A very early start in mid August to catch www.harrodscoaches.co.uk bus trip to Oxford for the day. T and I meet at 6.45 a.m. at their depot just outside Downham Market to catch the bus leaving at 7.00 a.m. I have had a few reminders to get out of bed when the alarm goes off this time!
Paul was our bus driver and after a pleasant journey we were dropped off at 11.00 in Beaumont Street, near to the Ashmolean Museum. We had until 5.00, when we would be collected near St Giles statue. We have approximately 6 hours to “do Oxford”. Obviously not enough time, but we will do our best.
We walked further into the centre of Oxford, passing the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and the nearby colleges. Gosh this is a beautiful city and all these places I want to spend more time in – especially the Bodleian, but I’m not allowed- too short on time.
Neither can I go in Blackwells Bookshop ( oldest bookshop in the U.K.). I really want to go in here but T says no, she will never get me out. She’s probably right! There is talk of a train link from Cambridge to Oxford – they need to make this happen as then we could return and spend more time in each place.
By now it’s time to eat. It’s too early for lunch, so we have brunch at Vaults and Garden www.thevaultsandgarden.com in Congregation House.
We both choose Oxford Cheese Rarebit with a selection of salads. For £7.95, this seemed very reasonable. The salads were lovely, well seasoned and dressed – on my plate there was rice with capers and olives, dill, green salad with parsley and some coleslaw. Congregation Hall dates from 1320 and was the first central university building where the Ruling Council or Congregation met. It’s a beautiful fan vaulted room and makes you feel like you are eating in the refectory at school, but not in a bad way! There are also some tables outside in the garden but we chose to stay in as it was very hot out there. Visiting the loo before leaving was interesting – they are absolutely tiny. You need to be a contortionist to get in and shut the door!
Next we opted for the City Bus Tour, www.citysightseeingoxford.com/ which is always a good way, if you have limited time, to see most of the city and listen to a commentary on the way. We got off at the Westgate Centre for a little retail therapy at www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk. We then walked a short distance to Alice’s Shop aliceinwonderlandshop.com. It’s the only place in Oxford that Lewis Carroll gave a name check to in his book and it is a charming little place.
A little further on we visited the covered market which T says is very different to how she remembered it. Her father was a policeman and his beat covered Oxford City Centre and the covered market. Back then there seemed to be a lot of greasy spoon cafes – it’s definately not like that now!
After leaving the market we decided to stop again for a late lunch/ early tea at the Plough at No 38. where we could have 2 courses for £14.95. We had been drawn in by “ unrivalled views from 1st floor” ( which was basically a view down Ship Street – very quaint ). We couldn’t sit in the window seats but we did have a very nice view of the kitchen and our meal being prepared! The food was very tasty, well presented and reasonably priced. T had chosen soused mackerel to start, whilst I had pork terrine. We both had fish and chips to follow.
Time to wander back via Magdalen Street and wait for the bus. We had a little time left so we went into the Ashmolean for a cup of tea and something to takeaway to eat on the bus home. We had a wander round the gift shop and went into the cafe. We chose a couple of muffins to take with us and a pot of tea. It wasn’t the best experience to end our visit to Oxford. The cups were dirty and had to be changed and the tables weren’t cleared or cleaned regularly. When we decided to eat our muffins on the way home neither of us finished them – they were dry and stale. I expect they had been there since early morning and we bought them just before the museum closed so maybe it wasn’t a wise choice!
5 o’clock and we are all back on the bus for the journey home. Harrods do lots of these trips all over the country, year round. The buses are always comfortable, the drivers friendly and well informed. I expect we will do many more trips with them in the future.
Travels on a Senior Railcard 