See Incredible Views of Oxford from St Mary’s Church
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin (aka St Mary’s Church) in Oxford is one of the best places to see views of Oxford’s skyline. It is also considered to have one of the most beautiful spires in England. This church was built during the 11th century, in the Anglo- Saxon era. In the 13th century, this church was one of the first buildings used by the University of Oxford for award ceremonies, church services, and lectures. In later centuries, the church underwent several developments. This included the addition of a new porch in the 17th century, and an organ in 1986.
Walking Amongst Oxford’s Old Architecture
Some cities in the UK such as the City of London have achieved the perfect balance between old and new. They do this by building skyscrapers amongst the old architecture there. In some ways, this is like walking through time…
However, Oxford has instead opted to preserve its old architecture in the city centre, which is what makes this place so unique. And in all honestly, skyscrapers here would stand out like a sore thumb. Each college and building here represents the history of the UK in its raw form. They each have their own unique character and history. And you could easily spend hours reading up on this (after you’ve been to see it).
The best way to sight-see in Oxford is to walk around, so you can take the time to admire the intricate designs on the architecture here. Unlike some city centres in the UK, Oxford Central is relatively small so you could see all the landmarks in a day.
See views of Oxford’s skyline at St Mary’s Church Tower for just £5
When I came to Oxford with my friend last summer, we wanted to see aerial views too. One thing I recommend is when travelling to cities, always try to go somewhere where you can see aerial views of its skyline. To see the best views of Oxford’s skyline, we decided to pay for tickets to visit St Mary’s Church Tower. This is the oldest part of the Church and was built back in 1280.
Tickets here only cost £5 per person, or £15 for a family of four (two kids and two adults). Worth every penny in my opinion! The Tower is open from 9:30am – 5pm from Monday to Saturday (9:30am – 6pm during July and August), and 12pm – 5pm on Sundays.
Climbing up the 127- step staircase to the top…
After waiting in a small queue in the main bit of the church, we were finally allowed to go up to the Tower. This involved climbing up a 127-step spiralling staircase to the top of the Tower. I found it slightly claustrophobic, because of how narrow and dark it was inside. Plus, the banister was essentially a small metal pipe, so it was a case of climbing up the stairs carefully. But it was worth every step to see these incredible views, quite literally.
Fast forward to the views of Oxford’s skyline from the top
Fast forward to the top of the Tower, where the effort of climbing those steps finally paid off… Here, you can see views of Radcliffe Square, which consists of The Radcliffe Camera, Brasenose College, and All Souls College. Before coming here, I had only seen pictures of these sights on Google Images, so seeing them in real life was an unforgettable experience!
Instead of seeing skyscrapers and other buildings for miles and miles in cities such as London, I saw countryside and green trees as well as old architecture. This is not something you see every day… Ultimately, my favourite sight here was of All Souls College, because of its design. It’s here you realise how much effort must have gone into its architecture.
Enjoy some coffee at the Cafe and Gift Shop
As well as seeing views from the Tower, you can sit outside the Church and enjoy some coffee and cake at the small café. There is also a gift shop that sells Oxford University merchandise, such as mugs and stationery. There was also this cool badge frame which caught my eye. However, I didn’t buy it because I felt there was no point as I don’t study at any of the Colleges here.
Verdict
Ultimately, if you ever come sightseeing in Oxford, make sure you come to St Mary’s Church to see these unforgettable views. There is a big difference between seeing pictures of the skyline in those Oxford University prospectuses and seeing it in real life. And for only £5, its worth every penny! Alternatively, if you are looking for something free, there’s The Roof Terrace at Westgate (https://thebrownminimalist.com/westgate-oxford/).
Find out more about St Mary’s Church:
https://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk/
Directions to St Mary’s Church: