The Best Backpacker Hostels in Oxford, England

Oxford, a city in central southern England, revolves around its prestigious university, established in the 12th century. The architecture of its 38 colleges in the city's medieval center led poet Matthew Arnold to nickname it the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’. University College and Magdalen College are off the High Street, which runs from Carfax Tower (with city views) to the Botanic Garden on the River Cherwell. Oxford is a beautiful, privileged place. It is steeped in history and studded with august buildings, yet maintains the feel of a young city, thanks to its large student population. The elegant honey-toned buildings of the university's colleges, scattered throughout the city, wrap around tranquil courtyards along narrow cobbled lanes, and. Oxford is a wonderful place to wander, along with the rich history, tradition and energetic academic life, there is a busy, lively world beyond the college walls, and the city's non-university majority far outnumber the academic elite. The charming town makes Oxford more than simply a bookish place of learning, and these hostels provide an excellent base for exploring the area.