Oxford is a magical city, filled with history and a mystical glamour. I feel privileged I get to live in such a place and I make sure I don't forget that.
St Mary's Tower is one of my favourite places to visit in Oxford. Standing proud and tall between the High St and the Radcliffe Camera, the 13th century tower is an impressive sight and provides equally impressive sights from its visitor balcony.
St Mary’s Tower has the best views in town and is home to more gargoyles than you can count. Once you climb the 127 steps to the top, you are rewarded with a magnificent 360° view of Oxford’s incredible skyline and the surrounding countryside.
From the top, you can see the Radcliffe Camera in all its glory; you can peak into All Souls College and its beautiful sundial; watch people go about their lives in Oxford’s High St; wave at South Park and its iconic trees; enjoy the green and golden nature belt all around Oxford; or marvel at the beauty of the grand Radcliffe Camera.
The tower has quite a narrow balcony for visitors, so be prepared for some squeezing while up there. The medieval spiral staircase also makes for an interesting climb, all part of the experience.
The 62m tower is not all about its views or cute gargoyles; the building itself is an architectural wonder and a fantastic sight, adding one of England’s most beautiful spires – its own – to Oxford’s misty skyline.
Visitor information (from their website):
Times: Opens at 9.30am except on Sunday, when it opens at 11.45 am. Last entry to the tower is 30 minutes before closing.
Ticket Prices:
Adults: £4
Concessions: £3 (Children aged 5-15, seniors, University of Oxford students
Family ticket (2 adults and up to 2 children), £12.
Tickets may be purchased from the gift shop at the base of the tower.
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This post will be part of a local guide to Oxford put together by Goodman UK for Oxford Business Park. They asked me if I'd like to write about my favourite place in Oxford for people visiting the city for the first time or moving here. How could I let anyone visit Oxford without knowing about the wonders of this tower gem? So I said yes.
I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own.
Que vontade que eu tenho de visitar Oxford! É uma falha tão grande ainda não conhecer!
Bom fim-de-semana!
margarida
Que vontade que eu tenho de visitar Oxford! É uma falha tão grande ainda não conhecer!
Bom fim-de-semana!
margarida
Wow, such a great project! You go, dear lady! 🙂