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Oxford is full of surprises and quaint stores and one of the best is Alice鈥檚 Shop, which you will find on Saint Aldate鈥檚. It鈥檚 the perfect place to find a present for adults and children alike.

150 years ago the shop was a grocer鈥檚 store that also sold sweets. Alice Liddell and her sisters often visited it. Alice inspired the main character in Lewis Carroll鈥檚 books: 鈥淎lice in Wonderland鈥�, 鈥淭hrough the Looking Glass鈥� and 鈥淲hat she Saw There鈥�.

The shop appears in 鈥淭hrough the Looking Glass鈥�, where it is run by a sheep. In the book it is full of wondrous objects that float away whenever Alice gets too close to them.

Today it is a famous gift shop where you can buy Alice-related souvenirs, such as lockets, charm bracelets, rings and earrings with tiny figurines of characters including the Cheshire Cat, the Herald and the Queen of Hearts.

Among the best selling items are the watches and clocks. Anyone would be delighted with the White Rabbit鈥檚 pocket watch in silver and chrome, or a wooden Mad Hatter clock, a ceramic-tile Humpty-Dumpty clock or even the very strange Queen of Hearts Backward Clock, which you have to look at in a mirror to get the time.

Other gift items include stationary, postcards, posters, t-towels, toys and delicate ornaments in stone resin or in hand-cast pewter and enamel. About the only thing the shop doesn鈥檛 sell is books, so if you want to introduce your children to Lewis Carroll鈥檚 delightful stories, you鈥檒l have to go to the Museum of Oxford鈥檚 gift shop.

Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Christ Church stands as one of the University of Oxford's largest and most affluent colleges. Noteworthy for its distinctive architecture, the college boasts several significant structures, including Tom Tower, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, Tom Quad, Oxford's largest quadrangle, and the Great Dining Hall, which also served as the gathering place for King Charles I's parliament during the English Civil War.

Christ Church boasts an impressive list of alumni, counting thirteen British prime ministers, more than any other Oxbridge college, as well as King Edward VII, King William II of the Netherlands, seventeen Archbishops, and the renowned author Lewis Carroll, known for penning "Alice in Wonderland."

Christ Church houses one of the UK's most significant private collections of drawings, featuring artworks by renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo. This collection consists of approximately 300 paintings and 2,000 drawings, and a curated selection of these pieces is accessible to the general public at the specially designed Christ Church Picture Gallery. Most of these artworks were generously donated by a former college member, General John Guise (16823-1765), which paved the way for the establishment of the first-ever public art gallery in Britain.

The college's buildings and grounds have featured prominently in literary works such as Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited" and in a minor capacity in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." More recently, it has served as a backdrop for the film adaptations of J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series and Philip Pullman's novel "Northern Lights" (released in the United States as "The Golden Compass"). These appearances have catapulted Christ Church to its status as the most frequented Oxford college by tourists, attracting nearly half a million visitors each year.

***Harry Potter Walk***
Christ Church Dining Hall
Contrary to belief, no filming actually took place inside the famous Christ Church Dining Hall. Still, it did provide an immense inspiration for Hogwart鈥檚 very own Great Hall. Founded in the time of King Henry VII and being alma mater to thirteen British Prime Ministers, it's no wonder that the filmmakers opted to replicate this historical location at their own Warner Bros. studios. Matchingly magnificent, both the Christ Church Dining Hall and its studio copy are worth visiting, even if only to compare, all the same.

Bodley Tower Staircase
Probably one of the most famous filming spots, the grand stone staircase, located inside Bodley Tower at Christ Church College, is a prominent feature in the first two Harry Potter movies. Among the several memorable scenes filmed here are Harry鈥檚 first day at Hogwarts; a flashback sequence between Tom Riddle and Dumbledore; and a scene near the end of the first film where Harry is reunited with Ron and Hermione after being released from Hogwarts Infirmary 鈥� the one many Potterheads, no doubt, hold dear to their hearts.

Christ Church Cloisters
The Cloisters played a starring role in Harry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone, as Hogwarts Hallways.

Another notable scene associated with the hallways is that when Harry has just been made seeker for the Gryffindor quidditch team. In it, Hermione tells him that being a seeker is 鈥渋n his blood,鈥� upon which she goes on to show him a display case containing a quidditch trophy with his father鈥檚 name inscription.

Carfax Tower stands at the junction of four streets 鈥� Cornmarket Street to the north, Saint Aldate鈥檚 to the south, High Street to the east, and Queen Street to the west 鈥� which is probably the exact geographical centre of Oxford.

The tower stands on the north-east corner of the junction and is the only remnant of the 13th century Saint Martin鈥檚 Church. From 1122 to 1896, this had been the City Church of Oxford until it was partially demolished to make way for a new road. Further road widening led to the rest of the church being pulled down in 1900.

The tower stands 23 metres high and no other building in the city is allowed to be higher. It has a ring of six bells that were cast in 1676 by Richard Keene. They still ring out the quarter hour, but the two quarter boys that used to strike them are no longer in use. The bells are rung on special occasions by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers.

Behind the tower you will see a solitary tombstone. It is that of William Butler, who was once the mayor of Oxford. He was buried here in 1865, but when the church was demolished, the tombstone was forgotten and, together with the tower, it is now classed as a Grade II listed building.

Corpus Christi College, located on Merton Street within Oxford University, is one of the university's smaller but highly esteemed institutions. It was established in 1517 by Richard Foxe, the Bishop of Winchester. Interestingly, the college's library was concurrently constructed and was notable for its extensive collection of over 80,000 books in English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, making it quite remarkable for its time.

Corpus Christi College is particularly renowned for its scholars' pivotal role in the translation of the King James Bible. Commissioned by the Crown, two of its groups were among the six responsible for translating the Scriptures from their original Hebrew and Greek texts into English.

Within Corpus Christi, theologians were entrusted with translating eleven books from the Prophets (ranging from Isaiah to Malachi), as well as the four Gospels, Acts, and Revelation from the New Testament. This monumental undertaking spanned eleven years and culminated in the publication of the Bible in 1611.

The Main Quad of the college features notable structures such as the tower, dining hall, and the Chapel. In its center stands a sundial surmounted by a pelican, placed there in 1581 by Charles Turnbull. The pelican holds significance as it is a part of the college's coat of arms and symbolizes Christ. According to legend, the pelican tears at its own breast to nourish its offspring, drawing a parallel to Christ's self-sacrifice for the salvation of humanity.

A second quad was constructed in the 18th century, with the Fellows Building exemplifying the Neo-classical architectural style. This quad offers scenic views of Christ Church Meadow.

Merton College, established in 1264 by Walter de Merton, who served as the Lord Chancellor to King Henry III and later to King Edward I, has a rich history. Among its original buildings, the Hall and the Chapel were completed in 1297, but today, only the chapel remains. The chapel is a splendid example of early English Gothic architecture, featuring an imposing east window. Subsequent additions to the college include the South Transept in the 14th century and the North Transept and the Tower in the mid-15th century.

After the dissolution of monasteries in 1548, the college acquired Saint Alban Hall from the Littlemore Convent, although it remained a distinct institution until 1881.

During the English Civil War, Merton College served as the Royalist headquarters and hosted members of Charles I's court, as well as foreign dignitaries like Queen Henrietta Maria of France, who stayed in what is now known as the Queen's Room, situated above the arch between the Fellows and the Front Quads.

Over time, the college expanded its holdings along Merton Street, acquiring the former Parish Church of Saint John and three adjacent houses, forming the north range of the Front Quad.

At one point, Merton College owned extensive land, stretching from the current site of Christ Church in the southeast part of the city to the eastern garden. Corpus Christi College now occupies the land at the west end, under a lease from Merton.

Merton College boasts an impressive list of alumni and academics, including four Nobel laureates and the renowned writer J. R. R. Tolkien, who held the position of Merton Professor of English Language and Literature from 1945 to 1959. Known for its academic excellence, Merton College consistently ranks at the top of the Norrington Table and is recognized as one of the wealthiest colleges in Oxford.

Many of the colleges at Oxford University claim to be the oldest, but in reality, University College holds that distinction. Its main entrance is on the High Street. Legend has it that King Alfred, famous for the burnt cakes incident, founded the college in 872. However, the actual foundations were laid in 1249, with funding provided by William of Durham.

Unfortunately, very few of the medieval buildings from that era exist today. They were replaced in the 17th century by the Main Quad, which was constructed starting in 1634 but not completed until 1676. The Radcliffe Quad was built in 1719, the New Building in 1842, and the Library in 1861.

The college is divided by Logic Lane, a cobbled street, which features a short covered bridge over the entrance on High Street. On the eastern side of the lane, you'll find the students' lodgings, while on the western side are the Library, the Hall, the Chapel, and the two college quads.

University College has strong connections with several influential individuals. Notable alumni include Clement Attlee, who served as the British Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951; Harold Wilson, who was British Prime Minister in two non-consecutive terms (1964-1970 and 1974-1976); Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001); Stephen Hawking, the renowned English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author; C. S. Lewis, the British writer and lay theologian best known for "The Chronicles of Narnia"; and Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the major English Romantic poets, widely recognized as one of the greatest lyric and philosophical poets in the English language.

In 1892, a small domed room was constructed by Basil Chambers to house the Shelley Memorial. The statue of the great poet lying on an Italian beach, commissioned by Lady Shelley and sculpted by Edward Ford, was placed there. At one point, the room was humorously filled with water and goldfish, and the Rector had to install railings around the statue to prevent students from painting Shelley's private parts in vivid colors. Unfortunately, the attempts to remove the paint caused the marble to dissolve.

The Radcliffe Camera, despite its name, isn't a camera in the technical sense; rather, it is the first circular library ever constructed in the United Kingdom. In this context, "camera" is synonymous with "chamber."

John Radcliffe, a royal physician, expressed his desire to build a library at the University to house his collection of scientific materials. This led to a debate among several colleges over which of them should have the honor of hosting the library. Ultimately, none of the colleges were chosen.

To make room for the library, several terraced houses on Cattle Street, the Black Hall, and some outbuildings from Brasenose College were demolished. Constructed in 1749 by James Gibbes in the English Palladian architectural style, the exterior of the Radcliffe Camera appears to have three stories. The ground floor is rusticated, while the first floor is divided into sections by ten pairs of Corinthian columns. Above this section is a lantern and a dome covered in lead.

Inside the building, the first floor serves as an open gallery that runs along the walls. There is a 2-meter-high statue of John Radcliffe, sculpted by John Rysbrack. In 1912, an underground archives room was established, connected to the Bodleian Library through a passage.

The Radcliffe Camera houses an impressive collection of over 600,000 books and now functions as a reading room affiliated with the Bodleian Library. Unfortunately, it is not accessible to the general public.

Lincoln College, a constituent institution of the University of Oxford, situated on Turl Street, stands out as one of the university's most fascinating establishments. Established in 1427 by Richard Fleming, the Bishop of Lincoln, it comprises three distinct quadrangles: the Front Quad, constructed in the 15th century; the Chapel Quad, erected between 1608 and 1631; and the Grove Quad, dating back to the 19th century. As a result, it is often lauded for preserving the ambiance of a 15th-century college more faithfully than any other in Oxford.

The Chapel, built in the Early Gothic style, boasts enameled glass windows, a technically challenging feat accomplished by the skilled Abraham Van Linge. The east end window portrays twelve biblical scenes, with the top six drawn from the New Testament and the bottom six from the Old Testament. The north window showcases the twelve Prophets, while the south window features the twelve Apostles. Separating the ante chapel from the main chapel, the rood screen is crafted from cedar. The ceiling is adorned with intricate carvings, and the front pews display figurines of Moses, Aaron, and the saints Peter and Paul.

The college's library is located within the converted All Saints Church, renowned for its spire, which contributes to Oxford's iconic "dreaming spires." The bell tower houses a set of eight bells that are still rung regularly.

Deep Hall, the college's bar, is situated beneath the Great Hall and is one of the oldest parts of the institution. It connects to the wine cellars of the Master Common Room and Junior Common Room, extending deep under the Grove Quad. Notably, Lincoln College houses one of the United Kingdom's oldest operational medieval kitchens.

The college boasts an impressive list of alumni, including figures such as John Radcliffe, John le Carr茅, and Rachel Maddow, among many others.

Exeter College's primary entrance is located on Turl Street. It holds the distinction of being the fourth oldest college within the esteemed Oxford University, established back in 1314. Its founder, Walter de Stapleton, who served as the Bishop of Exeter, envisioned a modest institution dedicated to the education of future clergymen. In its early days, the college had space for just 15 students simultaneously.

During the 16th century, the college underwent significant expansion thanks to the generosity of Sir William Petre, an alumnus who included it in his will. The Front Quad, completed in 1710, stands on the site of the original medieval buildings, with only Palmer's Tower from 1432 surviving from that era. At the base of the tower, you'll find a memorial honoring the college members who lost their lives during the Second World War.

The quad also features the impressive Great Hall, constructed in 1618, showcasing a stunning vaulted ceiling. However, the quad is somewhat overshadowed by the chapel, designed by Sir George Scott in 1860, inspired by the Sainte Chapelle in Paris.

In Fellows Garden, you'll find the Library designed by Sir George in the style of the 13th century. To the left of the Garden, you'll encounter the Divinity School and Convocation House, with Brasenose Lane on the right, and at the far end, the Mound, offering scenic views of Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College.

Margary Quad includes the Rector's Lodging, another creation of Sir George, while the remainder of the quad was completed in 1964, including the Thomas Wood Building, commemorating the college's 650th anniversary.

Initially, Exeter College drew students primarily from the Devonshire gentry. However, over time, it has become associated with a diverse array of notable alumni, including figures like J. R. R. Tolkien, Richard Burton, Alan Bennett, and Philip Pullman.

Balliol College is situated on Broad Street and boasts a rich history, having been established in 1263, making it the second oldest among Oxford University's colleges. Its founder, John de Balliol, once served as the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, although this occurred in a different era than the legendary exploits of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in Sherwood Forest.

The original structures of the college have long since vanished, with the oldest surviving sections dating back to 1431, comprising the north and west ranges of the Front Quad. The Masters' Dining Hall, libraries, and Senior Common Room, though slightly older, also contribute to its historical charm. The buildings surrounding the Garden Quad are more recent additions, with the south-west side being constructed in 1720, the Fisher Building in 1759, the west side in 1826, the Masters' Lodgings in 1860, and the Junior Common Room in 1912. In 1857, the chapel, designed by William Butterfield, was erected.

Balliol College has its share of cherished traditions, one of which hails from the 1960s when a student introduced a tortoise named Rosa to the college. Rosa resided there for an impressive 43 years, and the individual responsible for her well-being held the esteemed title of "Comrade Tortoise." Rosa disappeared in 2004, but another tortoise has since taken her place.

Each June, Corpus Christi College hosts a tortoise race, with students bringing their own tortoises to participate. During Rosa's tenure, Balliol College emerged victorious in the race three or four times, and they continue to harbor high hopes for her successor.

The list of notable alumni from Balliol College is impressive and includes the current (as of 2020) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, as well as three former prime ministers, H. H. Asquith, Harold Macmillan, and Edward Heath. Other distinguished alumni encompass Harald V of Norway, Empress Masako of Japan, five Nobel laureates, and a multitude of literary and philosophical luminaries such as Shoghi Effendi, Adam Smith, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Aldous Huxley.

While Oxford University was initially established by clergy members with a primary focus on theology education, it quickly evolved to serve various purposes beyond academic study. One such multifunctional building is the Sheldonian Theatre.

For numerous centuries, graduation ceremonies were conducted at Saint Mary the Virgin on High Church. These events often transformed into lively celebrations, a stark contrast to the solemn religious setting. This displeased the church's clergy to the extent that in 1660, they sought assistance from Gilbert Sheldon, who served as the University's Chancellor. Sheldon, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury, not only embraced the idea but also personally financed the construction of a dedicated venue for these ceremonies.

The theater's design was entrusted to Sir Christopher Wren, who departed from the prevalent Gothic architectural style. Instead, he drew inspiration from the 1st-century BC Theatre of Marcellus in Rome. However, a challenge arose due to the D-shaped structure being too wide for the roof beams to support. To overcome this issue, Wren employed a geometric grid pattern, originally devised by John Wallis in 1648. This pattern featured a lattice framework of timber trusses and crossbeams, eliminating the need for additional supporting pillars. In 1802, George Saunders oversaw the reconstruction of the roof.

Adorning the ceiling are 32 oil-on-canvas panels, forming a captivating fresco that narrates the story of Truth, Arts, and Sciences triumphing over Ignorance within the University. Today, in addition to graduation ceremonies, the theater serves as a venue for various events such as conferences, lectures, and music recitals.

A remarkable feature of the theater is its octagonal lantern situated at the center of the roof, with windows on all sides. This offers splendid panoramic views of the city and is accessible to the general public.

Unfortunately, if you are not a student of Hertford College, you won鈥檛 be able to cross the Bridge of Sighs, but you can certainly admire it from street level and add a photo of it to your collection of Oxford鈥檚 marvellous structures.

The real name of the bridge is the Hertford Bridge and it was built in 1914 by Sir Thomas Jackson. It took its popular name from the fact that it is supposed to look just like the bridge of the same name in Venice. Actually, it resembles the Rialto Bridge more than anything else, but the Bridge of Sighs sounds more romantic.

The bridge is a fine example of the Quadrature of the Parabola, developed by Archimedes in the 3rd century BC 鈥� a rather difficult geometrical concept in that the area of a parabolic segment is 4/3 of a certain inscribed triangle. It all comes down to the triangle (top) of the bridge being supported by the arch (parabola) because they are of the same base length and height.

Leaving the Maths lesson behind, the bridge is covered and glass panelled and links the college鈥檚 Old Quad with the New Quad. According to popular legend, the college once closed the bridge to overweight students, forcing them to get some exercise by taking the long route from one building to another.

***Harry Potter Walk***
Conveniently easy to spot behind Oxford鈥檚 very own Bridge of Sighs, the ancient (almost 200-year-old) giant Oak Tree, featured during a duel between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, can be seen in New College Cloisters. And while the cloisters themselves are closed to the public, a photo of the tree can still be snapped from the roadside!

Bodleian Library is the main research library of Oxford University, and if you are not a student, you can visit it on a guided tour which should be booked in advance.

The Bodleian is one of the oldest reference libraries in Europe and one of the six legal deposit libraries in the United Kingdom, which means that a copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland is required by law to be deposited here.

The 1st library was founded by Thomas Cobham, the Bishop of Worcester, in the 14th century. It was a chained library 鈥� the books were chained to the shelves to stop people pinching them. In 1437, after the Duke of Gloucester donated a vast number of manuscripts, the building proved too small, so Duke Humphrey鈥檚 Library was built at Divinity School.

Over the years, the library fell into disuse until 1598 when a Fellow of Merton College, Thomas Bodley, had the place renovated and enlarged to receive his collection of books. It reopened in 1602 and took its present-day name. It was also Bodley who made an agreement with the Stationer鈥檚 Company in 1610 to put a copy of each of their books in the library. This agreement became the Deposit Law in the 19th century.

The library expanded in 1612 and 1637 and grew popular with Fellows to donate or bequeath their collections. The New Library was built in 1937 and today a tunnel under Broad Street connects the Old and the New Bodleian.

The library holds a staggering 11 million books and other reading matter, 117 miles of shelves and 400 staff members. Among the ancient manuscripts here is a copy of the Magna Charta and the Song of Roland. It also houses one of the last copies of the Guttenberg Bible.

***Harry Potter Tour***
Hidden away in the Bodleian Library, the Duke Humfrey鈥檚 reading room revels in a magical atmosphere. Boasting imposing high walls and an intricately painted ceiling, even the smallest of Harry Potter fans will fail to ignore this eye-catching beauty. Presented as the main Hogwarts Library in the film series, it is most memorable for the scene in The Philosopher鈥檚 Stone, when Harry uses his Cloak of Invisibility to sneak into the restricted section of the library. We see Harry creeping around here before he is given away by a screaming book.

Oxford University had its origins in academic institutions and monastery buildings where theology was the primary subject of study. However, these early establishments did not survive the Reformation period. Trinity College, located on Broad Street, now occupies the site where Durham College Monastery was established back in 1268.

The only remaining part of the original monastery is the east section of Durham Quad, which now houses the college library. In 1555, Sir Thomas Pope purchased the buildings and land with the intent of creating a college. He hoped that future generations would remember him through their prayers since he had no children to carry on his legacy. His final resting place is within the chapel, next to the altar.

The college's West Tower is adorned with four statues representing Astronomy, Geometry, Medicine, and Music. In 1688, a two-story building designed by Sir Christopher Wren was constructed in the Garden Quad to accommodate students. The neoclassical chapel, designed by Henry Aldrich, was added in 1694.

In 1883, the college underwent expansion, with the construction of the Front Quad overseen by Sir Thomas Jackson. In 1928, the Memorial Library was erected to honor the members who had lost their lives during World War I. Further expansion took place in the 1960s when several cottages and 17th-century houses were acquired, and the Cumberbatch Building was built in 1966.

Despite its considerable physical footprint, the college maintains a relatively modest student population of around 400. Initially established as a men's college, it became coeducational in 1979. Trinity College boasts the distinction of having produced three British Prime Ministers: Spencer Compton (1742鈥�1743), William Pitt the Elder (1766鈥�1768), and Frederick North (1770鈥�1782). This places it third in terms of former students who have held the prestigious office, following Christ Church and Balliol College in that regard.

New College, one of the prestigious constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, stands out for its rich history and significant contributions to academia and culture. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham, the Bishop of Winchester, it was originally named "Saint Mary College of Winchester in Oxenford." Wykeham established New College alongside Winchester College, which served as its feeder school. Remarkably, New College was among the first in the university to admit and tutor undergraduate students.

Despite its misleading name, New College is one of Oxford's oldest colleges. In 2017, it achieved the top rank in the Norrington Table, which assesses the performance of Oxford undergraduates in final exams. Historically, it consistently ranks high, with a remarkable 3rd highest average in the Norrington Table over the past decade.

Reflecting societal changes, New College welcomed its first mixed-sex cohort in 1979, transitioning from a six-century tradition of being a male-only institution.

New College is also celebrated for its choral tradition, being one of the main choral foundations of the University of Oxford. Its choir is considered one of the world's leading choirs, a testament to which is its extensive discography and the two Gramophone Awards it has won.

New College is architecturally rich with historical significance. Originally built in the "perpendicular style," it has seen various additions and changes over the centuries. The Great Quad, initially constructed with attics in the sixteenth century, got a proper third storey in 1674. The oval turf at the center of the quad dates back to the eighteenth century. Many college buildings are known for their unique architectural and historical value. 'New Buildings' along Holywell Street showcase different architectural styles, including High Victorian and late Victorian by George Gilbert Scott and Basil Champneys, respectively.

***Harry Potter Walk***
The New College Cloisters appear in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a good number of times 鈥� many of the corridor scenes within the film are shot here, including that in which Harry has to push through all the Gryffyndor students wearing Potter stinks badges to go and have a word with Cedric.

The New College Courtyard also served as a filming location for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 鈥� the scene in which Harry tips off Cedric about the dragons which they will be battling in the first of the trials in the Triwizard Tournament. In the same movie, Harry comes face to face with Malfoy, who is sitting on a gigantic oak tree and where he is then turned into a ferret by Mad-Eye Moody. This particular tree is found in the New College Cloisters.

If you come to explore all things Harry Potter at Oxford during the colder period (October through March), then the entry to New College is free. However, if you go during the warmer months (March to October), you will need to buy a ticket.