03 May 2025

Beauty All Around Oxford

 

The ornate, stunning upper Radcliffe Camera. It is hard not to get distracted by this gorgeous ceiling and the carved stonework. It really is so beautiful. I could not believe I got to be in there working and reading every day.

Outside the Radcliffe Camera, the lovely glowing orb lamps are iconic and beautiful.

Inside the Radcliffe Camera. The floating staircase is one of my favourites. At the bottom is the lower Rad Cam. At the top, the upper Rad Cam.

On my way to the library with my latte from Jericho Coffee (in my Bodleian Libraries Keep Cup) on a bright, clear morning.

In the upper Rad Cam, the little spiral staircase that brings me up to the mezzanine level of the upper Rad Cam.

Outside St. Mary's with the spires rising from the church and Brasenose College on the right, with lovely blooms that opened as I was there.

Exeter College Chapel. I went to an organ concert at lunchtime. It's one of the most stunning chapels I think.

St. Phillip's Books is a small Catholic Bookshop that stocks beautiful old books, holding many first editions of C.S. Lewis and all the Inklings, G.K. Chesterton, and other poetry, classics, theology, church history. It is a treasure trove.

Still at the library after sunset. View of the other half of the Old Bodleian as I leave for the night. I love the warm glow of the windows and looking across to the other reading rooms and seeing all the shelves of books. The Rad Cam peaking from behind.

Inside St. Mary's at lunchtime. The slant of light on the stone is stunning, the stained glass is lovely. The wooden pulpit ahead has a lot of history - it's where C.S. Lewis, John Wesley, John Henry Newman, and many other important figures preached.

A favourite, much frequented corner - Turl Street and Ship Street. Exeter College ahead. Jesus College to my right behind the wall. I often would get an iced latte from Pret at the other end of Ship Street and walk this way with my drink before heading back into the Bodleian.

The best place for flowers - The Garden shop in the Covered Market. I must visit to gaze at all the lovely array of tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, hyacinth, etc.
A walk along the Cherwell, flowing through Oxford toward Magdalen College.

The sun looks like a star (well, it is) in the sky above Magdalen College Tower.

After service in the chapel at Oriel College. The glow and the deep, velvety night sky was stunning to behold.

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