Student Accommodation

Oxford

University of Oxford

The oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford, has been providing the highest levels of teaching since 1096. It is rich with history, seen on every corner. In fact, the blackboard that Albert Einstein used when lecturing at the university has been preserved and is on display at the History of Science Museum, including the equations he wrote on it.

The University of Oxford is world-renowned as a centre of educational excellence. It is famous for its exceptional teaching, the standard of research available, and the learning opportunities and advantages that it has offered students over its long and important history.

Students at the University of Oxford enjoy personalised, tutorial teaching with experts in specific subject fields, and live and work within college communities (there are 39 colleges within the University) that provide a truly safe and supportive learning environment.

The Bodleian Library

As you would expect from such a high-quality learning establishment, students have access to some of the finest libraries and study spaces anywhere. There are over 100 libraries in total, which places it firmly at the top, as the largest library system in the UK.

The Bodleian Library is a legal deposit library, which means that it can request a copy (both print and digital) of any item that has been published in the UK or Ireland. As a student in Oxford, you might never actually need to purchase a book in your entire time there. Radcliffe Camera (the Rad Cam) is one of the most iconic reading rooms in the city, whilst The Upper Gladstone Link is the relaxed library in town, with large, comfortable sofas and study areas that allow for some relaxation between hard work sessions. Codrington Library at All Souls College, on the other hand, is a members’ club, and your tutor must endorse your application.

The Students’ Union

The Students’ Union has a wide range of student-led work available, including in-house student media positions and an extensive volunteering network. The SU is a place you can come to study, for meetings, find free advice on a wide range of issues, and even get your bike fixed (Oxford is a town that is well-known as being cycle-friendly).

Your Oxford student accommodation is also well placed for one of the highest-ranked modern universities in the UK, Oxford Brookes. It has a reputation as a university with plenty of exciting student opportunities, international students, excellent teaching provisions, and strong links with industry on a local, national, and international level. The emphasis at Oxford Brookes is for students to gain direct learning opportunities through innovative course provision and industry links.

Oxford Brookes

Oxford Brookes was initially the Oxford School of Art when it was founded in 1865, before the School of Science was incorporated five years later in 1870. In 1891 it was taken over by Oxford City Council and renamed the Oxford City Technical School. After various iterations, Oxford Brookes became a university in 1992.

Greene’s College

Greene’s College Oxford is Oxford’s oldest tutorial college, renowned for its personalised one-to-one teaching approach. Catering to students of all ages and backgrounds, including international students, it offers flexible A-level courses and university preparation programmes. Greene’s provides a supportive environment that fosters academic excellence and independent thinking, making it a unique choice for those seeking a tailored educational experience.

Career Advice

At Oxford Brookes, emphasis is placed on hands-on experience, and it is no surprise that there is stellar career advice available to students. This includes one-to-one career consultations, help searching for part-time and graduate jobs, employability training, and interview advice. There is also an extensive industry network to take advantage of and to sign up for work placements.

Societies for Students

The students’ union provides over 100 societies for students to explore, hosting a wide range of events throughout the year, and it runs a Safety Bus to help students travel safely around the city at night when they are stuck without transport.

The Best Student Cheap Eats

You will never go hungry as a student in Oxford. It can be a little expensive in this city when considering everyday life, and it is important that when you first move into your new Oxford student accommodation, you get to grips with the different food options, find the best student cheap eats, and discover the cuisine that you like. There is certainly plenty on offer in this diverse city.

Cheap Student Meals

Don’t worry, although at our comfortable student accommodation in Oxford, you will have a great kitchen to cook some cheap student meals (you know, the stereotypical beans on toast that generations of students have survived on!), we can help you find some great places to eat without breaking the bank.

Falafel House in Gloucester Green is one of the best examples of great and cheap student eats in Oxford. Operating as a market stall, it serves up incredibly tasty wraps packed full of fresh falafel, hummus, spinach, halloumi, and tahini. It is a great way to recharge your batteries.

If you are looking for fantastic South Indian cooking, Dosa Park is the place to turn. Serving up cheap and authentic dosas, idlis, thalis, and a wide range of curry and rice, head on over to Park End Street and fill your boots for a very reasonable price.

Independent Dining

With any type of cuisine you can think of, Oxford has some fantastic examples of independent dining, and for authentic Italian food, head on over to Buongiorno E Buonasera. Located at Gloucester Green, it serves Roman-style pinsa flatbread with fresh, quality toppings in a relaxed setting, alongside Italian coffee, cocktails and more.

Hidden away between Magdalen Street and Gloucester Green, the White Rabbit is a traditional pub serving up some of the best pizza in the city (actually, some of the best pizza you will find anywhere). You cannot book here, so be sure to get down early when you fancy it, with the pizzas always a reasonable price. Take a look at the lunchtime deals on offer too. The calzones are a brilliant and hearty option — essentially a pizza folded in half and stuffed with your choice of filling.

Fast Food

What about at night, though? There are some incredibly tasty options for you to consider after a night out, or as a break before heading on to a big night out after the pub. The best thing about late-night food as a student in Oxford is that you will find chip vans at all times of night serving cheesy chips, burgers and kebabs, and greasy treats to soak up the alcohol after a night out.

Great Nightlife on Offer

There are so many hidden gems in Oxford on a night out. Whether you are looking for a traditional old pub, a student night out, or a club, your Oxford student accommodation is the perfect base from which to explore the great nightlife on offer in this fine city. One of the biggest pubs in Oxford, and one of the most central, is the King’s Arms. The KA is open later than most other pubs in town, and can often be seen as the home of some of the more well-spoken, louder students in town. It is the favourite watering hole of the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS).

Another firm favourite for students, locals, and tourists alike is the Turf. The Turf Tavern is hidden away up a narrow and winding alley that begins at the Bridge of Sighs. It is famous for its range of ciders and is the place to go after studying and definitely to celebrate after graduation.

Rose & Crown

If you are looking for something a little bit out of the way, the Rose & Crown is just a short 15-minute walk up Banbury Road. It offers some of the finest pub grub in the area, and is known as a friendly and welcoming place where you can expect to sit down with the landlord and staff and have a few beers and a chat about anything and everything.

Moving on to bars, the Duke of Cambridge is a place where you can sit with a cocktail in hand and feel very grand (without having to pay extortionate prices if you go at the right time). Visit during happy hour between 4 pm and 9 pm during the week, and between 4 pm and 7.30 pm at weekends and drink great cocktails for under a fiver. JTs Cocktail Bar is both a bar and a nightclub, but it is definitely a place that is better served as a bar, where you can get relatively cheap drinks before heading out to a better club.

Nightclubs and Bars

For clubs, Oxford has some great student nights to explore. Each college tends to have a specific club to call its own on a unique night of the week. Oxford’s nightclub scene is relatively small, meaning you will cycle through the same venues with your mates over the course of your time as a student — which is all part of the charm.

Go Clubbing

For proper clubbing, try out Thursday nights at The Bridge on Hythe Bridge Street. It is probably the best student night of the week and is really popular. You are always likely to bump into someone you know at The Bridge.

Another great club option is Plush, which is Oxford’s premier LGBTQ+ nightclub on Frewin Court. It is open and welcoming to all and is a fantastic night out with a great atmosphere, regular events, and some of Oxford’s best DJs.

College Sports Teams

At the University of Oxford, students have access to over 80 sports clubs. On top of that, they can also choose to join any number of college sports teams and take up recreational activities. Oxford is a town that is great for those who like to cycle, with plenty of opportunities to cycle every day as you go about your life in the city. It is certainly a pleasant city to walk and cycle around, with plenty of sights to see and a pleasant environment right from your base at our Oxford student accommodation.

Within many of the colleges, you will find sports pitches and facilities to take advantage of, whilst the main hub of activity at Oxford University Sport on Iffley Road has a swimming pool, sports hall, racket sports courts, gym, and is also the location of the running track where Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. Over at Oxford Brookes University, there are plenty of sports clubs and team opportunities, and the university actually came in at number one for rowing at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Regatta in 2017.

The Varsity Matches

The beauty of sport when living in any university town is that if you want to take part, you can do so. It does not matter whether you want to take up running to stay fit and healthy, to join a team sport to make new friends, or to play competitively; you will find what you are looking for.

When it comes to sport at Oxford, however, there is the added competitive edge of Varsity Matches against rival Cambridge. This has been an annual state of affairs since 1827, and those representing Oxford in major sports are awarded Blues (with half-Blues awarded to those representing Oxford in minor sports).

Rowing Culture

The most iconic of sports at Oxford is rowing, with many students trying it out in their first year. There is a rowing culture in many of the colleges in town, but remember that to train, you will be getting up very, very early (so be prepared for 6 am runs down to the Isis). There are many different races and aspects to rowing at Oxford, with the world-renowned Boat Race on the Thames in the spring, the pinnacle of the sport for many.

Football

Football is another major sport, and the Varsity Match is one of the oldest regular football fixtures in the world, having been played every year since 1873 (apart from during the wars). It has even been played at some top venues, including Selhurst Park, The Hive, and Craven Cottage. If you fancy watching some football during your time living in Oxford, head on over to the Kassam Stadium to watch Oxford United take on their competitors.

Rugby

Rugby is also an important part of university life, with the Varsity Matches drawing large crowds at StoneX Stadium in North London. It often includes current or former professional players who happen to be studying at the same time. Other big sports at Oxford include hockey and croquet.

Good Value Supermarkets

When you first move into your new Oxford student accommodation, you will want to get to grips with the shopping situation as soon as possible. There are plenty of shops and good-value supermarkets close by, so you will never starve, but Oxford is home to a plethora of exciting and vibrant markets, shops, and independent boutiques, as well as your go-to high street brands and big-name stores.

For your main shopping areas and high street brands, Queen Street, Westgate Shopping Centre, and Cornmarket Street are the areas to visit. You will find all the brands you know and love in these areas, with the Westgate Shopping Centre a particular delight after years of refurbishment.

High Street Rabbit Holes

There is more to shopping in Oxford than just the big-name brands, though. On the High Street, you will find a fantastic rabbit-hole of an antiques centre with over 40 dealers selling books, prints, collectables, and jewellery. Across the Magdalen Bridge onto Cowley Road, you will find plenty of stores to explore, suitable for all budgets. Indigo is one such place, selling ethically sourced clothing, whilst Vanilla at Summertown is full of colourful clothes, accessories, and homewares.

Gloucester Green Market

Markets are a great way to get to know a new city, and there are plenty in Oxford. On Gloucester Green, you can find some great street food, local vegetables and fruit, and many other delights at the market on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Wednesday is a great day to pick up fresh produce to cook with at home. The covered market is an 18th-century treat, with access from High Street, Golden Cross, or Market Street. Inside you will find a treasure trove of local suppliers, butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg stalls, little boutique stores selling vintage clothing, traditional gifts and arts and crafts.

The Oldest Museum in the UK

For history, art, and culture, there are few better places in the entire country than Oxford. From your home at our comfortable Oxford student accommodation, you will be just a short walk from some interesting and exquisite attractions and events throughout the year.

The Ashmolean is the oldest public museum in the UK, and has a permanent collection of art and archaeology that is astounding, including Guy Fawkes’ lantern from the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, displayed in the museum’s original collections gallery. It also hosts some brilliant art exhibitions throughout the year.

The Museum of Natural History on Parks Road is another fantastic museum, home to some amazing dinosaur artefacts and information, whilst the Pitt Rivers Museum is a famous collection of ethnographic and archaeological objects from around the globe.

Fantastic Calm Sanctuaries

The city is stunning, providing many pleasant walks. Visit The Botanic Gardens opposite Magdalen College to find a spot of calm just away from the hustle of modern-day life and studies. If you fancy getting away from the stresses of the day, why not head to the river to take part in Punting? You can choose to do it on your own or hire someone to punt for you, allowing you ample time to enjoy the scenery with a drink and a picnic. Port Meadow is another fantastic, calm sanctuary, just a short walk away from the city centre.

Debate Society

At the Oxford Union, you can tap into one of the world’s most prestigious debating societies. It invites the highest level of guest speakers from all areas of culture, politics, history, entertainment, and society, and has over 200 years of history of debate and discussion.

May Morning

Big annual events in the city include Cowley Road Carnival in the summer, which offers street food, music, drink, and entertainment. Oxford Literary Festival in March and April attracts some of the leading figures in the industry, whilst St. Giles’ Fair in September is an exciting time with a fair and rides, food stalls, and large crowds of locals and students.

May Morning is a 500-year-old tradition where the Magdalen College choir sings the Hymnus Eucharisticus from the top of Magdalen Tower at 6 am on May 1st, always attracting a large crowd of people, many of whom have stayed up all night to witness the occasion.