TRAVEL
Focus on Oxford
Oxford is famed for its University, its history and for being home to one of the country’s best known Inspectors, but in recent years it has also acquired a reputation as a cosmopolitan town with a growing hi-tech community BY MICHAEL SCANLON
Outside London, Oxford is undoubtedly the most famous town in the south east of England. Its reputation as a centre of academia owes everything to the University that can be traced back as far as the 11th cen- tury, and its history is evident in the buildings, colleges, streets and parks that have become a Mecca for tourists from all over the world. The city centre has remained relatively untouched in
recent years which has helped preserve the historic set- ting but it has also held back economic progress. But all that is set to change with the Westgate Shopping Centre development, which aims to triple the size of the city centre to 750,000 sq ft and includes plans for shops, bars, and an improved transport system.
Getting there The nearby London Oxford Airport in Kidlington oper- ates seasonal flights to Europe, and both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are a short coach journey away. There are good rail and bus services which link Oxford to the surrounding towns and villages and beyond. The centre itself is largely pedestrianised and the preferred method of transport is bicycle, which is well catered for with a network of cycling tracks throughout.
Where to stay Oxford offers a wide variety of places to stay so there’s something to suit all requirements. Four Pillars Hotels has two hotels in Oxford offering different settings for your stay. Situated just a mile from the centre of Oxford, Oxford Spires is ideal if you need to be within touching distance of the town. This four star hotel offers a range of versatile conference facilities and meeting rooms and can host up to 260 delegates. Leisure facilities on site include a swim- ming pool, state-of-the-art gym and spa facilities. For something in a more rural setting there’s the
Oxford Thames Hotel. Located on the river and just three miles out of town, the hotel offers the perfect rural retreat but is close enough to the centre of Oxford to make doing business easy. Both hotels have recently
Oxfordshire venues take centre stage
Executive PA Magazine will be partnering Destination Oxford at a promotional event on 18 November. PAs attending will meet teams from top venues in Oxford and will be provided with information on a range of conference services and accommodation. Further details and a full preview will be available in the November edition of Executive PA Magazine.
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undergone renovation and refurbishment projects which have included the introduction of modern leisure facilities while at the same time being sympathetic to the period design and architecture of the venues. If you need to be in the heart of the city then the five
star MacDonald Randolph Hotel is the perfect choice. Not only has it been host to Prime Ministers and Presidents, but Inspector Morse fans will also recognise the hotel bar as the famed Inspector’s watering hole of choice. The hotel offers six unique and well-equipped conference and business suites, award-winning food and drink, executive suites and bedrooms and a relaxing spa.
History and culture As well as great hotels and conference facilities Oxford has a host of world-famous attractions including the Bodleian Library, the Ashmoleum Museum and the oldest Botanic Garden in the country. Further afield there’s also the mag- nificent Blenheim Palace, home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. This World Heritage site is set in beautiful park- land and Blenheim Palace also offers corporate and private event facilities catering for up to 200 delegates. E
CONTACTS
Four Pillars Hotels
www.four-pillars.co.uk
MacDonald Randolph Hotel
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk
Blenheim Palace
www.blenheimpalace.com
Oxford Convention and Visitors Bureau
www.conventionandvisitors
bureau.com/oxford.htm
Oxford Visitors Centre
www.visitoxford.org
Destination Oxford
www.destination-oxford.com
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