Oxford
91 Reviews by Students #118 out of 422 University locations
So expensive to live but also love living here so does have its perks- good vibes all round really minus the extortionate rent
By member753223 On 23rd December 20
Study in Oxford
The University of Oxford is arguably the most famous university in the English-speaking world. Combined with the more recent addition of Oxford Brookes University, the city quite rightly takes a lot of pride in its academic excellence.
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University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a world-famous collegiate research university situated in and around central Oxford with a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and 25,390 students enrolled.
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Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a modern public research university with a reputation for teaching excellence and innovation. It's been awarded a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and 16,665 students are enrolled.
Study in Oxford? Review your city
Oxford Student Life
Almost a quarter of the Oxford population are students resulting in a buzzing student community. A lot is going on for students especially the traditions and events that you won’t get in any other city, so make sure you get involved!
Cost of Living
Rent is very expensive…
Great city. But rent is very expensive.
An expensive city…
Oxford is an expensive city to live in
Cost of living is relatively high…
Cost of living is relatively high. Public transport is really good, especially if you are a Brookes student, you can benefit from U busses.
Quite expensive in general…
Quite expensive in general. Most shopping can be done in the city centre but some key areas missing, e.g. no large sports shop (such as sports direct).
Nights Out
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Fuzzy Ducks is a notorious club night that takes place every Wednesday at Atik. It is the city’s longest-running and most raved about student night! Expect cheesy music and be prepared for when the Baywatch theme ‘I’m Always Here’ comes on…
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The Bullingdon, in the student area of Cowley, is Oxford’s best independent live music venue that has been going for over 20 years. It is the perfect place to go for a more casual night and to listen to some great music from local, national and international acts.
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The Bridge Club is one of the classier clubs in Oxford even boasting bookable booths and a VIP lounge. Monday Night Bridge (MNB) is the popular student night that you don’t want to miss out on and has drinks promotions running all night.
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Public Transport
It is best to get around Oxford by foot, bike or bus. You won’t need a car, especially as there’s not a lot of parking. The city bus service is very efficient, and there’s also the BROOKESbus. This goes between the halls at Oxford Brookes, the train station, and the city centre.
Oxford is incredibly well connected to the rest of the UK. To get to London there is the Oxford London Tube, which is a coach service that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is a budget-friendly way to get to the capital. Oxford has great rail connections to London, Southampton, Bournemouth, Manchester, Edinburgh, and many other places.
Eating Out
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Oli’s Thai is a student favourite, based in Cowley, and has had a lot of hype around it thanks to its delicious short, daily menu. You can even do a lunch or dinner for under a tenner. Due to its popularity, it is advised to book well in advance!
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If you are after a much-needed caffeine fix make sure you head to The Missing Bean, which is rated as the best coffee in Oxford. They have two cafes, one in the city centre and the other in Cowley. It will be your go-to whether it’s for a coffee catch up or a much-needed hangover breakfast.
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Gee’s is the place to go for a treat or when the parents are visiting (and paying!). It’s famous for its location in a grade II listed Victorian conservatory and is certainly the most beautiful restaurant in Oxford. They offer Mediterranean style food for weekend brunch, express lunch, dishes for sharing and Sunday roasts.
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Shopping
The Covered Market, in the city centre, is a favourite among locals and tourists. It is a historic market with permanent stalls of local traders selling groceries, cheese, meat, clothing, flowers, jewellery and much more. Make sure to take a break from shopping and try one of the mouth-watering restaurants, cafes or bars.
You will find all the high-street chain stores concentrated around Cornmarket and Queen Street, as well as Westgate Shopping Centre, which puts on student discount nights.
Top 5 Historical Pubs
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You’ll find this pub tucked behind the medieval city wall, and down a narrow winding alleyway. With its foundations dating back to the 1300s, it’s an iconic pub steeped in history and today can be found bustling with students. Enjoy their wide range of guest ales and beer garden.
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The Bear Inn is one of Oxford’s oldest surviving pubs. Known for its historic significance, this traditional English pub is known for its unexpected yet impressive collection of old ties. Sports teams, colleges and university clubs, and global visitors have dropped by and contributed a snippet of their tie, since the 1950s, resulting in over 4,500 ties!
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In trendy and historic Jericho, you’ll find this 19th Century family-run pub. It is on a quiet small street away from the bustling Walton Street and is known for its good ale and good food. What more can you ask for?!
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Found opposite the Bodleian Library, The Kings Arms proudly claim that they have the highest IQ per square foot of any pub in the world! It is also the oldest pub in Oxford, built-in 1607 and is a popular student hang out with hearty pub food and you guessed it, great real ale.
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Apparently frequented by Shakespeare and his acting troupe on their journeys to London, The Crown is a central spot for a pint, hidden away down an alley next to McDonalds on Cornmarket Street.
Top 10 Oxford Accommodation
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Thames Street
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Regent's Park College
It is great and I love everything about Regent's!...
Beech House
Amazing accommodation. I was very satisfied with it upon my arrival to Leicester. It is very decent and the location is very convenient as it is withi...
St Edmund Hall
St John's College
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Keble College
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St Hilda's College
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Read Oxford Reviews
Oxford is amazing place...
Oxford is amazing place to study. Lots to do and plenty of places to explore read more
Expensive place to live...
Expensive place to live as a student, house prices rather steep. Pay for what you get however as it is a really nice city to go to uni. read more
Super expensive city...
Super expensive city to live in, but absolutely wonderful. read more
It's a very nice experience...
It's a very nice experience living in Oxford read more
Town centre is easily...
Town centre is easily accessible due to the brookes bus service read more
Oxford is a great city,...
Oxford is a great city, bustling with so many different characters! Very accessible due to the frequent buses and so many things to experience! read more
Amazing transport and...
Amazing transport and clubs, very expensive for eating and cosy of living so make sure you have savings to fall back on read more
Oxford is a nice middle...
Oxford is a nice middle class area read more
A really expensive city...
A really expensive city - especially since the university provides very little financial assistance. read more
East Oxford (where Brookes...
East Oxford (where Brookes is) is impoverished with a crime rate through the roof. Not like central or north oxford at all. read more
Town centre is nice,...
Town centre is nice, particularly since the new westgate centre opened. read more
So expensive to live...
So expensive to live but also love living here so does have its perks- good vibes all round really minus the extortionate rent read more
I love the city, although...
I love the city, although it is very expensive. read more
u1 and u5 bus goes to...
u1 and u5 bus goes to mast places through oxford so would recommend getting the £8 ticket that lasts the year read more
Oxford is a nice city....
Oxford is a nice city. Lots of homeless people though. read more
London is the city that...
London is the city that everyone knows read more
I love Oxford. Its not...
I love Oxford. Its not great for clubbing but for everything else its wonderful. read more
Great city, very overpriced...
Great city, very overpriced but that is expected so it is not a surprise. read more
Great city. But rent...
Great city. But rent is very expensive. read more
Great place to live and...
Great place to live and stay. Crowded enough to have fun but quite enough to study and stay a relaxable life read more
Oxford is an expensive...
Oxford is an expensive city to live in read more
Cost of living is relatively...
Cost of living is relatively high. Public transport is really good, especially if you are a Brookes student, you can benefit from U busses. read more
Very expensive but lots...
Very expensive but lots of things to do, U1 is free but irregular timings and nights out can be quite fun. read more
Oxford is a charming...
Oxford is a charming place to live but very expensive. Good luck finding parking. read more
A magnificent city with...
A magnificent city with everything you need read more
I was enrolled at MSc...
I was enrolled at MSc Quantity surveying online degree. I started my program 2 weeks late as they had some IT issues, couldn't catch up with my studies. I had questions posted on the student forum, the professor replied after 4 weeks after I complained to my student advisor. They just take your money and offer 0 support. I had to quit after 4 months. I strongly recommend avoiding Oxford Brookes. read more
Quite expensive in general....
Quite expensive in general. Most shopping can be done in the city centre but some key areas missing, e.g. no large sports shop (such as sports direct). Night life and social aspects are good read more
Very expensive and little...
Very expensive and little parking! read more
A good social scene with...
A good social scene with a large number of students in the city. read more
Lots of busses and public...
Lots of busses and public transport and always a club to go to even after you get thrown out of one read more
Oxford is an expensive...
Oxford is an expensive place to live and there is a lack of shops in the city centre. On the other hand it is beautiful with lots to do with friends, such as restaurants, tourist attractions and clubbing. read more
There are a lot of buses...
There are a lot of buses in oxford but there needs to be more uni buses available! read more
Very good public transport...
Very good public transport due to free brookes busses for students. Shopping is poor but I am aware this will be improved. Cost of living is very high and house prices for next year are very expensive. Restaurants and clubs are very good although I have experienced better. read more
Oxford is beautiful!...
Oxford is beautiful! So much to do! read more
Oxford is a wonderful...
Oxford is a wonderful city and I will really miss it when I leave read more
In order to do the majority...
In order to do the majority of the list above, you must take the bus into Oxford. And unfortunately it being Oxford the cost of living here is very expensive, which is why I prefer living in Halls, as it is all inclusive! read more
Oxford tube is very good,...
Oxford tube is very good, and free bus between campuses, halls and city centre helps. Although U5 is rather unreliable on the Cowley road - so I would recommend downloading the Oxford bus app. Shopping is rather limited - but Reading, London and Biceter Village are close. read more
OXFORD is a perfect student...
OXFORD is a perfect student city with a plethora of clubs, bars, shops and restaurants :) only let down is the lack of massive supermarkets available to those who don't have good transport links... read more