Annette ([info]palliechen) wrote in [info]cs_lewis,
@ 2007-04-11 16:26:00
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An Oxford Day-Trip
Hi! This is my very first post to this community, and I need some recommendations/suggestions from people who have been to Oxford before...

I will be visiting London next month and I intend to make a day-trip at Oxford. I found out about the C.S. Lewis tour that Ron Brind gives via Google. I have read positive and negative comments about the guy and the tour, so I am still undecided on whether I should go for it. Some of my considerations includes the cost of the tour, how much more "value added-ness" will the tour give, compared to exploring Oxford (and the places related to C.S. Lewis) on my own, and alternatively whether or not it is easy enough to get around the sites by walking? I understand that the tour fee is supposedly voluntary, but the fact that there is a "suggested amount" on the website says something.

Given sufficient time, I would usually prefer to explore places on my own because I think it creates a more lasting memory, but my concern is whether I am able to go to all the sites by myself.

So what would you advise me to do? Comments appreciated! :)


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[info]bammerangcreep
2007-04-11 09:00 am UTC (link)
Great idea! I'm visiting England in June and hadn't thought of that yet! Sorry, can't help you with the guided tour question, all i know is that i will probably be exploring it on my own (dragging three reluctant friends along).

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[info]palliechen
2007-04-11 01:00 pm UTC (link)
Haha, and I will be dragging one reluctant friend along! Hopefully I would have some updates for you after my trip to Oxford, if you're interested of course ;)

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[info]bammerangcreep
2007-04-11 02:22 pm UTC (link)
yes please! Sounds great

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[info]tree_and_leaf
2007-04-11 09:24 am UTC (link)
I wouldn't recommend Ron Brind; his spiel is not terribly accurate in parts, and he's managed to thouroughly annoy a lot of the inhabitants of that part of Oxford by general abrasiveness.

Most of the CS Lewis sites are easily accessible - there is a bus up to Risinghurst that stops at the bottom of Lewis Close (road leading to the Kilns). You should be able to get a tour over the house if you ring up well in advance and arrange it. Note that R.B.'s tour doesn't include this. At the same time, you can visit Lewis' grave at Holy Trinity Church, and then get a bus back (or you could call a taxi, I suppose)

Central Oxford is eminently walkable; bear in mind that Magdalen will probably be closed to visitors in the morning.

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[info]palliechen
2007-04-11 01:09 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for your recommendations! Actually I do feel some "abrasiveness" from the website and from his emails, so that was why I wasn't so sure about the tour. I think I would be exploring on my own then!

Oh, and I don't mean to sound like a stalker, but I noticed from your profile you're in Oxford! Nice! :)

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[info]tree_and_leaf
2007-04-11 02:04 pm UTC (link)
Glad to be of service. And yes, Oxford is nice - especially in the lovely spring weather we're having!

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[info]godswraith
2007-04-11 11:37 am UTC (link)
I liked Ron's tour, we got on fine. It was so much easier being driven to the sites then schlepping on my own. His patter is fine, often interesting, although I did know more about Lewis than he did, but that wasn't unusal on my trip!. But i do agree with the above that walking around central Oxford itself is easy and enjoyable, you may consider squeezing in both, I did.

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[info]palliechen
2007-04-11 01:11 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for your feedback! But I'll probably do without the tour since I am also going with a non-CS Lewis fan - I should try not to bore her too much! ;)

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[info]_lady_narcissa_
2007-04-11 02:18 pm UTC (link)
I haven't been on Brind's tour so I can't comment on that.

Have you seen this page?

http://www.cslewis.org/resources/walkguide.html

Also, forgive me if you already know this but the best way to get to Oxford from London is the bus, not the train. There are a couple of bus companies that run the route.

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[info]roseblessing
2007-04-11 04:52 pm UTC (link)
Can't advise you, but hope you will share on this site soomething of your trip, or let us know if you have something about it posted on your journal. I noticed on your journal that you want to be a hermit for two months, but hope the hermit will eventually want to come out of its hermit crab shell!

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[info]palliechen
2007-04-12 03:05 am UTC (link)
Haha! The hermit is saving up for her Europe trip, that's why! Right, hope I'll have interesting stuff to share after the trip :)

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my tuppence
[info]sylvanus
2007-04-12 09:47 pm UTC (link)
Make a full day of it. My friends and I tried to cram it all in from 10ish to 5ish and that was ridiculous. However, we were able to cover a lot of ground, spend very little money and enjoy a meal in the Inkling's pub. Very cold beer (Stella Artoris?) complimented a very hot day and a very hot meal (chicken and leek pastry?). Some colleges are free; some charge admission. The tourist info place had a little guide that listed college hours and costs with a map - which would be better to have before hand for planning purposes. Enjoy!

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