 |
| Christ Church College – Oxford University |
My first ever visit to Oxford University was exhilarating!. My sister and I booked a day tour because we didn’t want to be bothered with the transportation. I am usually opposed to guided tours because I feel that there was no freedom to do whatever you want and there was always time constraints. I was very happy that I made this exception. The tour itself was very informative and lively. The guide gave us all enough time to soak in the glory of Oxford University.
 |
| Grand staircase leading up to the Great Hall |
The university itself is a town with about 33 colleges inside. Our main hub was Christ Church. Plenty of British PM’s came from this college. It’s also one of the most prestigious of all the colleges in Oxford. The meadow, gardens and grounds were all well-kept and impeccable. For those who are not in the know, the grand staircase leading to the great hall and the great hall itself were models for the main sets in Harry Potter (first scene at Hogwarts and their own great hall). The structures of the colleges were a heaven for architecture buffs. The commanding towers and spires were a sight to behold indeed.
 |
| William Shakespeare’s House |
We also stopped by Stratford-Upon-Avon. This was William Shakespeare’s birthplace. We toured Ann Hathaway’s house and garden. The house with its thatched roof was quaint (unfortunately, they prohibit taking pictures of the interior) and cozy. The floors creaked and ceilings low. Exposed wooden beams were very much present in both houses. The gardens were immaculate. The flowers were well tended with their rich hues of yellow, purple, orange and other melange of colors. Because we couldn’t take pictures inside, we took advantage of the exterior and the gardens. We then proceeded to Shakespeare’s home in town. Same can be said for his house. The gardens were unbelievably amazing. It was very touristy at best but one can still see the charm in Stratford. It was littered with tiny shops selling items from all things Shakespeare to porcelain tea sets. We even had cream tea at Benson’s. This gem of a cafe is inside one of the buildings along the main road.
 |
| The garden in front of Ann Hathaway’s House |
