Day 1 Part I : University of Oxford

Hertford Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Sighs

Radcliffe Camera

Early morning of the 26th of December, we took a tour bus from London to Oxford. The city of Oxford is around one and a half hour driving distance northwest of London. This city is known as the "city of the dreaming spires," referring to the beautiful architecture at the University of Oxford.

Due to holiday season, we couldn't get into many colleges. We simply wander over the campus and saw some significant architectures. The campus is so beautiful and I can speak endlessly of its beauty. I recommend two landmarks here: The Bridge of Sighs and the Radcliffe Camera.

The Bridge of Sighs at the University of Oxford connects two buildings of Hertford College. Original name of this bridge is the Hertford Bridge, but because the bridge looks similar to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, it is known as the Bridge of Sighs at Oxford. 

The story of Bridge of Sighs originated from Venice, Italy. The original Bridge of Sighs connects the prison and the interrogation rooms over a river in Venice. The bridge only has two small little windows through which the convicts would sigh at their last view of beautiful Venice before their imprisonment. This is an interesting story. I have heard of the Bridge of Sighs for years and never knew about the story behind it. That's why I love traveling! You always know something new!  

The second landmark I visited in Oxford is the Radcliffe Camera, as people call it the "Rad Cam." It is right across from the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. The Rad Cam is served as the reading room of the Bodleian Library. Radcliffe Camera got its name from Dr. John Radcliffe, who funded the library; And Camera means room in Latin.
There are also many cute shops and cafés in Oxford. It is totally worth going if you have a chance to visit England!

You can explore more about the City of Oxford and the University of Oxford by the following links:
City of Oxford
University of Oxford