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Best of British Heritage in Oxfordshire

Heritage in Oxford and Oxfordshire - 'anything worth preserving or inheriting'

There's so much 'heritage' in Oxford and Oxfordshire, it's difficult to know where to start - or stop.

Beautiful architecture abounds - many iconic buildings side by side in Oxford's city centre - but others scattered throughout the County. Most are imposing University buildings, or colleges constructed piecemeal over the years, each addition enhancing the rest. There are impressive stately homes - some large, some modest, as well as unspoilt villages - of grey Cotswold stone, golden ironstone or Chiltern red brick and flint, grouped round village greens with a pub at their heart.

Most spectacular of all is Blenheim Palace, a memorial to the first Duke of Marlborough, set in glorious gardens and landscaped parkland.

Oxfordshire has several castles - the Saxon St George's Tower, the remains of Wallingford's Norman motte and bailey, and Broughton Castle, more delightful moated manor than fortification.

Museums abound - from Oxford's five University museums - all of world standing - to small, local museums recounting lifestyles of days long gone. Oxfordshire Museum at Woodstock has extensive displays relating to local history, archaeology, landscape and wildlife. The Soldiers of Oxfordshire exhibition ‘Children and War' is currently on display there.

Traditions are rigorously maintained - like morris dancing, beating the bounds, St Giles and other Fairs, Eights Week, and scouring the prehistoric White Horse.

Oxfordshire's Great Western Railway heritage is particularly well preserved, with working engines at Didcot and other former branch lines. So, too, is the Oxford Canal, one of Britain's earliest.

A Cathedral, an Abbey and innumerable village churches serve as landmarks - many with fascinating histories and links to famous characters.

Ancient green roads and footpaths link village to village or town, making Oxfordshire one of Britain's most delightful walking destinations.