The pandemic continues to wreck a lot of long-time plans and I'm tired lamenting about it. I'm suppose to travel back home during my annual leave this month but unfortunately, the quarantine rules overseas remain hectic. I never want to spend my short trip on isolation. With the light and positivity to make my vacation productive, I went out of London again besides my BinJin fangirl duties. Haha!
I've journeyed to two cities with the most prestigious universities alongside a quaint village in the South. So which is better between Cambridge and Oxford? And is it really worth visiting the Cotswolds? Lets find out. ;)
*NB: Safety COVID precautions were strictly observed during these tours.
First stop: CAMBRIDGESHIRE
After a 45minute train ride from King's Cross St Pancras International, we did a 30-minute walk going towards the town centre. Well, the walk wasn't that bad as you pass along the historical lane. Every structure was old-fashionably built which I find very enchanting especially its mini alleys ✨
Sometimes there are trivias written on the walls as to which famous person has studied there.
Besides being the oldest university press in the world, I believe this is also where the booklets from the International English Language Test System (IELTS) came from! 😅 Truly, this is the home of the English language and literature. 🖤
The town has its own market square too where you can buy artworks, food and souvenirs.
Yet, the highlight of a Cambridge trip is to go on a river punting--a boat ride that gives a tour around the main landmarks of the area.One boat can have a max of 12 persons (£15 each). Here are some of the places that we've crossed (our tour guide did very well explaining every part of it!☺️)
The Bridge of Sighs
Wren Library
King's College Chapel
Mathematical Bridge- formerly known as the Wooden Bridge, it was architecturally structured with arcs and triangles. Impressive!
One thing that caught my attention was that there wasn't really a specific 'Cambridge University'--the name itself comprises the whole campus as it is surrounded by several colleges. Though, the ones that we visited are Trinity College, St John's College and King's College.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to go inside as it was often closed on a Sunday plus COVID rules ☹️
And yes, I had this trip with my Asian colleagues which felt like we had a school fieldtrip 😂 Likewise, it was fun and educational. Touring Cambridge is certainly possible to be finished for a day with non-stop walking across the place. ;)
credits to @charlynserrano for making this video! 🖤
So now, we head on to OXFORDSHIRE--the town of dreaming spires. 🖤
This time, I went back travelling on my own! It even felt new to me again after not being able to do it for quite a long time! Hence, I had my fair share of mishaps as usual--let alone that my tripod got broken so I ended up doing selfies 😭 Plus, I wasn't satisfied with this tour I joined by Rabbie's--They were great when I had them in Austria but now, their service was kinda lame. I was expecting the tour guide to give us a walkthrough yet we ended up having a 'leisure at your own' pace. He only either gave us a map or dropped us off to a meeting point then that's it. Bummer 💢 Since I wouldn't want to waste my time ranting at those moments, I just went and followed what was given to us. Though there are a few that I didn't get to see anymore as 2hrs in Oxford is NOT enough. I missed entering a museum again like I have never been to any museums in England before!🙈 In fact, I like this town compared from the former. ^^
Oxford's version of the Bridge of Sighs. The name actually came from one of the bridges in Venice, Italy. Across that bridge is the Bodleian Museum and Library.
It reminds me so much of Hogwarts or old town Edinburgh again even though I'm no potterhead! Haha 😅
From L-R: the beautiful Radcliffe Camera and All Soul's College.
Similar to the situation in Cambridge, I sadly did not get to go inside the university because it's closed for COVID restrictions. Too bad that I didn't witness the banquet hall :( But the high street is something to admire of due to its mix of modern and ancient architecture. Apart from conducting walking tours, the students held their own souvenir shops and I highly suggest buying the Oxford tees/hoodies here! (price range between £3-7).
How cool is it to buy for a box old books for just £1?! In spite that this is the origin of a famous dictionary, the university specializes in Philosophy, Economics and Politics ;)
The place was also filled with campus churches and I'm glad that I entered St Mary's Church (it's been a very long time since I went inside a church due to this friggin' pandemic ☹️).Like in Cambridge, there's a fee where you can climb up this tower to see a breathtaking view of the city.
Everything is exquisite in Oxford that I wish to come back someday ✨ However, it's just a bit far from London having a 2-hr coach drive.
Lastly, lets talk about my short side trip to the Cotswolds. It's actually part of the Rabbie's tour and the first stop we went prior to Oxford. The Cotswolds is known for its cobbled-house community filled with antique shops and wool-making business adding up to its quintessential aspect. Consequently, I didn't find it as extraordinary as what other people said. I mean, there's not much about it besides a quiet area of gorgeous stone buildings...
We went to this town called Bibury known as "The Most Beautiful Village in England"
There lies Arlington Row which houses an array of traditional Cotswolds cottages that are commonly owned by weavers.
Christ Hall
Whereas the high street has these sorts of craft shops. There are many interesting items for the home in it. ^^ Then next to that is a good cafe where I simply enjoyed an afternoon cream tea & scone😋 Oh yes, it's worth a try to dine like an English person sometimes! lol
Whether you fancy between Oxford or Cambridge, both have several similarities with different educational offers. I guess I wouldn't mind doing a post-graduate course if I get to study in either of those campuses!But the fees are definitely golden. Haha! 😅 So lemme just tour their areas instead; it was an educational university-hopping after all!
NEXT STOP? Cardiff!
