One of the most recognisable traditions at the University of Oxford is academic dress. The black gowns, colourful hoods and flashes of scarlet worn during examinations and ceremonies are instantly associated with Oxford, and yet their history is far more fluid, contested and human than many people realise. Despite the prominence of academic dress today, the University of Oxford Archives hold surprisingly little visual material

Visitors are often surprised to learn that Oxford doesn’t have autumn, spring and summer terms. Instead, the academic year is divided into Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity Terms — names that sound more like church festivals than university terms. That’s no accident, the calendar is shaped by religion Oxford is oldest university in the English-speaking world, and for centuries its rhythm was shaped by the Christian

Each year, on the Wednesday of the ninth week of Trinity Term, the University of Oxford holds one of its most historic and elegant ceremonies: Encaenia. This is the moment when the University honours distinguished individuals with honorary degrees and pays tribute to the generosity of its benefactors. The word Encaenia comes from the Greek for “festival of renewal” and is traditionally translated in the

Congratulations to the new Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Dr Louise Upton. The Oxford Guild of Tour Guides was delighted to welcome our city patron recently at a special reception in the Mayor's Parlour. It was a joyful occasion, with one of our members, Jess Worth, offering a fascinating overview of the mayoral role in Oxford — a tradition going back over 800 years. From

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was one of the most remarkable scientists of the 20th century and she made Oxford her intellectual home. Born May 12th, 1910, Hodgkin became a pioneer in the field of X-ray crystallography, a technique used to determine the three-dimensional structures of biomolecules. It was a field in its infancy when she began, but through her persistence and brilliance, it was transformed into

Oxford is a city rich in traditions, but few are as cherished — or as early in the day — as May Morning. Each year, on the 1st of May, thousands gather at dawn below Magdalen Tower to hear the Magdalen College Choir welcome the day with hymns sung from the tower at 6 a.m. What follows is a joyful mix of music, dancing, and

Oxford may be best known for its dreaming spires and scholarly traditions, but it also holds some fascinating connections to one of the greatest writers in the English language: William Shakespeare.

Trinity College has recently unveiled a unique work from the collaboration between two of the UK’s most celebrated artists: sculptor Antony Gormley and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College. This striking new artwork, a cast iron door designed by Gormley and inscribed with a poem by Armitage, now stands beside the iconic Stuart Gates on Parks Road. According to legend, these

Every year, 10th February marks St Scholastica’s Day, a lesser known but significant date in Oxford’s history. While it honours St Scholastica, the twin sister of St Benedict, in Oxford, the date is infamous for one of the bloodiest town-and-gown conflicts ever recorded: the St Scholastica’s Day Riot of 1355. The riot was a defining moment in the struggle between Oxford’s university community (sometimes referred

Recently the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Mr. James Macnamara, Stepped into Oxford to join a group of Oxfordshire residents on a tour of Magdalen College. Step into Oxford is a venture started by a previous High Sheriff, Amanda Ponsonby, who was keen to find events suitable for older people as some were experiencing increased isolation and loneliness due to the Covid pandemic. The Oxford Guild