Hi! My name is Eain and I’m part of the USG Community team for Oxford Global. I’ve only been at Oxford for a year, and though most of my time has been spent inside college walls and libraries, this is an indulgent post to celebrate my favourite spaces of the city beyond the university.
Gloucester Green
This market, only open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, has great deals for fresh produce and quaint second-hand antiques, and is crowded with stalls selling delicious food from around the world. It’s become a tradition for me and my tutorial partners to grab a takeaway container full of fragrant curry and rice every Friday afternoon (right after our tutorial) at Momo Oxford’s reduced closing-time price.
Waterstones & Common Ground
Now, I’m not the biggest coffee drinker, but there is a certain appeal in sitting down at a cafe just to people-watch. From the upstairs cafe in Waterstones, you get this cinematic view of the street below. Everyone’s rushing everywhere and yet, somehow, you feel perfectly still. I find it to be a great way to take a pause from the hectic schedule of Oxford’s 8-week-long terms. Common Ground, tucked away on Little Clarendon Street, is another favourite. Its casual atmosphere makes it the perfect place to show up with a book, a journal, a set of paints, or just your tired brain, and feel at ease.
Canal
I’ve come to love the canal. Walking along its narrow path and cautiously avoiding cyclists, it serves as an escape from the city. It feels as though you’ve wandered into a painting as you pass people on boats and argue with the ducks. Just be careful not to fall in!
Food Trucks
And of course, a staple of student life here are the late-night food trucks. After a study session or essay crisis in the library that went on for too long, chips and cheese are a comfort. The people running these food places are always warm and lovely, always greeting you with kind words and a smile.
Between balancing academic work and societies, it’s these fleeting moments in time that hold my heart.