Entertainment

Oxford is swamped with tourists all year round, especially, not surprisingly, in the summer. Many come simply to wander down the High Street and around the cobbled back streets, admiring the architecture of a university town that has been a centre of learning for more than seven hundred years. One can easily spend a day just looking around some of the extremely impressive and beautiful Colleges. Christ Church is probably the most famous of these, but many colleges have either pretty gardens or a beautiful front quad. Not least, of course, is Magdalen College, which boasts its very own deer park.

Those who come to Oxford to appreciate the cultural side of an ancient academic institution will doubtless venture into one of the City's many museums. The most traditional of these is the internationally famous Ashmolean Museum in Beaumont Street, which houses antiques, art galleries, and an extensive coin collection. The University Museum on Parks Road is a natural history museum, filled with fossils and remnants of prehistoric creatures. Accessible through the back of the University Museum is the Pitt Rivers Museum, which is home to the more weird and wonderful side of science - a must for kids of all ages, as well as those fascinated by gory sights!

Given its host of undergraduates, many of whom fancy themselves as budding thespians, Oxford has several playhouses and theaters. While most of these host primarily student productions, the Apollo Theatre focuses on outside talent. As well as many musicals, the theater also attracts the odd stand up comedian: Steve Coogan and Eddie Izzard have both performed there in the last few years. For more regular, though not quite as famed comedy, Jongleurs on Hythe Bridge Street is the only official comedy club. Most nights have stand up, but as few of the acts are well known, it's more a case of luck of the draw than going to see someone you love. Having said that, once the show's over, the disco lights come on and it's time to get grooving. Really as much of a nightclub as a comedy club, Jongleurs can pull in some top class DJs.

The music scene in Oxford has branched out greatly over the last few years. Having given birth to indie bands Radiohead and Supergrass, there's always been a great Indie/Rock music scene, particularly at the Oxford Brookes Student Union and the Zodiac on the Cowley Road. As for clubbing, Oxford has always been a haven for seventies and eighties music, which is kept alive by the hordes of drunken students, all desperate to try out the groovy moves that only John Travolta can really pull off in style. For those into less mainstream music, the Zodiac regularly plays host to the country's top drum 'n' bass DJs. Other venues regularly playing breakbeat/big beat music are PoNaNa and The Coven, while Clementine's has regular international nights, consisting largely of salsa music.

There are four cinemas in Oxford: the Odeon Magdalen Street, the Odeon George Street, The Phoenix, and the Ultimate Picture Palace. While the first two show all the Hollywood blockbusters, the latter tend to show more unusual films, such as cult classics and foreign films, though the Ultimate Picture Palace often shows blockbusters some time after their original release.

In the summer, there are few better sources of entertainment in Oxford than punting. This pastime involves using a long pole to push and glide your punt, yourself, and your passengers along the river. Usually undertaken by experienced undergraduates who will swig away at a bottle of wine whilst deftly avoiding a protruding branch, punting is actually quite difficult - your first attempt will probably consist of you turning round in circles while onlookers chuckle.

If not brave enough to risk being the source of amusement for other punters, don't worry: the numerous parks in and around Oxford will provide ample open air activity for those sunny days. Southpark at the end of St Clement's provides a beautiful, scenic view of Oxford's dreaming spires, while Christ Church meadow can be the start of a very pleasant walk along the banks of the river Isis.

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