcester, Worcestershire|Worcester]], {{convert|43|mi|km}} south of [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] and {{convert|51|mi|km}} west-north-west of [[London]]. The rivers [[River Cherwell|Cherwell]] and [[River Thames|Thames]] (also sometimes known as [[the Isis]] locally, supposedly from the Latinised name {{lang|la|Thamesis}}) run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre. These rivers and their flood plains constrain the size of the city centre.

====Climate====
Oxford has a [[oceanic climate|maritime temperate climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''). [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] is uniformly distributed throughout the year and is provided mostly by weather systems that arrive from the [[Atlantic]]. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Oxford was {{convert|-17.8|°C|1|abbr=on}} on 24 December 1860. The highest temperature ever recorded in Oxford is {{convert|38.1|°C|0|abbr=on}} on 19 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/daily-data.html| title =Daily Data from the Radcliffe Observatory site in Oxford| access-date =24 June 2020| publisher =[[University of Oxford]]| archive-date =23 June 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200623115453/https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/daily-data.html| url-status =live}}</ref> The average conditions below are from the Radcliffe [[Meteorological Station]]. It has the longest series of temperature and rainfall records for one site in [[Great Britain|Britain]]. These records are continuous from January 1815. Irregular observations of rainfall, cloud cover, and temperature exist since 1767.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/
|title=Radcliffe Meteorological Station
|access-date=17 March 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601184328/http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/
|archive-date=1 June 2008
|url-status=live
}}
</ref>

The driest year on record was 1788, with {{convert|336.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall. The wettest year was 2012, with {{convert|979.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The wettest month on record was September 1774, with a total fall of {{convert|223.9|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The warmest month on record is July 1983, with an average of {{convert|21.1|°C|0|abbr=on}} and the coldest is January 1963, with an average of {{convert|-3.0|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The warmest year on record is 2014, with an average of {{convert|11.8|°C|0|abbr=on}} and the coldest is 1879, with a mean temperature of {{convert|7.7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The sunniest month on record is May 2020, with 331.7 hours and December 1890 is the least sunny, with 5.0 hours. The greatest one-day rainfall occurred on 10 July 1968, with a total of {{convert|87.9|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The greatest known snow depth was {{convert|61.0|cm|in|abbr=on}} in February 1888.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/monthly-annual.html| title = Monthly, Annual and Seasonal Data from the Radcliffe Observatory site in Oxford| access-date = 24 June 2020| publisher = [[University of Oxford]]| archive-date = 26 June 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200626170040/https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/monthly-annual.html| url-status = live}}</ref>
{{Weather box|location = Oxford ([[Radcliffe Observatory|RMS]]),{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|0.7|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Oxford city centre.}} elevation: {{convert|61|m|ft|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1815–2020
| collapsed = 
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 15.9
| Feb record high C = 18.8
| Mar record high C = 22.1
| Apr record high C = 27.6
| May record high C = 30.6
| Jun record high C = 34.3
| Jul record high C = 38.1
| Aug record high C = 35.1
| Sep record high C = 33.4
| Oct record high C = 29.1
| Nov record high C = 18.9
| Dec record high C = 15.9
| Jan high C = 8.0
| Feb high C = 8.6
| Mar high C = 11.3
| Apr high C = 14.4
| May high C = 17.7
| Jun high C = 20.7
| Jul high C = 23.1
| Aug high C = 22.5
| Sep high C = 19.4
| Oct high C = 15.1
| Nov high C = 10.9
| Dec high C = 8.2
| year high C = 15.0
| Jan mean C = 5.2
| Feb mean C = 5.5
| Mar mean C = 7.5
| Apr mean C = 9.9
| May mean C = 12.9
| Jun mean C = 15.9
| Jul mean C = 18.1
| Aug mean C = 17.8
| Sep mean C = 15.0
| Oct mean C = 11.5
| Nov mean C = 7.9
| Dec mean C = 5.4
| year mean C = 11.1
| Jan low C = 2.4
| Feb low C = 2.3
| Mar low C = 3.6
| Apr low C = 5.3
| May low C = 8.2
| Jun low C = 11.1
| Jul low C = 13.1
| Aug low C = 13.0
| Sep low C = 10.7
| Oct low C = 8.0
| Nov low C = 4.9
| Dec low C = 2.6
| year low C = 7.1
| Jan record low C = -16.6
| Feb record low C = -16.2
| Mar record low C = -12.0
| Apr record low C = -5.6
| May record low C = -3.4
| Jun record low C = 0.4
| Jul record low C = 2.4
| Aug record low C = 0.2
| Sep record low C = -3.3
| Oct record low C = -5.7
| Nov record low C = -10.1
| Dec record low C = -17.8
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 59.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 46.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 43.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 48.7
| May precipitation mm = 56.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 49.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 52.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 61.7
| Sep precipitation mm = 51.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 73.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 71.5
| Dec precipitation mm = 66.1
| year precipitation mm = 681.6
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.1
| Feb precipitation days = 9.4
| Mar precipitation days = 9.1
| Apr precipitation days = 8.9
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 8.0
| Jul precipitation days = 8.3
| Aug precipitation days = 9.0
| Sep precipitation days = 8.6
| Oct precipitation days = 10.9
| Nov precipitation days = 11.3
| Dec precipitation days = 12.2
| year precipitation days = 117.7
| Jan sun = 63.4
| Feb sun = 81.9
| Mar sun = 118.2
| Apr sun = 165.6
| May sun = 200.3
| Jun sun = 197.1
| Jul sun = 212.0
| Aug sun = 193.3
| Sep sun = 145.3
| Oct sun = 110.2
| Nov sun = 70.8
| Dec sun = 57.6
| year sun = 1615.5
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met Averages">{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpn7mp10 |title=Oxford (Oxfordshire) UK climate averages |access-date=1 January 2022 |publisher=Met Office |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425190216/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpn7mp10 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source 2 = [[University of Oxford]]<ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/daily-data.html| title =Daily Data from the Radcliffe Observatory site in Oxford| access-date =23 June 2020| publisher =[[University of Oxford]]| archive-date =23 June 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200623115453/https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/climate/rms/daily-data.html| url-status =live}}</ref>

}}
{{notelist}}[[File:Location map United Kingdom Oxford.svg|Map of Oxford|thumb|upright=2.25]]

===Districts===

====The city centre====
The city centre is relatively small and is centred on [[Carfax, Oxford|Carfax]], a crossroads which forms the junction of [[Cornmarket Street, Oxford|Cornmarket Street]] (pedestrianised), [[Queen Street, Oxford|Queen Street]] (mainly [[pedestrianised]]), [[St Aldate's, Oxford|St Aldate's]] and the [[High Street, Oxford|High Street]] ("the High"; blocked for through traffic). Cornmarket Street and Queen Street are home to Oxford's chain stores, as well as a small number of independent retailers, one of the longest established of which was [[Boswells of Oxford|Boswell's]], founded in 1738.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Boswells|url=http://www.boswells-online.co.uk//mall/infopageviewer.cfm/Boswells/AboutUs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123112907/http://www.boswells-online.co.uk/mall/infopageviewer.cfm/Boswells/AboutUs|archive-date=23 November 2007|access-date=10 January 2010|publisher=Boswells-online.co.uk}}</ref> The store closed in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ffrench|first=Andrew|date=29 February 2020|title=Everything must go now at Boswells in closing down sale|newspaper=[[Oxford Mail]]|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18271030.everything-must-go-now-boswells-closing-sale/|url-status=live|access-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329215229/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18271030.everything-must-go-now-boswells-closing-sale/|archive-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> St Aldate's has few shops but several local government buildings, including the [[town hall]], the city police station and local council offices. The High (the word ''street'' is traditionally omitted) is the longest of the four streets and has a number of independent and high-end chain stores, but mostly university and college buildings. The historic buildings mean the area is often used by film and TV crews.

====Suburbs====
Aside from the city centre, there are several suburbs and neighbourhoods within the borders of the city of Oxford, including:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Barton, Oxford|Barton]]
* [[Blackbird Leys]]
* [[Cowley, Oxfordshire|Cowley]]
** Temple Cowley
* [[Iffley]]
** [[Littlemore]]
** [[Rose Hill, Oxfordshire|Rose Hill]]
* [[Cutteslowe]]
* [[Headington]]
** [[New Marston]]
* [[Jericho, Oxford|Jericho]]
* [[North Oxford]]
** [[Park Town, Oxford|Park Town]]
** [[Norham Manor]]
** [[Walton Manor]]
* [[Osney]]
* [[Risinghurst]]
* [[Summertown, Oxford|Summertown]]
** [[Sunnymead]]
** [[Waterways, Oxford|Waterways]]
* [[Wolvercote]]
{{div col end}}

====Green belt====
{{main|Oxford Green Belt}}
[[File:Oxford_Malmaison_Hotel.jpg|right|thumb|Oxford Malmaison Hotel]]
Oxford is at the centre of the [[Oxford Green Belt]], which is an [[environmental policy|environmental]] and [[Planning in the United Kingdom|planning]] policy that regulates the rural space in [[Oxfordshire]] surrounding the city, aiming to prevent [[urban sprawl]] and minimize convergence with nearby settlements.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Oxford Green Belt: Key Facts|url=http://www.cpreoxon.org.uk/campaigns/item/download/788|website=CPRE Oxfordshire|access-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215083708/http://www.cpreoxon.org.uk/campaigns/item/download/788|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The policy has been blamed for the large rise in house prices in Oxford, making it the least affordable city in the United Kingdom outside of London, with some [[estate agents]] calling for [[brownfield]] land inside the green belt to be released for new housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15133787.estate-agents-call-for-building-on-oxford-green-belt-to-ease-house-price-crisis/|title=Estate agents call for building on Green Belt to ease house price crisis|website=Oxford Mail|date=4 March 2017 |access-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426220329/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15133787.estate-agents-call-for-building-on-oxford-green-belt-to-ease-house-price-crisis/ |first= Andy |last=Ffrench|archive-date=26 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/22/green-belt-housing-crisis-planning-policy|title=Loosen Britain's green belt. It is stunting our young people |first=Jonn|last=Elledge|date=22 September 2017|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527000502/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/22/green-belt-housing-crisis-planning-policy|archive-date=27 May 2019|url-status=live|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/house-prices/11436459/Welcome-to-Britains-most-unaffordable-spot-its-not-London.html|title=Welcome to Britain's most unaffordable spot – it's not London|first=Anna|last=White|date=26 February 2015|access-date=30 May 2019|via=The Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426200855/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/house-prices/11436459/Welcome-to-Britains-most-unaffordable-spot-its-not-London.html|archive-date=26 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

The vast majority of the area covered is outside of the city, but there are some green spaces within that which are covered by the designation, such as much of the [[Thames]] and [[river Cherwell]] [[flood-meadow]]s, and the village of [[Binsey, Oxfordshire|Binsey]], along with several smaller portions on the fringes. Other landscape features and places of interest covered include [[Cutteslowe]] Park and the mini railway attraction, the [[University Parks]], Hogacre Common Eco Park, numerous sports grounds, [[Aston's Eyot]], [[St Margaret of England|St Margaret]]'s Church and well, and [[Wolvercote Common]] and community orchard.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oxford Green Belt Study Final Report Prepared by LUC |date=October 2015|url=https://m.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/communityandliving/partnerships/GrowthBoard/OxfordGreenBeltStudyFinalReport.pdf|website=Oxfordshire County Council |access-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143624/https://m.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/communityandliving/partnerships/GrowthBoard/OxfordGreenBeltStudyFinalReport.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Geographic Location
|title = Destinations from Oxford
|Northwest = [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]
|North     = [[Banbury]]
|Northeast = [[Bicester]], [[Milton Keynes]]
|West      = [[Witney]], [[Cheltenham]]
|Centre    = Oxford
|East      = [[High Wycombe]], [[Aylesbury]]
|Southwest = [[Wantage]], [[Swindon]]
|South     = [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]], [[Didcot]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]], [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]
|Southeast = [[Slough]], [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]
}}

==Governance==
{{main|Oxford City Council}}{{further|History of Oxford#Administrative history}}
[[File:Museum of Oxford (5652685943).jpg|thumb|[[Oxford Town Hall|Town Hall, St Aldate's]]]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Oxford, at district and county level: [[Oxford City Council]] and [[Oxfordshire County Council]]. From 1889 to 1974 the city of Oxford was a [[county borough]], independent from the county council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=25 April 2023}}</ref> Oxford City Council meets at the [[Oxford Town Hall|Town Hall]] on the street called [[St Aldate's, Oxford|St Aldate's]] in the city centre. The current building was completed in 1897, on a site which had been occupied by Oxford's [[guildhall]] since the 13th century.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1047153|desc=Town Hall, Municipal Buildings and Library|grade=II*|accessdate=25 April 2023}}</ref>

Most of Oxford is an [[unparished area]], but there are four [[civil parish]]es within the city's boundaries: [[Blackbird Leys]], [[Littlemore]], [[Old Marston]], and [[Risinghurst and Sandhills]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Parish council contact details |url=https://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx |website=Oxford City Council |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525050356/https://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy==
Oxford's economy includes manufacturing, publishing and science-based industries as well as education, sports, entertainment, breweries, research and tourism.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Oxford City Council|title=Economic Profile of Oxford|url=http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decB/Economic_Profile_of_Oxford_occw.htm|access-date=9 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016211515/http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decB/Economic_Profile_of_Oxford_occw.htm |archive-date=2011-10-16}}</ref>

===Car production===
Oxford has been an important centre of motor manufacturing since [[Morris Motors]] was established in the city in 1910. The principal production site for [[Mini (marque)|Mini]] cars, owned by [[BMW]] since 2000, is in the Oxford suburb of [[Cowley, Oxfordshire|Cowley]]. The plant, which survived the turbulent years of [[British Leyland]] in the 1970s and was threatened with closure in the early 1990s, also produced cars under the [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]] and [[Rover Group|Rover]] brands following the demise of the Morris brand in 1984, although the last Morris-badged car was produced there in 1982.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

===Publishing===
[[Oxford University Press]], a department of the [[Oxford University|University of Oxford]], is based in the city, although it no longer operates its own paper mill and printing house. The city is also home to the UK operations of [[Wiley-Blackwell]], [[Elsevier]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publishers.org.uk/member/elsevier/ |title=Elsevier |publisher=The Publishers Association |access-date=23 June 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804121759/https://www.publishers.org.uk/member/elsevier/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and several smaller publishing houses.

===Science and technology===
The presence of the university has given rise to many science and technology based businesses, including [[Oxford Instruments]], [[Research Machines]] and [[Sophos]]. The university established [[Isis Innovation]] in 1987 to promote technology transfer. The [[Oxford Science Park]] was established in 1990, and the [[Begbroke Science Park]], owned by the university, lies north of the city. Oxford increasingly has a reputation for being a centre of digital innovation, as epitomized by Digital Oxford.<ref>{{cite web|title = Home – Digital Oxford|url = http://digitaloxford.com/|website = Digital Oxford|access-date = 3 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150509055659/http://digitaloxford.com/|archive-date = 9 May 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> Several startups including Passle,<ref>{{cite web|title = Passle – become a thought leader|url = http://passle.net|website = Passle: Don't have time to blog?|access-date = 3 June 2015|archive-date = 28 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728025406/https://home.passle.net/|url-status = live}}</ref> Brainomix,<ref>{{cite web|title = Brainomix|url = https://www.brainomix.com/|website = Brainomix|access-date = 5 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150708091626/https://www.brainomix.com/|archive-date = 8 July 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> Labstep,<ref>{{cite web|title = Labstep|url = https://angel.co/labstep|website = angel.co|access-date = 3 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150603230831/https://angel.co/labstep|archive-date = 3 June 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> and more, are based in Oxford.

===Education===
[[File:Wellington Square Oxford 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wellington Square, Oxford|Wellington Square]], the name of which has become synonymous with the university's central administration]]
The presence of the university has also led to Oxford becoming a centre for the education industry. Companies often draw their teaching staff from the pool of [[Oxford University]] students and graduates, and, especially for [[English as a Foreign or Second Language|EFL education]], use their Oxford location as a selling point.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/learn-english-in-oxford|title=Learn English in Oxford|newspaper=Oxford Royale|publisher=oxford-royale.co.uk|access-date=25 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523195641/http://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/learn-english-in-oxford|archive-date=23 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tourism===
Oxford has numerous major tourist attractions, many belonging to the university and colleges. As well as several famous institutions, the town centre is home to [[Carfax Tower]] and the [[University Church of St Mary the Virgin|University Church]] of St Mary the Virgin, both of which offer views over the spires of the city. Many tourists shop at the historic [[Covered Market, Oxford|Covered Market]]. In the summer, [[punt (boat)|punting]] on the [[Thames]]/[[river Isis|Isis]] and the [[river Cherwell|Cherwell]] is a common practice. As well as being a major draw for tourists (9.1&nbsp;million in 2008, similar in 2009){{update inline|date=May 2024}},<ref>{{cite web|last=Hearn|first=Dan|date=19 August 2009|title=Oxford tourism suffers triple whammy|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4555044.Oxford_tourism_suffers_triple_whammy/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821150917/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4555044.Oxford_tourism_suffers_triple_whammy/|archive-date=21 August 2009|access-date=1 March 2010|work=[[Oxford Mail]]}}</ref> Oxford city centre has many shops, several theatres and an ice rink.
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
File:Carfaxtower fromcornmarket.jpg|Carfax Tower at Carfax, the junction of the High Street, Queen Street, [[Cornmarket Street|Cornmarket]] and [[St Aldate's, Oxford|St Aldate's]] streets, considered by many to be the centre of the city
File:High Street in Oxford by Night 2009 LL.jpg|Night view of High Street with Christmas lights – one of Oxford's main streets
</gallery>

===Retail===
There are two small [[shopping mall]]s in the city centre: the [[Clarendon Centre]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Clarendon Shopping Centre|url=http://www.clarendoncentre.co.uk/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328140642/http://www.clarendoncentre.co.uk/|archive-date=28 March 2010|access-date=10 January 2010|publisher=Clarendoncentre.co.uk}}</ref> and the [[Westgate Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|date=18 May 2009|title=Visit Oxford's premier shopping centre&nbsp;– the Westgate Shopping Centre|url=http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/shops/westgate/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202190628/http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/shops/westgate/|archive-date=2 February 2009|access-date=10 January 2010|publisher=Oxfordcity.co.uk}}</ref> The Westgate Centre is named for the original West Gate in the city wall, and is at the west end of [[Queen Street, Oxford|Queen Street]]. A major redevelopment and expansion to {{convert|750000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, with a new {{convert|230000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} [[John Lewis Partnership|John Lewis]] department store and a number of new homes, was completed in October 2017. [[Blackwell UK|Blackwell's Bookshop]] is a bookshop which claims the largest single room devoted to book sales in the whole of Europe, the Norrington Room (10,000 sq ft).<ref>
{{cite web|title=Blackwell's Books, Oxford|url=http://www.britainexpress.com/cities/oxford/blackwells.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232350/http://www.britainexpress.com/cities/oxford/blackwells.htm|archive-date=25 May 2014|access-date=25 May 2014|publisher=britainexpress.com}}
</ref>

===Brewing===
There is a long history of [[brewing]] in Oxford. Several of the colleges had private breweries, one of which, at [[Brasenose College, Oxford|Brasenose]], survived until 1889. In the 16th century brewing and [[malting]] appear to have been the most popular trades in the city. There were breweries in [[Brewer Street, Oxford|Brewer Street]] and [[Paradise Street, Oxford|Paradise Street]], near the [[Castle Mill Stream]]. The rapid expansion of Oxford and the development of its railway links after the 1840s facilitated expansion of the brewing trade.<ref name=Woolley78>{{cite journal |last1=Woolley |first1=Liz |year=2010 |title=Industrial Architecture in Oxford, 1870 to 1914 |journal=Oxoniensia |volume=LXXV |page=78 |publisher=[[Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society]] |issn=0308-5562}}</ref> As well as expanding the market for Oxford's brewers, railways enabled brewers further from the city to compete for a share of its market.<ref name=Woolley78/> By 1874 there were nine breweries in Oxford and 13 brewers' agents in Oxford shipping beer in from elsewhere.<ref name=Woolley78/> The nine breweries were: Flowers & Co in [[Cowley Road]], Hall's [[St Giles, Oxford|St Giles]] Brewery, Hall's Swan Brewery (see below), Hanley's City Brewery in [[Queen Street, Oxford|Queen Street]], Le Mills's Brewery in [[St. Ebbes]], [[Morrells Brewing Company|Morrell's]] Lion Brewery in [[Thomas the Apostle|St Thomas]] Street (see below), Simonds's Brewery in Queen Street, Weaving's Eagle Brewery (by 1869 the Eagle Steam Brewery) in [[Park End Street]] and Wootten and Cole's [[St Clement's, Oxford|St. Clement's]] Brewery.<ref name=Woolley78/>

The Swan's Nest Brewery, later the Swan Brewery, was established by the early 18th century in [[Paradise Street, Oxford|Paradise Street]], and in 1795 was acquired by William Hall.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Page |editor-first=William |editor-link=William Page (historian) |series=Victoria County History |title=A History of the County of Oxford, Volume 2: Industries: Malting and Brewing |year=1907 |publisher=[[Archibald Constable]] & Co |pages=225–277 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=101945#s12 |access-date=5 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316074332/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=101945#s12 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[brewery]] became known as Hall's Oxford Brewery, which acquired other local breweries. Hall's Brewery was acquired by [[Samuel Allsopp & Sons]] in 1926, after which it ceased brewing in Oxford.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Richmond|first1=Lesley|last2=Turton|first2=Alison|year=1990|title=The Brewing industry: a guide to historical records|isbn=978-0-7190-3032-1|page=165|publisher=Manchester University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NB8NAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA165|access-date=27 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921111019/https://books.google.com/books?id=NB8NAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&dq|archive-date=21 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Morrell's Brewing Company|Morrell's]] was founded in 1743 by Richard Tawney. He formed a partnership in 1782 with Mark and James Morrell, who eventually became the owners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.headington.org.uk/history/famous_people/morrellfamily.htm |title=History of Headington, Oxford |publisher=Headington.org.uk |date=19 April 2009 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323033009/http://www.headington.org.uk/history/famous_people/morrellfamily.htm |archive-date=23 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> After an acrimonious family dispute the brewery was closed in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/1998/7/9/85120.html |title=Morrells Brewery up for sale |publisher=Archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk |access-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201232227/http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/1998/7/9/85120.html |archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref> The beer brand names were taken over by the Thomas Hardy Burtonwood brewery,<ref>{{cite web |author=www.quaffale.org.uk |url=http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/479 |title=Morrells Brewery Ltd |publisher=Quaffale.org.uk |date=22 September 2001 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122013846/http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/479 |archive-date=22 November 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the 132 [[Tied house|tied]] [[pubs]] were bought by Michael Cannon, owner of the American hamburger chain [[Fuddruckers]], through a new company, Morrells of Oxford.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pstalker.com/echo/f_45a.html |title=Jericho Echo |publisher=Pstalker.com |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808010233/http://www.pstalker.com/echo/f_45a.html |archive-date=8 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new owners sold most of the pubs on to [[Greene King]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2051362.stm |title=Brewer buys pub chain for £67m |work=BBC News |date=18 June 2002 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112044544/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/2051362.stm |archive-date=12 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Lion Brewery was converted into luxury apartments in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/2001/2/19/69009.html |title=Brewery site plan nears final hurdle |publisher=Archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk |date=19 February 2001 |access-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225022552/http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/2001/2/19/69009.html |archive-date=25 December 2008 }}</ref> Oxford's first legal [[distillery]], the [[Oxford Artisan Distillery]], was established in 2017 in historic farm buildings at the top of [[South Park, Oxford|South Park]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15435753.grab-glass-oxford-artisan-distillery-opens-south-park-today/ | date=27 July 2017 | title=Grab a glass: The Oxford Artisan Distillery opens in South Park today | first=Marc | last=Evans | newspaper=[[Oxford Mail]] | access-date=11 September 2021 | archive-date=10 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910211013/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15435753.grab-glass-oxford-artisan-distillery-opens-south-park-today/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Bellfounding===
The [[John Taylor & Co|Taylor family]] of [[Loughborough]] had a [[Bellfounding|bell-foundry]] in Oxford between 1786 and 1854.<ref name=DoveFounders>{{cite web |url=http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/founders.php |title=Bell Founders |work=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers |access-date=8 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904010159/http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/founders.php |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Wide image|Oxford Skyline Panorama from St Mary's Church - Oct 2006.jpg|800px|The spires of Oxford facing Christ Church to the south ([[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford|Christ Church Cathedral]] on the left and [[Tom Tower]] on the right)}}

==Buildings==
{{See also|Category: Buildings and structures in Oxford}}
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160px">
File:St Mary's Church, Radcliffe Sq, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|The University Church of St Mary the Virgin
File:Sheldonian Theatre 2009 LL.jpg|right|Sheldonian Theatre in 2009
File:Christ Church Cathedral Interior 2, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|Interior of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
File:Oxford Botanic Garden LV 2025.jpg|Oxford Botanic Garden
</gallery>
This is a small selection of the many notable buildings in Oxford.

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford]]
* [[The Headington Shark]]
* [[Oxford University Press]]
* [[Oxford Botanic Garden]]
* [[Sheldonian Theatre]]
* [[St Mary's Church, Oxford|St. Mary the Virgin Church]]
* [[Radcliffe Camera]]
* [[Radcliffe Observatory]]
* [[Oxford Oratory]]
* [[Malmaison (hotel chain)|Malmaison]] Hotel, in a converted prison in part of the medieval [[Oxford Castle]]
{{div col end}}

===Parks and nature walks===
{{See also|Category: Parks and open spaces in Oxford}}
Oxford is a very green city, with several parks and nature walks within the [[Oxford Ring Road|ring road]], as well as several sites just outside the ring road. In total, 28 [[nature reserve]]s exist within or just outside the ring road, including:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[University Parks]]
* [[Mesopotamia, Oxford|Mesopotamia]]
* [[Rock Edge Nature Reserve]]
* [[Lye Valley]]
* [[South Park, Oxford|South Park]]
* [[C. S. Lewis]] Nature Reserve
* [[Shotover|Shotover Nature Reserve]]
* [[Port Meadow]]
* [[Cutteslowe Park]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
[[File:UK and foreign born population pyramid of Oxford in 2021.svg|thumb|UK and foreign born population pyramid of Oxford in 2021]]As of 2023, Oxford’s population was approximately 165,200.<ref name="OCC July 2024">{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Oxford City |title=Oxford's population statistics |url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/population-statistics/oxfords-population |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Oxford City Council |language=en}}</ref> More than a third (35%) of Oxford's residents were born outside of the United Kingdom.<ref name="OCC July 2024" />

Oxford’s population is notably young and diverse. About 30% of residents are ages 18–29, roughly double the national average for that age bracket. This is largely because of the substantial student population: about 35,000 students are enrolled for full-time studies in the city's two universities.<ref name="OCC July 2024" />

===Ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! rowspan="2" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="2" |1981 estimates<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1985 |title=Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |journal=Commission for Racial Equality |language=en |pages=Table 2.2 |last1=Equality |first1=Commission for Racial |access-date=10 May 2023 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513060235/https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name="Casweb-1991">Data is taken from United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm Casweb Data services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215152146/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm |date=15 December 2021 }} of the United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405213012/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm |date=5 April 2022 }} (Table 6)</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602031124/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="Nationalarchives-2021">{{Cite web |title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |access-date=2021-12-15 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808112341/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="Nationalarchives-2022">{{Cite web |title=Ethnic group, census2021 (TS021) |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129141139/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!83,762
!93%
!99,935
!90.8%
!116,948
!87.1%
!117,957
!77.7%
!120,509
!70.7%
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|103,041
|76.8%
|96,633
|63.6%
|86,672
|53.5%
|-
|White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,898
|
|2,431
|
|2,351
|
|-
|White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|92
|
|62
|
|-
|White: Roma
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|501
|
|-
|White: [[Other White|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|11,009
|8.2%
|18,801
|12.4%
|24,975
|15.4%
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!–
!–
!5,808
!5.3%
!8,931
!6.7%
!18,827
!12.4%
!24,991
!15.4%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|–
|–
|1,560
|1.4%
|2,323
|1.7%
|4,449
|2.9%
|6,005
|3.7%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|–
|–
|2042
|1.9%
|2,625
|2.0%
|4,825
|3.2%
|6,619
|4.1%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|–
|–
|510
|0.5%
|878
|0.7%
|1,791
|1.2%
|2,025
|1.3%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|–
|–
|859
|0.8%
|2,460
|1.8%
|3,559
|2.3%
|4,479
|2.8%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: Other Asian
|–
|–
|837
|0.8%
|645
|0.5%
|4,203
|2.8%
|5,863
|3.6%
|-
![[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total
!–
!–
!3,055
!2.8%
!3,368
!2.5%
!7,028
!4.6%
!7,535
!4.7%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|1745
|
|1,664
|
|1,874
|
|1,629
|
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|African]]
|–
|–
|593
|
|1,408
|
|4,456
|
|5,060
|
|-
|Black or Black British: [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|Other Black]]
|–
|–
|717
|
|296
|
|698
|
|846
|
|-
![[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed or British Mixed]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!3,239
!2.4%
!6,035
!4%
!9,005
!5.6%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,030
|
|1,721
|
|1,916
|
|-
|Mixed: White and Black African
|–
|–
|–
|–
|380
|
|703
|
|1,072
|
|-
|Mixed: White and Asian
|–
|–
|–
|–
|974
|
|2,008
|
|3,197
|
|-
|Mixed: Other Mixed
|–
|–
|–
|–
|855
|
|1,603
|
|2,820
|
|-
!Other: Total
!–
!–
!1,305
!1.2%
!1,762
!1.3%
!2,059
!1.4%
!5,948
!3.7%
|-
|Other: Arab
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|922
|0.6%
|1,449
|0.9%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|–
|–
|1,305
|1.2%
|1,762
|1.3%
|1,137
|0.7%
|4,499
|2.8%
|-
!Ethnic minority: Total
!6,265
!7%
!10,168
!9.2%
!17,300
!12.9%
!33,949
!22.3%
!47,479
!29.3%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!90,027
!100%
!110,103
!100%
!134,248
!100%
!151,906
!100%
!162,040
!100%
|}

===Religion===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Religion
!colspan="2"|2001<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/summary.asp?mode=construct&version=0&dataset=1607 |title=KS007 - Religion |access-date=30 January 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307161339/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/summary.asp?mode=construct&version=0&dataset=1607 |url-status=live }}</ref>
!colspan="2"|2011<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/QS208EW/view/1946157259?cols=measures |title=2011 census – theme tables |access-date=8 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062523/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/QS208EW/view/1946157259?cols=measures |url-status=live }}</ref>
!colspan="2"|2021<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1 | title=Religion - Office for National Statistics | access-date=21 December 2022 | archive-date=29 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129115419/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Irreligion|No religion]] || 32,075 || 23.9|| 50,274|| 33.1 || 63,201 || 39.0 
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Christianity|Christian]] || 81,100 || 60.4 || 72,924|| 48.0 || 61,750 || 38.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Religion not stated || 11,725 || 8.7 || 12,611 || 8.3 || 16,110||9.9
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Islam|Muslim]]|| 5,165 || 3.8 || 10,320|| 6.8|| 14,093||8.7
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Hinduism|Hindu]] || 1,041 || 0.8|| 2,044 || 1.3|| 2,523|| 1.6
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Other religion || 656 || 0.5|| 796|| 0.5|| 1,447 || 0.9
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Buddhist|Buddhism]] || 1,080 || 0.8 || 1,431|| 0.9|| 1,195 || 0.7
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Judaism|Jewish]] || 1,091 || 0.8 || 1,072 || 0.7 || 1,120 || 0.7
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Sikhism|Sikh]] || 315|| 0.2|| 434 || 0.3 || 599|| 0.4
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
|style="text-align:left" | Total || 134,248 || 100.0% || 151,906 ||100.0% || 162,040|| 100.0%
|}

==Transport==
===Air===
In addition to the larger [[airports]] in the region, Oxford is served by nearby [[Oxford Airport]], in [[Kidlington]]. The airport is also home to [[CAE Oxford|CAE Oxford Aviation Academy]] and Airways Aviation<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oxfordairport.co.uk/new-global-headquarters-for-airways-aviation/ | title=New Global Headquarters for Airways Aviation | first=Richard | last=Hikins | date=4 March 2016 | website=oxfordairport.co.uk | publisher=[[Oxford Airport]] | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=28 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028173720/https://www.oxfordairport.co.uk/new-global-headquarters-for-airways-aviation/ | url-status=live }}</ref> airline pilot flight training centres, and several private jet companies. The airport is also home to [[Airbus Helicopters]] UK headquarters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/press/Airbus%20Helicopters%20celebrates%2040%20years%20as%20the%20all-in-one%20solution%20for%20UK%20helicopter%20industry_1547.html | title=Airbus Helicopters celebrates 40 years as the all-in-one solution for UK helicopter industry | date=15 July 2014 | work=Helicopters | publisher=[[Airbus]] | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=28 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128043043/http://www.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/press/Airbus%20Helicopters%20celebrates%2040%20years%20as%20the%20all-in-one%20solution%20for%20UK%20helicopter%20industry_1547.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

====Rail–airport links====
Direct trains run from [[Oxford railway station]] to {{rws|London Paddington}} where there is an interchange with the [[Heathrow Express]]. Passengers can change at [[Reading railway station|Reading]] for connecting trains to [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]] or the [[RailAir]] coach link to [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]]. [[CrossCountry]] runs direct services to [[Birmingham International railway station|Birmingham International]], as well as to [[Southampton Airport Parkway railway station|Southampton Airport Parkway]] further afield.

===Buses===
[[File:Wright StreetDeck SK66 HTY Oxford StGiles.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Oxford Bus Company]] [[Hybrid electric bus|hybrid bus]] on a [[park & ride]] service]]
[[File:Oxford Bus Company 604 on Route U1, Oxford Station (14966079163).jpg|thumb|[[Oxford Bus Company]] [[flywheel energy storage]] bus on a BrookesBus service]]

Bus services in Oxford and its suburbs are run by the [[Oxford Bus Company]] and [[Stagecoach West]] as well as other operators including [[Arriva Shires & Essex]] and [[Thames Travel]]. Oxford has one of the largest urban [[park and ride]] networks in the United Kingdom. Its five sites, at Pear Tree, [[Redbridge, Oxford|Redbridge]], [[Seacourt]], Thornhill, [[Water Eaton, Oxfordshire|Water Eaton]] and [[Oxford Parkway]] have a combined capacity of 4,930 car parking spaces,<ref>{{cite web|title=Park and ride car parks|url=http://voyager.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Carpark.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925095850/http://voyager.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Carpark.aspx|archive-date=25 September 2015|access-date=24 September 2015|work=Roads and transport|publisher=[[Oxfordshire County Council]]}}</ref> served by 20 Oxford Bus Company double decker buses with a combined capacity of 1,695 seats.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 2015|title=Oxford Bus Company Fleet List|url=http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/72/OBC%20fleetlist-aug2015.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925091420/http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/72/OBC%20fleetlist-aug2015.pdf|archive-date=25 September 2015|access-date=24 September 2015|publisher=Oxford Bus Company}}</ref> [[Hybrid electric bus|Hybrid buses]] began to be used in Oxford in 2010, and their usage has been expanded.<ref>{{cite news|last=Little|first=Reg|date=15 July 2010|title=Transport revolution|pages=1–2|newspaper=[[The Oxford Times]]|publisher=[[Newsquest]] (Oxfordshire) Ltd|location=Oxford|url=http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/8272347.Green_revolution_on_buses/|url-status=live|access-date=15 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726195919/http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/8272347.Green_revolution_on_buses/|archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> In 2014 Oxford Bus introduced a fleet of 20 new buses with [[flywheel energy storage]] on the services it operates under contract for [[Oxford Brookes University]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Holley|first=Mel|date=10 September 2014|title=Gyrodrive debuts in Oxford|work=RouteOne|publisher=Diversified Communications|url=http://www.route-one.net/industry/gyrodrive-debuts-oxford//|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131202053/http://www.route-one.net/industry/gyrodrive-debuts-oxford/|archive-date=31 January 2016}}</ref> Most buses in the city now use a [[smartcard]] to pay for journeys<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.go-ahead.com/sustainability/customers/smart-ticketing.aspx |title=Smart ticketing |work=Sustainability |publisher=Go-Ahead Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206134929/http://go-ahead.com/sustainability/customers/smart-ticketing.aspx |archive-date=6 February 2015 |access-date=21 April 2015 }}</ref> and have free [[WiFi]] installed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decN/newsarticle.htm?newsarticle_itemid=55527 |title=Free Wi-Fi on city buses and buildings as Oxford gets Super Connected |work=Newsroom |publisher=Oxford City Council |date=13 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421085613/http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decN/newsarticle.htm?newsarticle_itemid=55527 |archive-date=21 April 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=21 April 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://oxfordbus.wordpress.com/tag/travel/ |title=Free Wi-Fi on buses announced as Oxford gets Super Connected! |author=Oxford Bus Company |publisher=WordPress |date=4 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525121131/https://oxfordbus.wordpress.com/tag/travel/ |archive-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2014-10-15/oxford-bus-users-to-get-free-wifi/ |title=Oxford bus users to get free wifi |work=News |publisher=ITV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525140741/http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2014-10-15/oxford-bus-users-to-get-free-wifi/ |archive-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Coach===
The Oxford to [[London]] coach route offers a frequent coach service to London. The [[Oxford Tube]] is operated by [[Stagecoach West]] and the [[Oxford Bus Company]] runs the Airline services to [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] and [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] airports. There is a bus station at [[Gloucester Green]], used mainly by the London and airport buses, [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] coaches and other long-distance buses including route [[Stagecoach X5|X5]] to [[Milton Keynes Coachway|Milton Keynes]] and [[Bedford]] and [[Stagecoach Gold]] route S6.

===Cycling===
Among cities in England and Wales, Oxford has the second highest percentage of people [[cycling]] to work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/cycling-to-work/2011-census-analysis---cycling-to-work.html |title=2011 Census Analysis – Cycling to Work |publisher=ONS |date=26 March 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825060052/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/cycling-to-work/2011-census-analysis---cycling-to-work.html |archive-date=25 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:Oxford Railway Station at dusk Nov 2011.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Oxford railway station]], in the city centre]]
[[File:Oxford Parkway 3rd November2015 14.JPG|alt=|thumb|[[Oxford Parkway railway station|Oxford Parkway Station]], on the outskirts near [[Kidlington]]]]

[[Oxford railway station]] is half a mile (about 1&nbsp;km) west of the city centre. The station is served by trains from three train operating companies. [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway (GWR)]] manage the station and run direct services to [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]] and [[Worcester Foregate Street railway station|Worcester]], [[Great Malvern railway station|Malvern]] and [[Hereford railway station|Hereford]]. [[CrossCountry]] trains call at Oxford on their [[Bournemouth railway station|Bournemouth]]—[[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester]] route via [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton]], [[Reading railway station|Reading]] and [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]]. [[Chiltern Railways]] operates a service to [[Marylebone station|London Marylebone]] and will operate the [[East West Rail]] trains to [[Milton Keynes Central railway station|Milton Keynes]] when these start running in 2025.

Oxford has had three main railway stations. The first was opened at Grandpont in 1844,{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|pp=180–181}} but this was a terminus, inconvenient for routes to the north;{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=300}} it was replaced by the present station on [[Park End Street]] in 1852 with the opening of the [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]] route.{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=327}} Another terminus, at [[Oxford Rewley Road railway station|Rewley Road]], was opened in 1851 to serve the [[Bletchley railway station|Bletchley]] route;{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|2005|loc=Historical Background}} this station closed in 1951.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|2005|loc=fig. 8}} There have also been a number of local railway stations, all of which are now closed. <!-- Several were provided in the earlier part of the twentieth century. (needs thinking about, do this bit later) --> A fourth station, {{rws|Oxford Parkway}}, is just outside the city, at the [[park and ride]] site near [[Kidlington]]. The present railway station opened in 1852.

Oxford is the junction for a short branch line to [[Bicester]], a remnant of the former [[Varsity line]] to [[Cambridge]]. This [[Oxford–Bicester line]] was upgraded to {{convert|100|mph|0|abbr=on}} running during an 18-month closure in 2014/2015 – and is scheduled to be extended to form the planned [[East West Rail]] line to Milton Keynes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ |title=Welcome to |publisher=East West Rail |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807025346/http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/ |archive-date=7 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> East West Rail is proposed to continue through {{rws|Bletchley}} (for {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}}) to [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/western-section |title=Western Section |publisher=East West Rail |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807030413/http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/western-section |archive-date=7 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cambridge,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/central-section |title=Central Section |publisher=East West Rail |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807032336/http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/central-section |archive-date=7 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ultimately [[Ipswich railway station|Ipswich]] and [[Norwich railway station|Norwich]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/eastern-section |title=Eastern Section |publisher=East West Rail |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807025204/http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/eastern-section |archive-date=7 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> thus providing alternative route to [[East Anglia]] without needing to travel via, and connect between, the [[London station group|London]] mainline terminals.

[[Chiltern Railways]] operates from Oxford to London Marylebone via {{rws|Bicester Village}}, having sponsored the building of about 400 metres of new track between Bicester Village and the [[Chiltern Main Line]] southwards in 2014. The route serves [[High Wycombe railway station|High Wycombe]] and London Marylebone, avoiding London Paddington and [[Didcot Parkway railway station|Didcot Parkway]].

In 1844, the [[Great Western Railway]] linked [[Oxford railway station|Oxford]] with [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] via {{stnlnk|Didcot}} and {{stnlnk|Reading}};{{sfn|Simpson|1997|p=59}}{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=9}} in 1851, the [[London & North Western Railway]] opened its own route from Oxford to [[Euston railway station|London Euston]], via [[Bicester Village railway station|Bicester]], {{stnlnk|Bletchley}} and [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford]];{{sfn|Simpson|1997|p=101}} and in 1864 a third route, also to Paddington, running via {{stnlnk|Thame}}, {{stnlnk|High Wycombe}} and {{stnlnk|Maidenhead}}, was provided;{{sfn|Simpson|2001|p=57}} this was shortened in 1906 by the opening of a direct route between High Wycombe and London Paddington by way of {{stnlnk|Denham}}.{{sfn|MacDermot|1931|p=432}} The distance from Oxford to London was {{convert|78|mi|km|1}} via Bletchley; {{convert|63.5|mi|km|1}} via Didcot and Reading; {{convert|63.25|mi|km|1}} via Thame and Maidenhead;{{sfn|Cooke|1960|p=70}} and {{convert|55.75|mi|km|1}} via Denham.{{sfn|MacDermot|1931|p=432}}

Only the original ({{rws|Didcot}}) route is still in use for its full length, portions of the others remain. There were also routes to the north and west. The line to {{stnlnk|Banbury}} was opened in 1850,{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=300}} and was extended to [[Birmingham Snow Hill railway station|Birmingham Snow Hill]] in 1852;{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=327}} a route to [[Worcester Shrub Hill railway station|Worcester]] opened in 1853.{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=498}} A branch to [[Witney railway station (goods)|Witney]] was opened in 1862,{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=551}} which was extended to {{stnlnk|Fairford}} in 1873.{{sfn|MacDermot|1931|p=27}} The line to Witney and Fairford closed in 1962, but the others remain open.

===River and canal===
Oxford was historically an important [[port]] on the [[River Thames]], with this section of the river being called the [[river Isis|Isis]]; the [[Oxford-Burcot Commission]] in the 17th century attempted to improve navigation to Oxford.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs |author=Thacker, Fred. S. |location= Newton Abbot |publisher=David and Charles |orig-year= 1920 |year=1968 }}</ref> [[Iffley Lock]] and [[Osney Lock]] lie within the bounds of the city. In the 18th century the [[Oxford Canal]] was built to connect Oxford with the [[Midlands]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Canal |first=Hugh J. |last=Compton |location=Newton Abbot |publisher=David & Charles |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-7153-7238-8 <!--not the correct OCLC number. Doesn't turn up anything as an LCCN either… |oclc=76-54077-->}}</ref> Commercial traffic has given way to recreational use of the river and canal. Oxford was the original base of [[Salters Steamers]] (founded in 1858), which was a leading racing-boatbuilder that played an important role in popularising pleasure [[boating]] on the Upper Thames. The firm runs a regular service from [[Folly Bridge]] downstream to [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]] and beyond.

===Roads===
[[File:M40 in Warwickshire Crop.jpg|thumb|The [[M40 motorway|M40]] extension]]
Oxford's central location on several transport routes means that it has long been a [[wikt:crossroads|crossroads]] city with many [[coaching inn]]s, although road traffic is now strongly discouraged, and largely prevented, from using the city centre. The [[Oxford Ring Road]] or A4142 (southern part) surrounds the city centre and close suburbs [[Marston, Oxfordshire|Marston]], [[Iffley]], [[Cowley, Oxford|Cowley]] and [[Headington]]; it consists of the [[A34 road (England)|A34]] to the west, a 330-yard section of the [[A44 road|A44]], the [[A40 road|A40]] north and north-east, A4142/[[A423 road|A423]] to the east. It is a [[dual carriageway]], except for a 330-yard section of the A40 where two residential [[service road]]s adjoin, and was completed in 1966.

====A roads====
The main roads to/from Oxford are:

* [[A34 road (England)|A34]] – a trunk route connecting the [[Northern England|North]] and [[Midlands]] to the port of [[Southampton]]. It leaves J9 of the [[M40 motorway|M40]] north of Oxford, passes west of Oxford to [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] and [[Winchester]] to the south and joins the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3]] {{convert|12.7|mi}} north of Southampton. Since the completion of the [[Newbury bypass]] in 1998, this section of the A34 has been an entirely [[grade separated]] [[dual carriageway]]. Historically the A34 led to [[Bicester]], [[Banbury]], [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Birmingham]] and [[Manchester]], but since the completion of the M40 it disappears at J9 and re-emerges {{convert|50|mi|km}} north at [[Solihull]].
* [[A40 road (Great Britain)|A40]] – leading east dualled to J8 of the [[M40 motorway]], then an alternative route to [[High Wycombe]] and [[London]]; leading west part-dualled to [[Witney]] then bisecting [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucester]], [[Monmouth]], [[Abergavenny]], passing [[Brecon]], [[Llandovery]], [[Carmarthen]] and [[Haverfordwest]] to reach [[Fishguard]].
* [[A44 road|A44]] – which begins in Oxford, leading past [[Evesham]] to [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Hereford]] and [[Aberystwyth]].
* [[A420 road|A420]] – which also begins in Oxford and leads to [[Bristol]], passing [[Swindon]] and [[Chippenham]].

====Zero emission zone====
{{main|Oxford zero emission zone}}
On 28 February 2022 a [[zero-emission]] pilot area became operational in Oxford city centre. Zero-emission vehicles can be used without incurring a charge but all petrol and diesel vehicles (including hybrids) incur a daily charge if they are driven in the zone between 7am and 7pm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/oxford-zero-emission-zone-zez/about-zero-emission-zone/ |title=About Oxford's Zero Emission Zone |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228130330/https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/oxford-zero-emission-zone-zez/about-zero-emission-zone |url-status=live }}</ref>

A consultation on the introduction of a wider zero-emission zone is expected in the future, at a date to be confirmed.

====Bus gates====
Oxford has eight bus gates, short sections of road where only buses and other authorised vehicles can pass.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bus lanes and bus gates|url=https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/parking/parking-and-bus-gate-fines/bus-lanes-and-bus-gates|publisher=Oxfordshire County Council|access-date=16 November 2022|archive-date=15 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115143836/https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/parking/parking-and-bus-gate-fines/bus-lanes-and-bus-gates|url-status=live}}</ref>

Six further bus gates are currently proposed. A council-led consultation on the traffic filters ended on 13 October 2022. On 29 November 2022, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet approved the introduction on a trial basis, for a minimum period of six months.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Colivicchi |first1=Anna |title=Plans for six traffic filters in Oxford approved by council |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23157606.plans-six-traffic-filters-oxford-approved-council/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |publisher=Oxford Mail |archive-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204162608/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23157606.plans-six-traffic-filters-oxford-approved-council/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The trial will begin after improvement works to Oxford railway station are complete, which is expected to be by October 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consultation on trial traffic filters 2022|url=https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022|access-date=6 December 2022|publisher=Oxford Mail|archive-date=5 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205200909/https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The additional bus gates have been controversial; Oxford University and Oxford Bus Company support the proposals but more than 3,700 people have signed an online petition opposing the new traffic filters for Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, and hotelier Jeremy Mogford has argued they would be a mistake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oxford University and Oxford Bus Company back traffic filters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-63500562 |publisher=BBC News |date=4 November 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115143825/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-63500562 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Opinion: Why six new bus gates will be a mistake for Oxford says top hotelier |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23076506.six-new-bus-gates-will-mistake-oxford-says-top-hotelier/ |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |date=25 October 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115143827/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23076506.six-new-bus-gates-will-mistake-oxford-says-top-hotelier/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022, Mogford announced that his hospitality group The Oxford Collection had joined up with Oxford Business Action Group (OBAG), Oxford High Street Association (OHSA), ROX (Backing Oxford Business), Reconnecting Oxford, Jericho Traders, and Summertown traders to launch a legal challenge to the new bus gates.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Legal challenge to bus gates is 'last resort' says Jeremy Mogford |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23147823.legal-challenge-bus-gates-last-resort-says-jeremy-mogford/ |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206134003/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23147823.legal-challenge-bus-gates-last-resort-says-jeremy-mogford/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Motorway====
The city is served by the [[M40 motorway]], which connects [[London]] to [[Birmingham]]. The M40 approached Oxford in 1974, leading from London to [[Waterstock]], where the A40 continued to Oxford. When the M40 extension to Birmingham was completed in January 1991, it curved sharply north, and a mile of the old motorway became a spur. The M40 comes no closer than {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} away from the city centre, curving to pass to the east of [[Otmoor]]. The M40 meets the [[A34 road|A34]] to the north of Oxford.

==Education==
===Schools===
{{Main|List of schools in Oxfordshire}}

===Universities and colleges===
{{Panorama|image = 1 oxford aerial panorama 2016.jpg|height= 300px|caption = ''Scrollable image''. Aerial panorama of the university.}}
There are two universities in Oxford, the [[University of Oxford]] and [[Oxford Brookes University]], as well as the specialist further and higher education institution [[Ruskin College]] that is part of the University of West London in Oxford. The [[Islamic Azad University]] also has a campus near Oxford. The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the [[English-speaking]] world,<ref>{{cite web|title=Introduction and history|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history?wssl=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920170044/https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history?wssl=1|archive-date=20 September 2016|access-date=22 September 2016|publisher=University of Oxford}}</ref> and one of the most prestigious higher education institutions of the world, averaging nine applications to every available place, and attracting 40% of its academic staff and 17% of undergraduates from overseas.<ref>{{cite web|title=International students|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/why-oxford/international-students?wssl=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920183441/https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/why-oxford/international-students?wssl=1|archive-date=20 September 2016|access-date=22 September 2016|publisher=University of Oxford}}</ref> In September 2016, it was ranked as the world's number one university, according to the ''[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=September 2016|title=World University Rankings 2016–2017|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only|url-status=live|magazine=Times Higher Education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231113411/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only|archive-date=31 December 2016|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> Oxford is renowned for its [[tutorial]]-based method of teaching.

====The Bodleian Library====
{{See also|Category: Libraries of the University of Oxford}}
[[File:Divinity_School_Interior_2,_Bodleian_Library,_Oxford,_UK_-_Diliff.jpg|right|thumb|The Divinity School at the [[Bodleian Library]]]]
The [[University of Oxford]] maintains the largest university library system in the United Kingdom,<ref name="uls">{{cite web|title=Libraries|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/research/libraries/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125090133/http://www.ox.ac.uk/research/libraries/index.html|archive-date=25 November 2012|publisher=University of Oxford|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and, with over 11&nbsp;million volumes housed on {{convert|120|mi|km}} of shelving, the Bodleian group is the second-largest library in the United Kingdom, after the [[British Library]]. The [[Bodleian Library]] is a [[legal deposit]] library, which means that it is entitled to request a free copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. As such, its collection is growing at a rate of over three miles (five kilometres) of shelving every year.<ref>{{cite web|date=22 September 2005|title=A University Library for the Twenty-first Century|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2005-6/supps/1_4743.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902222824/http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2005-6/supps/1_4743.htm|archive-date=2 September 2007|access-date=9 October 2007|work=University of Oxford}}</ref>

==Media==
As well as the [[BBC]] national [[radio station]]s, Oxford and the surrounding area has several local stations, including [[BBC Radio Oxford]], [[Heart South]], [[Destiny 105|First FM (formerly Destiny 105)]], [[Greatest Hits Radio]] and [[Hits Radio Oxfordshire]], along with Oxide: Oxford Student Radio<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxideradio.co.uk/ |title=Oxford Student Radio |publisher=oxideradio.co.uk |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608114135/http://oxideradio.co.uk/ |archive-date=8 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> (which went on terrestrial radio at 87.7&nbsp;MHz FM in late May 2005). A local [[TV station]], [[Six TV]]: The Oxford Channel, was also available<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milestonegroup.co.uk/310309.pdf |title=Milestone Group |publisher=Milestone Group |access-date=17 April 2010 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but closed in April 2009; a service operated by [[That's TV]], originally called That's Oxford (now That's Oxfordshire), took to the airwaves in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12873959.New_Oxfordshire_community_TV_channel__just_weeks_from_launch_/ |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |title=New Oxfordshire community TV channel 'just weeks from launch' |newspaper=Oxford Mail |date=7 April 2015 |access-date=11 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140615/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12873959.New_Oxfordshire_community_TV_channel__just_weeks_from_launch_/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city is home to a [[BBC Television]] [[newsroom]] which produces an opt-out from the main ''[[South Today]]'' programme broadcast from [[Southampton]].

Local papers include ''[[The Oxford Times]]'' (compact; weekly), its sister papers the ''[[Oxford Mail]]'' ([[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]; daily) and the ''Oxford Star'' (tabloid; free and delivered), and ''[[Oxford Journal]]'' (tabloid; weekly free pick-up). Oxford is also home to several [[advertising agencies]]. ''[[Daily Information]]'' (known locally as "Daily Info") is an event information and advertising news sheet which has been published since 1964 and now provides a connected website. ''[[Nightshift (Oxford Music Magazine)|Nightshift]]'' is a monthly local free magazine that has covered the Oxford music scene since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/archive/2000/07/06/Oxfordshire+Archive/6630975.Preview__Nightshift_night/ Preview: Nightshift night] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105092333/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/archive/2000/07/06/Oxfordshire+Archive/6630975.Preview__Nightshift_night/ |date=5 January 2012 }}", "Oxford Mail", 6 July 2000</ref>

==Culture==
===Museums and galleries===
{{See also|Category:Museums of the University of Oxford}}
Oxford is home to many [[List of museums in Oxford|museums]], [[art museum|galleries]], and collections, most of which are free of admission charges and are major [[tourist attraction]]s. The majority are departments of the [[University of Oxford]]. The first of these to be established was the [[Ashmolean Museum]], the world's first [[university museum]],<ref>{{cite book| last=MacGregor | first=A. | date=2001 | title=The Ashmolean Museum: A brief history of the museum and its collections | publisher=[[Ashmolean Museum]]/Jonathan Horne Publications }}</ref> and the oldest museum in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=Support Us|url=http://www.ashmolean.org/support/corporatesupport/about/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503032502/http://www.ashmolean.org/support/corporatesupport/about/|archive-date=3 May 2007|access-date=10 October 2007|work=The Ashmolean|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Its first building was erected in 1678–1683 to house a [[cabinet of curiosities]] given to the University of Oxford in 1677. The museum reopened in 2009 after a major redevelopment. It holds significant collections of art and archaeology, including works by [[Michelangelo]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[J. M. W. Turner|Turner]], and [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]], as well as treasures such as the [[Scorpion Macehead]], the [[Parian Chronicle|Parian Marble]] and the [[Alfred Jewel]]. It also contains "[[Messiah Stradivarius|The Messiah]]", a pristine [[Stradivarius]] violin, regarded by some as one of the finest examples in existence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashmolean Museum website, What's in the Ashmolean|url=http://www.ashmolean.org/collections/whatsin/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318080943/http://www.ashmolean.org/collections/whatsin/|archive-date=18 March 2016|access-date=18 February 2016|publisher=[[Ashmolean Museum|Oxford University Ashmolean Museum]]}}</ref>

The [[Oxford University Museum of Natural History|University Museum of Natural History]] holds the university's [[zoological]], [[entomological]] and [[geological]] specimens. It is housed in a large [[neo-Gothic]] building on [[Parks Road]], in the university's [[Science Area, Oxford|Science Area]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Oxford University Museum of Natural History Homepage|url=http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027090448/http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/|archive-date=27 October 2007|access-date=4 November 2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Museum of Natural History]]}}</ref> Among its collection are the skeletons of a ''[[Tyrannosaurus|Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' and ''[[Triceratops]]'', and the most complete remains of a [[dodo]] found anywhere in the world. It also hosts the [[Charles Simonyi|Simonyi]] Professorship of the [[Simonyi Professorship for the Public Understanding of Science|Public Understanding of Science]], currently held by [[Marcus du Sautoy]]. Adjoining the Museum of Natural History is the [[Pitt Rivers Museum]], founded in 1884, which displays the university's [[archaeological]] and [[anthropological]] collections, currently holding over 500,000 items. It recently built a new research annexe; its staff have been involved with the teaching of anthropology at Oxford since its foundation, when as part of his donation General [[Augustus Pitt Rivers]] stipulated that the university establish a lectureship in anthropology.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pitt Rivers Museum Website, About Augustus Pitt Rivers|url=http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/pitt_rivers.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417130308/https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/pitt_rivers.html|archive-date=17 April 2016|access-date=18 February 2016|publisher=University of Oxford Pitt Rivers Museum}}</ref>

The [[Museum of the History of Science, Oxford|Museum of the History of Science]] is housed on [[Broad Street, Oxford|Broad Street]] in the world's oldest-surviving purpose-built museum building.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Museum|url=http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/about/index.htm?text|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911135646/http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/about/index.htm?text|archive-date=11 September 2007|access-date=9 October 2007|work=Museum of the History of Science}}</ref> It contains 15,000 artefacts, from antiquity to the 20th century, representing almost all aspects of the [[history of science]]. In the university's [[Faculty of Music]] on [[St Aldate's, Oxford|St Aldate's]] is the [[Bate Collection]] of [[Musical Instruments]], a collection mostly of instruments from Western classical music, from the medieval period onwards. [[Christ Church Picture Gallery]] holds a collection of over 200 [[old master]] paintings. The university also has an archive at the [[Oxford University Press Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Visiting museums, libraries & places of interest – University of Oxford website|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors/visiting-oxford/visiting-museums-libraries-places|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121012410/http://www.ox.ac.uk/visitors/visiting-oxford/visiting-museums-libraries-places|archive-date=21 January 2016|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref> Other museums and galleries in Oxford include [[Modern Art Oxford]], the [[Museum of Oxford]], the [[Oxford Castle]], [[Science Oxford]] and [[The Story Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Museums and Galleries – Experience Oxfordshire website|url=http://experienceoxfordshire.org/see-and-do/museums-and-galleries.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128020922/http://experienceoxfordshire.org/see-and-do/museums-and-galleries.aspx|archive-date=28 January 2016|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref>

===Art===
Art [[Art museums|galleries]] in Oxford include the [[Ashmolean Museum]], the [[Christ Church Picture Gallery]], and [[Modern Art Oxford]]. [[William Turner (artist)|William Turner]] (aka "Turner of Oxford", 1789–1862), was a watercolourist who painted landscapes in the Oxford area. The [[Oxford Art Society]] was established in 1891. The later [[watercolourist]] and [[drafter|draughtsman]] [[Ken Messer]] (1931–2018) has been dubbed "The Oxford Artist" by some, with his [[architectural painting]]s around the city.<ref name="oxford-mail">{{cite news | url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16276730.obituary-oxford-artist-ken-messer/ | title=Obituary: Oxford artist Ken Messer | newspaper=[[Oxford Mail]] | location=UK | date=7 June 2018 | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=14 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414060512/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16276730.obituary-oxford-artist-ken-messer/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, ''The Oxford Art Book'' featured many contemporary local artists and their depictions of Oxford scenes.<ref>{{cite book| title=The Oxford Art Book: The City Through the Eyes of its Artists | editor-first=Emma | editor-last=Bennett | publisher=UIT Cambridge | date=2018 | isbn=978-1-906-860-84-4 }}</ref> The annual [[Oxfordshire Artweeks]] is well-represented by artists in Oxford itself.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.artweeks.org/festival/search?keys=Oxford&medium=All&region=All | work=Artweeks 2020 | title=Oxford | publisher=[[Oxfordshire Artweeks]] | date=2020 | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=19 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019073527/https://www.artweeks.org/festival/search?keys=Oxford&medium=All&region=All | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Music===
[[Holywell Music Room]] is said to be the oldest purpose-built music room in Europe, and hence Britain's first [[concert hall]].<ref name="tyack">{{cite book | title=Oxford: An architectural guide|author=Tyack, Geoffrey |year=1998| publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | pages=187–188 | isbn=978-0-14-071045-8}}</ref> Tradition has it that [[George Frideric Handel]] performed there, though there is little evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/news/2017/february/holywell-music-room |title=Exploring Wadham's Holywell Music Room |publisher=Wadham College |date=21 February 2017 |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113055309/https://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/news/2017/february/holywell-music-room |archive-date=13 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Joseph Haydn]] was awarded an [[honorary doctorate]] by [[Oxford University]] in 1791, an event commemorated by three concerts of his music at the [[Sheldonian Theatre]], directed by the composer and from which his [[Symphony No. 92 (Haydn)|Symphony No. 92]] earned the nickname of the "Oxford" Symphony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/haydn-in-england |title=Haydn in England |publisher=Oxford University Department for Continuing Education |date=2018 |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201222806/https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/haydn-in-england |archive-date=1 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Victorian composer [[Sir John Stainer]] was organist at [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen College]] and later Professor of Music at the university, and is buried in [[Holywell Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20013/about_oxford/450/notable_people_buried_in_oxford |title=Notable people buried in Oxford |publisher=Oxford City Council |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201181132/https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20013/about_oxford/450/notable_people_buried_in_oxford |archive-date=1 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Oxford, and its surrounding towns and villages, have produced many successful bands and musicians in the field of [[popular music]]. The most notable Oxford act is [[Radiohead]], who all met at nearby [[Abingdon School]], though other well known local bands include [[Supergrass]], [[Ride (band)|Ride]], [[Mr Big (British band)|Mr Big]], [[Swervedriver]], [[Lab 4]], [[Talulah Gosh]], [[the Candyskins]], [[Medal (band)|Medal]], [[The Egg (band)|the Egg]], [[Unbelievable Truth]], [[Hurricane No. 1]], [[Crackout (band)|Crackout]], [[Goldrush (band)|Goldrush]] and more recently, [[South Arcade]], [[Young Knives]], [[Foals (band)|Foals]], [[Glass Animals]], [[Dive Dive]] and [[Stornoway (band)|Stornoway]]. These and many other bands from over 30 years of the Oxford music scene's history feature in the documentary film ''[[Anyone Can Play Guitar (film)|Anyone Can Play Guitar]]?''. In 1997, Oxford played host to [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1's]] Sound City, with acts such as [[Travis (band)|Travis]], [[Bentley Rhythm Ace]], [[Embrace (English band)|Embrace]], [[Spiritualized]] and [[DJ Shadow]] playing in various venues around the city including [[Oxford Brookes University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-NME-Presents-Radio-1-Sound-City-Oxford-97/release/694954 |title=Discography for NME Compilation Cassette for Oxford Sound City |website=[[Discogs]] |year=1997 |access-date=10 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729022109/http://www.discogs.com/Various-NME-Presents-Radio-1-Sound-City-Oxford-97/release/694954 |archive-date=29 July 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also home to several [[brass bands]], notably the [[City of Oxford Silver Band]], founded in 1887.

===Theatres and cinemas===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Burton Taylor Theater|Burton Taylor Studio]], Gloucester Street
* Curzon Cinema, Westgate, [[Bonn Square]]
* [[Michael Pilch Studio]], [[Jowett Walk]]
* [[New Theatre Oxford|New Theatre]], [[George Street, Oxford|George Street]]
* [[North Wall Arts Centre]], [[South Parade]]
* [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] Cinema, George Street
* Odeon Cinema, [[Magdalen Street]]
* [[Old Fire Station Theatre]], George Street
* [[O'Reilly Theatre]], [[Blackhall Road, Oxford|Blackhall Road]]
* [[Oxford Playhouse]], [[Beaumont Street]]
* Pegasus Theatre,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pegasustheatre.org.uk/ | title=Pegasus Theatre | website=pegasustheatre.org.uk | location=UK | access-date=12 February 2013 | archive-date=8 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208160948/http://www.pegasustheatre.org.uk/ | url-status=dead }}, UK.</ref> Magdalen Road
* [[Phoenix Picturehouse]], [[Walton Street, Oxford|Walton Street]]
* [[Ultimate Picture Palace]], [[Cowley Road, Oxford|Cowley Road]]
* [[Vue Cinemas|Vue Cinema]], Grenoble Road
;Theatre company
* [[Creation Theatre Company]]
{{div col end}}

===Literature and film===
{{Main|Literature in Oxford|List of films shot in Oxford|List of fictional Oxford colleges}}
The city hosts the annual [[Oxford Literary Festival]] each Spring. Well-known Oxford-based authors include:

* [[Brian Aldiss]] (1925–2017), science fiction novelist, lived in Oxford.<ref name="oxfordmail.co.uk">{{cite web | url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19010791.colin-dexter-brian-aldiss-added-oxford-dictionary-national-biography/ | title=Oxford authors Colin Dexter and Brian Aldiss added to biography dictionary | date=14 January 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Vera Brittain]] (1893–1970), undergraduate at [[Somerville College, Oxford|Somerville]].
* [[John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir]] (1875–1940), attended [[Brasenose College, Oxford|Brasenose College]], best known for ''[[The Thirty-nine Steps]]''.
* [[A.S. Byatt]] (born 1936), [[Booker Prize]] winner, undergraduate at Somerville.
* [[Lewis Carroll]] (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), (1832–1898), author of [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]], was a student and Mathematical Lecturer of [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]].
* [[Susan Cooper]] (born 1935), undergraduate at Somerville, best known for her [[The Dark Is Rising Sequence|''The Dark Is Rising'']] sequence.
* Sir [[William Davenant]] (1606–1668), poet and playwright.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Davenant, Sir William |volume= 7 |last= Gosse |first= Edmund William |author-link= Edmund William Gosse| pages = 851–852 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Colin Dexter]] (1930–2017), wrote and set his [[Inspector Morse]] [[detective novels]] in Oxford.<ref name="oxfordmail.co.uk"/>
* [[John Donaldson (author)|John Donaldson]] ({{Circa|1921}}–1989), a poet resident in Oxford in later life.
* [[Siobhan Dowd]] (1960–2007), Oxford resident, undergraduate at [[Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford|Lady Margaret Hall]].
* [[Victoria Glendinning]] (born 1937), undergraduate at Somerville.
* [[Kenneth Grahame]] (1859–1932), educated at [[St Edward's School, Oxford|St Edward's School]], wrote ''[[The Wind in the Willows]]''.
* [[J. I. M. Stewart|Michael Innes]] (J. I. M. Stewart) (1906–1994), Scottish novelist and academic, Student of [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]]
* [[P. D. James]] (1920–2014), born and died in Oxford; wrote about ''[[Adam Dalgliesh]]''
* [[C. S. Lewis]] (1898–1963), student at [[University College, Oxford|University College]] and Fellow of Magdalen.
* [[T. E. Lawrence]] (1888–1935), "Lawrence of Arabia", Oxford resident, undergraduate at [[Jesus College, Oxford|Jesus]], postgraduate at [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen]].
* [[Iris Murdoch]] (1919–1999), undergraduate at Somerville and fellow of [[St Anne's College, Oxford|St Anne's]].
* [[Carola Oman]] (1897–1978), novelist and biographer, born and brought up in the city.
* [[Iain Pears]] (born 1955), undergraduate at [[Wadham College, Oxford|Wadham]] and Oxford resident, wrote ''[[An Instance of the Fingerpost]]''.
* [[Philip Pullman]] (born 1946), undergraduate at [[Exeter College, Oxford|Exeter]], teacher and resident in the city.
* [[Dorothy L. Sayers]] (1893–1957), undergraduate at Somerville, wrote about ''[[Lord Peter Wimsey]]''.
* [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] (1892–1973), undergraduate at Exeter and later professor of English at [[Merton College, Oxford|Merton]], author of [[The Lord of the Rings]]
* [[John Wain]] (1925–1994), undergraduate at [[St John's College, Oxford|St John's]] and later Professor of Poetry at [[Oxford University]] 1973–78.
* [[Oscar Wilde]] (1854–1900), 19th-century poet and author who attended Oxford from 1874 to 1878.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Wilde, Oscar O'Flahertie Wills |volume= 28 |last= Chisholm |first= Hugh |author-link= Hugh Chisholm | pages = 632–633 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Athol Williams]] (born 1970), [[South Africa]]n poet, postgraduate at [[Hertford College, Oxford|Hertford]] and [[Regent's Park College, Oxford|Regent's Park]] from 2015 to 2020.
* [[Charles Williams (British writer)|Charles Williams]] (1886–1945), editor at [[Oxford University Press]].

Oxford appears in the following works:{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}<!-- the statement that Oxford appears in foobar needs a source citation for each one, unless one source can be found to support 100% of the claims. -->
{{Annotated image| image  = South_Park_Oxford_snow.jpg| caption = "Dreaming spires" of Oxford University viewed from [[South Park, Oxford|South Park]] in the snow| width = 300 | height = 150 | image-width = 360 | image-left = 0 | image-top = -50| icon = none}}
* the poems [[The Scholar Gypsy]] and [[Thyrsis (poem)|Thyrsis]] by [[Matthew Arnold]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems | title=Poems | publisher=Poetry Foundation | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=17 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017022226/https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems | url-status=live }}</ref> Thyrsis includes the lines: "And that sweet city with her dreaming spires, She needs not June for beauty's heightening,..."
* ''[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]]''
* "[[Harry Potter]]" (all the films to date)
* ''The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica'' by [[James A. Owen]]
* ''[[Jude the Obscure]]'' (1895) by [[Thomas Hardy]] (in which Oxford is thinly disguised as "Christminster")<ref>{{cite web |url=https://oxfordandempire.web.ox.ac.uk/only-thickness-wall-empire-and-oxford-thomas-hardys-jude-obscure-1895 |title='Only a thickness of wall': Empire and Oxford in Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure (1895) |first=John |last=Gray |work=Oxford and Empire Network |publisher=University of Oxford |date=n.d. |access-date=24 January 2023 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124183413/https://oxfordandempire.web.ox.ac.uk/only-thickness-wall-empire-and-oxford-thomas-hardys-jude-obscure-1895 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[Zuleika Dobson]]'' (1911) by [[Max Beerbohm]]
* ''[[Gaudy Night]]'' (1935) by [[Dorothy L. Sayers]]
* ''[[Brideshead Revisited]]'' (1945) by [[Evelyn Waugh]]
* ''[[A Question of Upbringing]]'' (1951 ) by [[Anthony Powell]]
* ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1951 ) by [[Walt Disney]]
* ''[[Second Generation (1964 novel)|Second Generation]]'' (1964) by [[Raymond Williams]]
* ''[[Young Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1985) by [[Steven Spielberg]]
* ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' (1987–2000)
* ''Where the Rivers Meet'' (1988) trilogy set in Oxford by [[John Wain]]
* ''All Souls'' (1989) by [[Javier Marías]]
* ''[[The Children of Men]]'' (1992) by [[P. D. James]]
* ''[[Doomsday Book (novel)|Doomsday Book]]'' (1992) by [[Connie Willis]]
* ''[[His Dark Materials]]'' trilogy (1995 onwards) by [[Philip Pullman]]
* ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' (1997)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordshirelive.co.uk/news/oxfordshire-news/james-bond-every-oxfordshire-filming-5976698 |title=James Bond: Every Oxfordshire filming location in No Time To Die, Spectre and more |first=Sofia |last=Della Sala |date=28 September 2021 |publisher=Oxfordshire Live |access-date=23 June 2023 |archive-date=22 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622205652/https://www.oxfordshirelive.co.uk/news/oxfordshire-news/james-bond-every-oxfordshire-filming-5976698 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[The Saint (1997 film)|The Saint]]'' (1997)
* ''[[102 Dalmatians]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Endymion Spring]]'' (2006) by Matthew Skelton
* ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]'' (2006–15)
* ''[[The Oxford Murders (film)|The Oxford Murders]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Mr. Nice (book)|Mr. Nice]]'' (1996), autobiography of [[Howard Marks]], subsequently a 2010 film
* ''[[A Discovery of Witches]]'' (2011) by [[Deborah Harkness]]
* ''[[X-Men: First Class]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Endeavour (TV series)|Endeavour]]'' (2012 onwards)
* ''The Reluctant Cannibals'' (2013) by Ian Flitcroft
* ''[[Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again]]'' (2018)
*''[[The Late Scholar]]'' by [[Jill Paton Walsh]], part of the continuation of the [[Lord Peter Wimsey]] books of [[Dorothy L. Sayers]]
*''[[Wonka (film)|Wonka]]'' (2023)<ref name="wonkacite">{{cite news |title=Wonka film showcases historic locations in Dorset and Oxford |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-67565371 |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=BBC News |date=30 November 2023}}</ref>

==Sport==
{{More citations needed section|date=October 2022}}

===Football===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
File:East stand, Kassam Stadium, Oxford United - geograph.org.uk - 1705831.jpg|[[Kassam Stadium]]
File:London Road, Manor Ground, Oxford.jpg|The [[Manor Ground, Oxford|Manor Ground]], off London Road in Headington
</gallery>
The city's leading [[football club (association football)|football club]], [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], compete in the [[EFL Championship]], the second level of the [[English football league system]], following promotion in the [[2023–24 Oxford United F.C. season|2023–24 season]]. They play at the [[Kassam Stadium]] (named after former chairman [[Firoz Kassam]]), which is near the [[Blackbird Leys]] housing estate and has been their home since relocation from the [[Manor Ground, Oxford|Manor Ground]] in 2001.

[[Oxford City F.C.]] is a semi-professional football club, separate from [[Oxford United]], they play in the [[National League North]], the sixth tier, two levels below the [[Football League]] in the [[English football league system|pyramid]].

[[Oxford City Nomads F.C.]] was a semi-professional football club that ground-shared with Oxford City and played in the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic league]].

===Rowing===
[[Oxford University Boat Club]] compete in the world-famous [[The Boat Race|Boat Race]]. Since 2007 the club has been based at a training facility and boathouse in [[Wallingford, Oxfordshire|Wallingford]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oubc.org.uk/contact-us |title=Contact Us |publisher=Oxford University Boat Club |access-date=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162646/http://www.oubc.org.uk/contact-us |archive-date=2 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> south of Oxford, after the original boathouse burnt down in 1999. Oxford Brookes University also has an [[Oxford Brookes University Boat Club|elite rowing club]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-22754793 |title=Oxford Brookes University opens elite rowing facilities |date=4 June 2013 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913115451/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-22754793 |url-status=live }}</ref> and there are public clubs near [[Donnington Bridge]], namely the [[City of Oxford Rowing Club]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://oxfordrowingclub.org.uk/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=City of Oxford Rowing Club |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913115453/https://oxfordrowingclub.org.uk/about-us/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Falcon Boat Club<ref>{{cite web |url=https://falconboatclub.org.uk/about |title=About Falcon |publisher=Falcon Boat Club |access-date=13 September 2022}}</ref> and Oxford Academicals Rowing Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordacademicals.org.uk/about/contact-us/ |title=Find Us |publisher=Oxford Academicals Rowing Club |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307161607/https://www.oxfordacademicals.org.uk/about/contact-us/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Cricket===
[[Oxford University Cricket Club]] is Oxford's most famous club with more than 300 Oxford players gaining international honours, including [[Colin Cowdrey]], [[Douglas Jardine]] and [[Imran Khan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketintheparks.org.uk/#!international-players/crls|title=International Players|publisher=Oxford University Cricket in the Parks|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930143746/http://www.cricketintheparks.org.uk/#!international-players/crls|archive-date=30 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Oxfordshire County Cricket Club]] play in the Minor Counties League.

===Athletics===
Headington Road Runners are based at the OXSRAD sports facility in [[Marsh Lane, Oxford|Marsh Lane]] (next to [[Oxford City F.C.]]) is Oxford's only road [[running club]] with an average annual membership exceeding 300. It was the club at which double [[Olympic Games|Olympian]] [[Mara Yamauchi]] started her running career.

===Rugby league===
In 2013, [[Oxford Rugby League]] entered [[rugby league]]'s semi-professional [[RFL League 1|Championship 1]], the third tier of British rugby league. [[Oxford Cavaliers]], who were formed in 1996, compete at the next level, the [[Conference League South]]. [[Oxford University]] (The Blues)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourlfc.com/ |title=Welcome to OURLFC |publisher=Oxford University Rugby League |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011060650/http://www.ourlfc.com/ |archive-date=11 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Oxford Brookes University]] (The Bulls)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/oburl |title=Oxford Brookes University Rugby League |publisher=Facebook |access-date=27 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101092801/https://www.facebook.com/oburl |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> both compete in the rugby league BUCS university League.

===Rugby union===
[[Oxford Harlequins RFC]] is the city's main [[rugby union]] team and currently plays in the South West Division. [[Oxford R.F.C]] is the oldest city team and currently plays in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Championship. Their most famous player was arguably Michael James Parsons known as Jim Parsons who was capped by [[England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/7339.html|title=Rugby Union|publisher=ESPN|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016021134/http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/7339.html|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Oxford University RFC]] are the most famous club with more than 300 Oxford players gaining International honours; including [[Phil de Glanville]], [[Joe Roff]], [[Tyrone Howe]], [[Anton Oliver]], [[Simon Halliday]], [[David Kirk]] and [[Rob Egerton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourfc.org/About.aspx|title=International Players|publisher=Oxford University Rugby Club|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016021134/http://www.ourfc.org/About.aspx|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[London Welsh RFC]] moved to the [[Kassam Stadium]] in 2012 to fulfil their [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Premiership]] entry criteria regarding stadium capacity. At the end of the 2015 season, following [[relegation]], the club left Oxford.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13357129.RUGBY_UNION__London_Welsh_quit_Oxford_s_Kassam_Stadium___but_could_be_back/ |title=RUGBY UNION: London Welsh quit Oxford's Kassam Stadium – but could be back |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=Michael |last=Knox |date=27 June 2015 |access-date=11 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312055529/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13357129.RUGBY_UNION__London_Welsh_quit_Oxford_s_Kassam_Stadium___but_could_be_back/ |archive-date=12 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Hockey===
There are several [[field hockey]] clubs based in Oxford. The Oxford Hockey Club (formed after a merger of City of Oxford HC and Rover Oxford HC in 2011) plays most of its home games on the pitch at [[Oxford Brookes University]], Headington Campus and also uses the pitches at Headington Girls' School and [[Iffley Road]]. Oxford Hawks has two [[astroturf]] pitches at [[Banbury Road, Oxford|Banbury Road]] North, by [[Cutteslowe Park, Oxford|Cutteslowe Park]] to the north of the city.

===Ice hockey===
[[Oxford City Stars]] is the local [[Ice Hockey]] Team which plays at [[Oxford Ice Rink]]. There is a senior/adults' team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordstars.com/|title=oxfordstars.com|access-date=28 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010220325/http://www.oxfordstars.com/|archive-date=10 October 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and a junior/children's team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordstars.co.uk/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417031750/http://www.oxfordstars.co.uk/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2011|title=oxfordjuniorstars.co.uk|work=oxfordstars.co.uk}}</ref> The [[Oxford University Ice Hockey Club]] was formed as an official University sports club in 1921, and traces its history back to a match played against [[Cambridge]] in [[St Moritz]], Switzerland in 1885.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oxforduniversityicehockey.com/|title=OUIHC|website=oxforduniversityicehockey.com|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218210231/http://oxforduniversityicehockey.com/|archive-date=18 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The club currently competes in Checking Division 1 of the [[British Universities Ice Hockey Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buiha.org.uk/club.php?club=5|title=OUIHC BUIHA|work=buiha.org.uk|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214081619/http://buiha.org.uk/club.php?club=5|archive-date=14 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Speedway and greyhound racing===
[[File:Speedway racing, Cowley (1980).JPG|thumb|Speedway racing at Cowley in 1980]]
[[Oxford Cheetahs]] [[motorcycle speedway]] team has raced at [[Oxford Stadium]] in [[Cowley, Oxfordshire|Cowley]] on and off since 1939. The Cheetahs competed in the [[Elite League (speedway)|Elite League]] and then the [[Conference League (speedway)|Conference League]] until 2007. They were Britain's most successful club in the late 1980s, becoming British League champions in 1985, 1986 and 1989. Four-times world champion [[Hans Nielsen (speedway rider)|Hans Nielsen]] was the club's most successful rider. [[Greyhound racing]] took place at the Oxford Stadium from 1939 until 2012 and hosted some of the sport's leading events such as the [[Pall Mall Stakes]], [[The Cesarewitch]] and [[Trafalgar Cup]]. The stadium remains intact but unused after closing in 2012.

===American football===
[[Oxford Saints]] is Oxford's senior [[American football]] team. One of the longest-running American football clubs in the UK, the Saints were founded in 1983 and have competed for over 40 years against other British teams across the country.

===Gaelic football===
Éire Óg Oxford is Oxford's local [[Gaelic Football]] team. Originally founded as a [[hurling]] club by Irish immigrants in 1959,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eireogoxford.co.uk/eire-og-60th-booklet/ |title=Éire Óg Oxford: Sixty Years |type=online booklet |date=2019 |publisher=Éire Óg Oxford |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206141323/http://www.eireogoxford.co.uk/eire-og-60th-booklet/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the club plays within the Hertfordshire league and championship,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eireogoxford.co.uk/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=Eire Óg Oxford |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206141323/http://www.eireogoxford.co.uk/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> being the only Gaelic Football club within Oxfordshire. Hurling is no longer played by the club; however, Éire Óg do contribute players to the Hertfordshire-wide amalgamated club, St Declans. Several well-known Irishmen have played for Éire Óg, including [[Darragh Ennis]] of ITV's ''[[The Chase (British game show)|The Chase]]'', and [[Stephen Molumphy]], former member of the [[Waterford county hurling team]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

==Religion==
Oxford has been closely associated with the religious life of Britain. It was the birthplace of the [[Oxford Movement]] within [[Anglicanism]], the [[Wesleyan Church]], and, following the expulsion of theologian [[John Wycliffe]] from the University of Oxford in 1381, the [[Lollardy|Lollard]] movement.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} The city is also notable for its religious architecture, which includes [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford]], the [[University Church of St Mary the Virgin]], the [[Oxford Oratory]], [[Oxford Central Mosque]], and the [[Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies]].
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180px">
File:Christ Church cathedral.jpg|Christ Church Cathedral, exterior
File:Christ Church Cathedral Interior 1, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|Choir and organ inside Christ Church Cathedral
</gallery>

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in England}}
Oxford is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decAC/Town_twinning_occw.htm|title=Oxford's International Twin Towns|access-date=24 January 2015|work=Oxford City Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109003504/http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decAC/Town_twinning_occw.htm|archive-date=9 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Bonn]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], Germany<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bonn.de/wirtschaft_wissenschaft_internationales/internationale_aktivitaeten/staedtepartnerschaften/index.html?lang=en|title=City Twinnings|access-date=1 August 2013|work=Stadt Bonn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410070837/http://www.bonn.de/wirtschaft_wissenschaft_internationales/internationale_aktivitaeten/staedtepartnerschaften/index.html?lang=en|archive-date=10 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Grenoble]], [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]], France<ref>{{cite web|author=Jérôme Steffenino, Marguerite Masson |url=http://www.grenoble.fr/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?page_id=92 |title=Ville de Grenoble – Coopérations et villes jumelles |publisher=Grenoble.fr |access-date=29 October 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071014074034/http://www.grenoble.fr/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?page_id=92 |archive-date = 14 October 2007}}</ref>
*[[Leiden]], [[South Holland]], Netherlands
*[[Manizales]], [[Caldas Department]], Colombia<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thecitypaperbogota.com/living/the-oxford-manizales-connection-of-town-versus-gown/15133 | title=The Oxford – Manizales connection of "town versus gown" | first=Alexander | last=Bragg | date=21 October 2016 | work=The City Paper | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=20 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020090404/https://thecitypaperbogota.com/living/the-oxford-manizales-connection-of-town-versus-gown/15133 | url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[León, Nicaragua|León]], [[León Department]], [[Nicaragua]]
*[[Perm, Russia|Perm]], [[Perm Krai]], Russia (suspended in 2022 after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19971378.oxford-city-council-ends-unpopular-perm-twin-link-u-turn/ |title=Oxford City Council ends unpopular Perm twin link in U-turn |first=Tim |last=Hughes |date=4 March 2022 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306180459/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19971378.oxford-city-council-ends-unpopular-perm-twin-link-u-turn/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ura.news/news/1052536858 |title=Оксфорд разорвал отношения с Пермью из-за спецоперации на Украине |publisher=Ura.news |date=5 March 2022 |accessdate=2022-03-08 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305125348/https://ura.news/news/1052536858 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Ramallah]], [[West Bank]], [[Palestine]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1027/historic_moment_as_oxford_and_ramallah_in_palestine_become_twin_cities|title=Historic moment as Oxford and Ramallah in Palestine become twin cities|first=Oxford City|last=Council|website=www.oxford.gov.uk|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728025405/https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1027/historic_moment_as_oxford_and_ramallah_in_palestine_become_twin_cities|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Wrocław]], [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Lower Silesia]], Poland
*[[Padua]], [[Veneto]], Italy<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1233/oxford_padua_ramallah_%E2%80%93_twin_cities_recognised | title=Oxford, Padua, Ramallah – twin cities recognised | publisher=[[Oxford City Council]] | date=4 November 2019 | access-date=18 October 2020 | archive-date=26 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126153709/https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1233/oxford_padua_ramallah_%E2%80%93_twin_cities_recognised | url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Freedom of the City==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City]] of Oxford.

===Individuals===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice Admiral]] [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson]]: 22 July 1802.
* [[Arthur Annesley, 11th Viscount Valentia]]: 6 December 1900.
* [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] [[Reginald Tyrwhitt|Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt]]: 3 February 1919.
* Admiral of the Fleet [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|Lord Beatty]]: 25 June 1919.
* [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig]]: 25 June 1919.
* [[Michael Sadler (educationist)|Sir Michael Sadler]]: 18 May 1931.
* [[Benjamin R. Jones]]: 4 September 1942.
* [[William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield]]: 15 January 1951.
* [[Robert Menzies|Sir Robert Menzies]]: 6 June 1953.
* [[Alic Halford Smith]]: 10 February 1955.
* [[Vivian Smith, 1st Baron Bicester]]: 1 March 1955.
* [[Clement Attlee]]: 16 January 1956.
* [[Basil Blackwell|Sir Basil Blackwell]]: 12 January 1970.
* [[Olive Gibbs]]: 17 June 1982.
* [[Nelson Mandela]]: 23 June 1997.
* [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]: 15 December 1997 (Revoked by [[Oxford City Council]] on 27 November 2017).
* [[Colin Dexter]]: 26 February 2001.
* [[Professor]] [[Richard Doll|Sir Richard Doll]]: 16 September 2002.
* [[Roger Bannister|Sir Roger Bannister]]: 12 May 2004.
* [[Philip Pullman|Sir Philip Pullman]]: 24 January 2007.
* Professor [[Christopher Brown (museum director)|Christopher Brown]]: 2 July 2014.
* [[Benny Wenda]]: 17 July 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-49009326 |title=Benny Wenda: West Papua leader receives freedom of Oxford |work=BBC News |date=17 July 2019 |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811134939/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-49009326 |archive-date=11 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col end}}
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20002/your_council/334/freedom_of_the_city |title=Freedom of the City |access-date=11 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811102038/https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20002/your_council/334/freedom_of_the_city |archive-date=11 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Military units===
* [[Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]]: 1 October 1945.
* [[1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd)]]: 7 November 1958. 
* [[Royal Green Jackets]]: 1 January 1966.
* [[The Rifles]]: 1 February 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12964442.Regiment_to_exercise____Freedom_of_the_City___/ |title=Regiment to exercise 'Freedom of the City' |date=21 May 2015 |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627062454/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12964442.Regiment_to_exercise____Freedom_of_the_City___/ |archive-date=27 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|England}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Bishop of Oxford]]
* [[Earl of Oxford]]
* [[List of attractions in Oxford]]
* [[List of Oxford architects]]
* [[Mayors of Oxford]]
* [[Oxfam]]
* [[Oxford bags]]
* The [[Oxfordian (stage)|Oxfordian]] Age – a subdivision of the [[Jurassic]] Period named for Oxford
{{div col end}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
<!-- Please order books alphabetically by the author's last name -->
* {{cite magazine |editor-first=B.W.C. |editor-last=Cooke |date=January 1960 |title=The Why and the Wherefore: Distances from London to Oxford |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |volume=106 |issue=705 |publisher=Tothill Press |location=Westminster }}
* {{cite book |last=MacDermot |first=E.T. |title=History of the Great Western Railway, vol. I: 1833–1863 |year=1927 |publisher=[[Great Western Railway]] |location=Paddington }}
* {{cite book |last=MacDermot |first=E.T. |title=History of the Great Western Railway, vol. II: 1863–1921 |year=1931 |publisher=[[Great Western Railway]] |location=Paddington }}
* {{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Vic |last2=Smith |first2=Keith |series=Country Railway Routes |title=Oxford to Bletchley |publisher=Middleton Press |date=July 2005 |isbn=1-904474-57-8 }}
* {{cite book |last=Sager |first=Peter |title=Oxford & Cambridge: An Uncommon History |year=2005 |publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]] |isbn=0-500-51249-3 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Saint |first=Andrew |year=1970 |title=Three Oxford Architects |journal=Oxoniensia |publisher=[[Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society]] |volume=XXXV |url=http://www.oahs.org.uk/oxo/vol%2035/Saint.doc |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030922/http://www.oahs.org.uk/oxo/vol%2035/Saint.doc |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |last=Simpson |first=Bill |title=A History of the Railways of Oxfordshire |volume=Part 1: The North |year=1997 |publisher=Lamplight |location=Banbury and Witney |isbn=1-899246-02-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Simpson |first=Bill |title=A History of the Railways of Oxfordshire |volume=Part 2: The South |year=2001 |publisher=Lamplight |location=Banbury and Witney |isbn=1-899246-06-1 }}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Aston |first1=Michael |author1-link=Mick Aston|last2=Bond|first2=James|title=The Landscape of Towns|series=Archaeology in the Field Series|year=1976|publisher=[[J.M. Dent]] & Sons Ltd|location=London |isbn=0-460-04194-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Attlee|first=James|title=Isolarion: A Different Oxford Journey|year=2007|publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]|location=Chicago|isbn=978-0-226-03093-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Curl|first=James Stevens|title=The Erosion of Oxford|year=1977|publisher=Oxford Illustrated Press Ltd|isbn=0-902280-40-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Dale|first=Lawrence|title=Towards a Plan for Oxford City|year=1944|publisher=[[Faber and Faber]]|location=London}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/europe/articles/2008/06/22/history_learning_beauty_reign_over_oxford/|title=History, learning, beauty reign over Oxford|first=Anne|last=Gordon|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=22 June 2008|access-date=23 June 2008|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103215601/http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/europe/articles/2008/06/22/history_learning_beauty_reign_over_oxford/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |last=Morris |first=Jan |author-link= Jan Morris |title= Oxford |year=2001 |publisher= Oxford Paperbacks |location= Oxford |isbn= 978-0-19-280136-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Sharp |first=Thomas |author-link= Thomas Wilfred Sharp |title= Oxford Replanned |year=1948 |publisher=The Architectural Press |location= London}}
* {{cite book |last=Tyack |first= Geoffrey |title= Oxford An Architectural Guide |year=1998 |publisher= Oxford University Press |location= Oxford; New York |isbn=0-19-817423-3}}
* {{cite book |first=A. R. |last=Woolley |title= The Clarendon Guide to Oxford |publisher= Oxford University Press |edition= 3rd |year=1975 |isbn=0-19-951047-4 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Oxford}}
{{Commons}}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Oxford |volume=20 |pages=405–414 |first=Osbert John Radcliffe |last=Howarth |short=1}}

{{Oxfordshire}}
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