Oxford Photowalk

Saturday, 17th August 2024

A group of 11 members met in Oxford at the Radcliffe Camera for the Oxford Photowalk. The weather was bright and sunny, and the city had plenty of people. I had prepared a route that stayed quite close to the centre, and had time for exploration of each area visited.

From Radcliffe Camera to the Covered Market

From the Radcliffe Camera we headed on to the Bodleian Library and then to Broad Street. These spots had plenty of tourists and street food stalls in Broad Street, but it was a little early for lunch. Meeting at the end of Broad Street the group headed down George Street and in to Gloucester Green market. Some took advantage of the benches as well as taking portraits of the vendors on the stalls. From there we headed down New Inn Hall Street to Bonn Square, and in to Westgate where we ventured to the rooftop. At this point we agreed to meet up in an hour to allow everyone to have time for a lunch break. Some headed to sandwich shops, and most enjoyed the sunshine.

Extra steps!

I headed down to Christ Church Meadow and down to the river for my sandwiches. A few extra steps was good for my total! There was a rowing competition taking place so that was another chance for photos. After lunch I headed back to Westgate to meet up with the group, a few thousand more steps done.

From the centre of Westgate we headed down Penny Farthing Place and in to Pembroke Street, before crossing St Aldgate’s and turning in to Christ Church via the Broad Walk. Again there was time for photos of the front of the college and some of the group took advantage of the shade provided by the broad leaf trees along the Broad Walk. We then headed up Grove Walk through the narrow gate and in to the cobbled Merton Street. We walked a little way before turning through Logic Lane and back to the High Street.

At this point the group had a choice, go to Magdalen College or New College, and we chose New College. So we headed along Queens Lane and paid the entry to New College. It was a remarkable change to be in the comparatively quiet environment, and even with a few large international groups there was space and peace. With an hour to explore most of the group visited the Dinning Hall, Cloisters, Chapel and gardens with an option to rest weary feet taken advantage of too.

We exited New College and headed along New College Lane to the “Bridge of Sighs”. Then we skirted the Bodleian library via Catte Street then headed out of Radcliffe Square via Brasenose Lane and then to Market Street before entering the Covered Market. Clearly after all that we need a cup of tea so found a cafe with space for us all. Tea and cakes made an effective end of the day as we were also close to the bus stops for the park and ride buses to take us back to our cars.

Here’s a few of the pictures from the day…

 

Oxford Open Doors

If this has inspired you or raised interest in visiting Oxford, it will be Oxford Open Doors where lots of buildings will be open to the public. This is on the weekend of 14/15 September, and there’s more information on the Oxford Preservation Trust website.

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The summer program is now complete, the next meeting will be the first of the new season on Tuesday 10th of September in Weston Turville. Though there is a deadline of 8th September for uploading your Chairman’s Challenge entries so we can share them on the first night back.