Oxford has a vibrant cultural and social life with a wealth of events and activities for you and your family to enjoy, from wonderful parks perfect for picnicking with friends to world class concerts and sporting events. The University has its own Visitors' pages with beautiful aerial video footage of the University and video introductions to its many museums.
As a member of the University, you can take advantage of discounts at local shops, restaurants and places of interest. If you'd like to explore Oxford and the surrounding area, the Visitor Information Centre on Broad Street is happy to provide information, maps and brochures. As a starting point, you could try their 'Top 10 things to do' list.
If you want to broaden your intellectual horizons, you can attend public lectures, exhibitions and events run by the University, including Public Engagement with Research events, which cover a huge range of topics and academic disciplines and are aimed at non-specialist audiences. Other talks open to the general public are listed on the Interesting Talks in Oxford website.
Daily Info provides listings of cultural and seasonal events, such as May Morning, when the choir of Magdalen College sing at 6am from the top of the chapel tower, or Alice's Day, which brings to life the stories and characters in Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll (real name: Charles Dodgson, a mathematician at Christ Church). You can also search their listings for courses and workshops, available across the city.
There's nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as messing about in boats.
(The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, alumnus of St Edward's School in north Oxford)
