ADRIAN GOLDBERG'S BLOG
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

POSTCARDS #3 - OXFORD

31/5/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Who'd be a cabbie in Oxford?  The old university town is such a joy to walk around that earning a living plying for hire must be a thankless task.  

There are so many gorgeous buildings, spanning several centuries, that going the long way around is always to be recommended - at least as a tourist.

Whether Oxford is quite such a joy to navigate on a daily basis is doubtful.  The massive park and ride schemes that girdle the city hint at gridlocked rush hour mayhem, and even the simple task of buying a lunchtime sarnie is complicated by the queues of French and American tourists.

There are other problems too - most obviously housing.  I spent a few days in Jericho, an inner city grid of streets ten minutes walk from the centre.  This was traditionally bohemian bedsitter land - the spriritual home of Radiohead and site of the first Supergrass gig.  Now the asking price for a modest terraced house is in the region of £750,000.  

Oxford's wealth is reflected in a flourishing restaurant scene, though this being one of the UK's global centres of academic excellence, there's no particular premium on bling - brainpower is as useful as horsepower, and a bike has much cachet as a BMW.  

With apologies to the taxi drivers, though, Shanks's Pony is the best way to navigate one of the most beautiful cities in England.

Oxford may be seen as a bastion of privilege, but it's riverside meadows and majestic colleges are free for any oik to enjoy - even me.

0 Comments

    Author

    ​Radio, TV and podcasts

    @bylinetimespod 

    @TheLiquidatorP1

    Film maker

    CV - BBC 1 Watchdog, 5 Live Investigates.

    goldbergradio@gmail.com

    Archives

    September 2022
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2018
    December 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    Music

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.