Oxford is a vibrant and bustling town whose primary focus of interest and activity is the academic and social life that takes place within and around the colleges and quads of the University. The ancient clock towers, church steeples, cloistered gardens and meandering, lazy river all contribute to the beauty and intimate scale of the community, making it a wonderful place to bike or walk as well as to study. You'll easily find a mix of good pubs and eateries, lively clubs and music venues, and impressive theaters. Surrounding the town of Oxford is some of England's more gorgeous countryside. Not far from Oxford are the honey-stoned villages of the Cotswolds. And for a complete change of pace, London is only an hour away by train.