Quiet Sunday At The Fir Tree

There are so many pubs in Oxford, most of them I have not been in, I think I should make an effort to visit the ones that I have not been in which are manly out lying ones like The Fir Tree. It was a little early for a pint as the pub was closed when I was on the Iffley Road, this pub has been around for a while as there website says that it has been on operation since 1866, lets hope it is open when I pass again.

Old Routemaster Bus In Oxford High Street

Oh, this was nice to see today out the front of Queen College, an Old Red Routemaster. I am not sure that Oxford ever had these British icon's in general service, would be interested to find out from anyone who remembers seeing them on the High Street. This one was looking very well restored and was being used to transport guests to a wedding, what a great idea.

Blue Sky Day In Oxford

Oriel College sandstone walls looked great against the blue sky over Oxford this afternoon, this could have been taken on a warm Summers day, but no it was taken on a mild February afternoon. I can not wait to the warmer weather arrives, please don't tease us!

Reflections Out The Window

Taken in the busy traditional city centre pub, The Wheatsheaf, just off Oxford's busy High Street. One of the better pub in the area I would suggest, if you are looking for a nice pub that has a pool table, and I think the only juke box in town, £1 for 5 tracks. Was having a drink with a couple of mates when I saw the reflection of the bar in the window, like the Jack's bottle in the corner, check out there My Space page as they have open mic nights upstairs.

Thanks Tim For Doing A Great Job

Thanks Tim for posting great photo's of Oxford while I was out of town. It was nice to see your photo's up on the blog while I was away, it is always nice to see Oxford through new eyes. Thanks again Tim, and I am sure I will be asking you to help out in the future.

The canal was starting to look very spring-like this afternoon when I went for a walk. Noticed this pink canal boat with the three lions flag flying, you don't often see this flag. You can't feel the warmth in this photo, but the sun was warm this afternoon when you could get in it.

Street artist at Cornmarket

As I promised yesterday the answers of yesterday's quiz: The Honey Pot, The Four Candles, The Oxford Blue and The White House. Congratulations to Nico, he was right.

Today's pictures shows a street artist at Cornmarket. You can find this man playing the fiddle on a cord almost every week. I don't know why, but he just likes to do it and the people love it too. I keep wondering if he ever slipped off the cord while he was playing. I've seen him a couple of times in the last few months and luckily for him it didn't happened. Any one who did see him coming down?

Sunday's Quiz

For some reason I wasn't in the mood to go outside today. It was one of those Sundays you love to be inside, have some fun with friends, listen to good music, enjoy a drink (or more) and play a game. I didn't want to publish an old photo so I had to think of something for today's post. I have to say that I was in a "creative" mood and I have no idea whether you like this or not but I decided to play a game with everybody who's following this blog. I took four photos inside my apartment and they all represent an Oxford pub or bar. Can you guess which four pubs or bars in Oxford are represented by these photos? Put your thoughts in the comments and I will reveal the correct answers tomorrow.

Borders, a month after closing down

Percy published a picture from Borders in the beginning of December. It was closed just before Christmas and all that is left now are some empty shelves. I live very close to this (former) shop and what I find extremely weird is that the lights are on 24/7 and that the alarm is ringing continously since at least last Monday. Apparently no one is able to stop it or perhaps no one cares. I guess that's what happens when a chain store gets into trouble. We benefited from the closing down sale, we bought our books with huge discounts there and now we don't care about the place anymore....

Longing for snow...

Today I got a phone call from a friend of mine who lives in my "home country", The Netherlands. He was just telling me that they were expecting some snow tonight in the town where he lives. That made me think of the first time it started to snow in the city centre in Oxford since I have lived here. I took a picture from the Red Lion when it was covered in snow. Today I took the same picture, without snow. I have to say that I do miss it a bit, Oxford covered in snow. There was something special about it, don't know what but it just was.

Covered Market

Sometimes you wish a photo could be a little bit more than just a photo. With today's photo I wish you could smell what I was smelling, taste what I was tasting and feel what I was feeling. I've made a compilation from a couple of photo's I took today at the Covered Market in the city centre. Entering the market via High Street I was smelling freshly baked cookies, coffee beans and herbs. A little bit further I saw beautifully decorated cakes. You can actually see how they are made by the ladies in this shop. The Covered Market is offering lots of different kinds of vegetables, cheeses, meats, plants, etc. Even if you don't need anything it's nice to take a look and just enjoy the atmosphere.

Cappuccino at Cowley Road

When I moved to Oxford last year I didn't bring lots of things with me. I thought it would be best to buy some kitchen stuff and other things at some of the local shops we have in Oxford. One day I went to Cowley Road, which is full of these little shops with lots of different things like plastic containers, pots and pans and basically everything else you need in the kitchen. I went there with a friend who came to visit me and he enjoyed a nice cappuccino in one of the bars in that neighbourhood.

Remarkable street name

The first time I saw this street sign I couldn't resist to smile a little bit. What a great way to say that it's a cul-de-sac! Once I got home I googled the street's name and found out that before 1972 the street was called Charles Street. You can find some old gabled stone houses (17th and 18th century) in this street, which is pretty remarkable since the area is dominated by the Westgate Shopping Centre. Thanks to the Oxford Preservation Trust, these houses were saved in the seventies. Turn again lane used to be the original name but at some moment in time, I couldn't find when, the street wasn't a cul-de-sac anymore so they had to change the name to Charles Street. When the Oxford Preservation Trust bought the old gabled stone houses, the street became a cul-de-sac again and it reverted to its original name.

Non smoking policy

This picture was taken near one of the University buildings at South Parks Road. I'm not a smoker myself and I have to say that I like the non-smoking policy in the University buildings. I guess it must have been tough weeks for smokers, trying to enjoy your sigarette outside during "the big freeze" period we have had in the last few weeks. I wonder how they feel when they have finished there sigaretttes and place the butt ends in a bin like this?

Funny gargoyle

Good evening everybody. My name is Tim and I live in Oxford since October last year. Let me start by saying thank you to Percy for giving me the opportunity to post some of my favourite pictures of Oxford on his blog while he is away.

My first picture shows a so-called gargoyle. This particular one can be found at Balliol College, but you can see them on many other historic buildings across the city. Gargoyles are carved stone grotesques and they were originally built to carry off water from the gutters of buildings. Some were carved by stonemasons who didn’t want them to be waterspouts but to have an ornamental or artistic function. What I like most of them is the fact that you often see something funny from yourself or someone else in them. This one, for example, is writing while sticking out his tongue. I happen to do the same thing when I’m trying to concentrate and Pete Sampras, former Wimbledon champion, did the same thing during his tennis matches. I wonder what you recognize in some of Oxford's gargoyles?

Oxford Airline Bus Service To The Airports

Taken this morning while waiting for the early morning bus to Heathrow, I am off to Toronto for two weeks. We have a great service from Oxford to Gatwick and Heathrow, with buses leaving up to every 20mins during the day. A great service for everyone in Oxford or those visiting Oxford.

I was worried what to do with the Oxford Daily Photo while I was away, and then a couple of days ago I had an email from Tim, who is a new Oxford resident who offered to post for me while I am away, so for the next 10 days we will have a different view of Oxford, I am looking forward to seeing the photo's while I am away. Thanks Tim.

Oxford City And County Bowls Club

Members Only, at the Oxford City and county bowls club, I am sure that is not the case and visitors would be welcome, that have large all weather greens. If I had time I think I would enjoy a regular game of bowls.

The Friendly Parking Inspector

We have a lot of parking restrictions in Oxford, I don't really agree with all of them, but hay who am I. To go with the parking restrictions we also have Parking Inspectors, not everyones best friend I am sure, but they can be handy to get directions off if you are new to the city, like this guy was this morning in the High Street.

When The Snow Melts It Becomes A Lake

All the snow now gone in Oxford and melted into lakes, took this photo at the Oatlands Road Reserve this afternoon which is more like a Lake Oatlands. While the snow was getting in everyones way last week, this week it has turned into alot of water that is lying in Oxford's flood plain, lets hope we don't get rain soon.

New Bank In Town Santander

Last week the bank on the corner of St Aldate and Queen Street was Abbey, this afternoon when I walked past it had changed it name to Santander? Part of a rebranding exercise to bring all the different brands of the Spanish parent Banco Santander under the same roof . Banco Santander is the largest bank in the Euro area, lets hope that the customers of Abbey are happy with the new bank. Notice that the building that the branch is in, is still called Abbey House, maybe it is harder to change the name of a building than it is a bank?

That's the town hall in the back ground, and I think I have said this before but I will ask it again, as Oxford is a City, why do we have a Town Hall and not a City Hall?

Horses In The Snow On Port Meadow

The snow in Oxford has all gone, so this will be my last snowy themed photo for awhile. Taken a couple of days ago in Lower Wolvercote of a couple of horses looking for food with all the snow on the ground. I am not sure how these horses graze when there is snow on the ground, I would think that feed has to be provided by the owners. They looked nice against all the snow on the Meadow, with a Oxford in the distance.

Have had a request from Tim for my email address.

Oxford Is Down There In The Snow

This is the view from Wytham Woods looking down over Oxford University's Field Farm in Wytham. Snow all over the fields it looks wonderful, and with all the snow melting now it will not be long before this quickly disappears.

Don't forget if you want to have a better look at the photo, just click it for a larger version.

Massive Snowball Fight At Summerfields School

Schools back after the Christmas break and all the Snow Days, and I can not think of a better way to start the return to School than a massive Snowball Fight with all your school mates who you have not seen for a couple of weeks. Looks like it was great fun, wish I was out there having a go myself.

Beer Delivery's Arrive At The Drew Drop Inn

The driver who dropped this off to The Drew Drop Inn on the Banbury Road said that it was about two tonnes of beer. The snowy conditions made the delivery a little slower as the truck could not get as close as it normally would to the cellar. It is great to know that with all this snow in Oxfordshire the pubs are still getting restocked.

Still Slippery Out On Walton Street

I think things are getting back to normal in and around Oxford, although traffic around Oxford was still having a hard time this morning according to the reports on the BBC, with the school runs starting for the first time since Christmas.

Walton Street's footpaths were still a little icy and slippery when I was down here this morning, so like this guy, you needed take your time and go slowly when on foot in Oxford, there is still snow about, but lets hope it is all gone by Tuesday.

Snowy Walk In Christ Church Meadows

Still plenty of snow around in Oxford, and what a nice day it was for a walk around some of Oxford most famous tourist attractions. I love walking around Oxford most days, but seeing it with all this snow around makes it more special. This photo was taken in the grounds of Christ Church College on the path leading from the River Thames to the College buildings. Plenty of people around enjoying the snowy views of Oxford.

Royal Mail Still Out Delivering In Lonsdale Road

No snow over night in Oxford however there was still alot of snow around as the temperature over night was below zero, so the snow we have had has not gone. However all this bad weather has not stopped Royal Mail delivering in Lonsdale Road North Oxford, the bright orange high visibility jacket looks great against all the white snow.

Clean Oxford Snow And The Observatory

Walking up the Woodstock Road this afternoon past the old Radcliffe Infirmary site there was virgin snow across the whole site to Walton Street at the back and Green College/Observatory on the right. With most of the snow around town all disturbed, this fenced off snow looked great for todays photo, just wish the sun had been a little higher.

Snowman Catching A Bus In Summertown Oxford

There are great Snowmen around Oxford at the moment with all this snow from last night. I spotted this Snowman trying to wave down a bus at the bus stop in Summertown. He looks great, he also has a friend sitting on the bench waiting with him. Great Snowman, it is great Snowman making weather, in Oxford with about 30cm of snow falling over night.

Let It Snow In Oxford

It has been snowing in Oxford since about 6pm this evening, and from all reports will continue throughout the night. The Met Office is predicting that 30cm of snow will fall tonight in Oxford, which will be a great sight in the morning if it stays around. I have been out this evening trying to get a nice night shot of the snow, this was Park End Street at about 10pm this evening, completely covered in snow. People are out enjoying the snow tonight, plenty of snowball fights infront of The Dukes Cut in Park End Street.

Frosty White Oxford

Oxford was covered in a lovely white frost this morning, and most of the day to be honest. Unfortunately I could not get out and about to get a nice photo, would have loved to have gone to University Parks to see what that looked like. You can see the white frost on the tree here, with the long morning shadows, I think this morning for the coldest Oxford has had in awhile.

I Don't Care About Climate Change

Not sure why or how this Range Rover become covered in white paint, do you think it was a protest from climate change groups? Maybe it was from a passerby who did not like the arrogance of the driver who just parked on double yellows? Anyone else care to have a stab at how or why this paint ended up on this new 4x4?

Happy New Year To Everyone

What a lovely clear day to start the New Year, and to also take your horse out for a nice ride, the temperature was very low all day, around zero all day, but it was so clear and sunny that when you got out into the sun it felt very warm.

Hope everyone had a nice New Year's eve and that you did not wake up with to much of a head ache! Let's hope I can get a few good shots of Oxford this year.

It's Starting To Snow In Oxford

It was hard to try and get a photo of the snow that started to fall this evening, I am not much of a night photographer. I managed to get this photo of snow falling past a street night, it makes the snow look like sparks in a metal foundry. Not sure how much of this snow will be around tomorrow morning when Oxford wakes up.

Fanatical About Film Christmas Movies

A very popular activity during the Christmas Holidays is going to the movies and in Oxford there is two main movies showing in the main cinemas, Avatar and Sherlock Holmes. I went to see Sherlock Holmes this afternoon and would recommend the Guy Ritchie version of the English Classic, a very good movie. It is still a bit cool outside in Oxford at the moment.

Fox And Hounds Abingdon Road

What's going to happen with this site at the end of the Abingdon Road? The Fox and Hounds Pub closed down well over a year ago, and about six months ago there was a fire on the site which you can see in this photo. There was talk that TESCO was applying to put a small TESCO Express on the site, but I have not heard anything about this for awhile, I read about local opposition to the site being turned over to TESCO. I am sure my friend Tony would not be to pleased to see this old pub turned into a supermarket.

Not A Holiday For Everyone

While I was relaxing today trying to avoid the crowds who were heading into Oxford to take part in the sales, I was thinking about how quick Christmas is for many who can not get time off over this period like the sales assistants in all the stores. Then as I was walking back from having a drink with friends I spotted the silhouette of this cleaner working in the Oxford Castle complex. It was strange, she was working away with the vacuum which would have been making a bit of noise and I was standing below and could not hear a thing it was eerie. Christmas Holidays should be longer..

Merry Christmas Everyone

It is Christmas, and today I did not leave the house at all. So todays photo was taken in my lounge room this afternoon, just after Christmas Dinner, I like to have candles around the house to set the mood. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas with family and friends, Merry Christmas.

The Calm Before The Storm

Hope you have managed to get everything that you needed for Christmas, as the stores in Oxford started to close the city started to empty of shoppers as people started to head home, get out of the cold and spend time with family and friends. While I was in Cornmarket this afternoon getting a nice bottle of Australian Red for Christmas Day, I noticed that NEXT had already closed to get ready for the post Christmas Sales...

Merry Christmas everyone, and thanks for popping into see Oxford Daily Photo every now and then, sorry for being a little irregular over the last couple of weeks..

Very Frosty In Oxford This Morning

It was very frosty in Oxford today with the overnight temperature in Oxford falling below zero and the maximum not reaching more than 3∘C during the day, most of Oxford looked like this all day. Grey and miserable. Where are those foot prints leading to?

Very Chilly Looking St Giles

Very cold today in Oxford, no snow like parts of the country for Oxford, just a very cold day of about -2 according to the local radio station. I had to wait awhile to get this photo with so few cars, you no its the weekend before Christmas and the city centre has gone mad......

North Oxford Rotary Christmas Appeal

Over the next few days you will see around North Oxford members from the North Oxford Rotary Club with there very large Santa Sled with Santa along with Santa's helpers collecting for Vale House in Botley. If you see these guys out and about I hope you can spare a pound or two for Vale House.

The Swan and Castle

In January this year I posted a photo of the closed Ha Ha Bar, well this weekend Oxford newest Weatherspoon's pub, The Swan and Castle, opened in the building where it was and it was very busy tonight. The Swan and Castle is across the road from the West Gate Shopping Centre which I am sure will be very popular with the shoppers and all those visiting Oxford.

There is another pub just down the street from this new pub with a similar name, The Castle, don't get these two places mixed up with you are meeting up with friends, you might be a little surprised.

Oxford Castle Christmas Market

This year in the grounds of the Oxford Castle there is a Christmas Market which is running till 20th of December. This is Oxford's first Christmas Market and this afternoon it was very busy, which is great to see. I had a nice sausage roll from Max at the Big Bang Restaurant who has a stand at the market selling Mulled Wine and great sausage rolls. The market has a great variety of craft and gift idea's that you don't see in the big chain store, well with a look if you are in the area. The logo for the Christmas Market was done by well know local artist Neil Baldauf-Clark which I think is very good, have a look at the website if you are interested, would make a great Christmas Card.

Christmas Lights In Oxford Area

I think it is great when people decorate there gardens and houses for Christmas, and I think that people enjoy putting all that effort in to making sure things look Christmassy. Last year this garden in Banbury Road did not have as many lights, and this year the owner has added a few more lights, well done.

Some people really go to town on Christmas Lights and decoration, which I enjoy, but when do you take them down? You really can not leave them up all year can you? I think the local newspaper should have a competition for the best house in Oxford!!

Borders Closing Down Sale Starts In Oxford

As I am sure alot of my readers know, the Borders book store across the nation has gone into administration. As apart of that process the store on Magdelan Street in Oxford is having a massive percentage off sale. I was always under the impression that Borders was a string business attracting alot of well known authors to the store to sign books just after there release, guess I was wrong. What is going to happen to the Starbuck and Paperchase departments??

Sunset Over Oxford

The sunset over Oxford at about 1630 this evening, the days are getting shorter now, which I like when it is sunny like this, today it there was a lot more rain about, this photo was taken on Sunday evening, unfortunately I could not post on Sunday, but did not want to waste the shot as I liked it.

Penguin In Marlborough Road

Noticed this Penguin in Marlborough Road today, must be global warming, not sure what he was doing in Oxford.

Will Young At The New Theatre Oxford

Not the best photo, due to not having the best seats in the house, but this photo was taken at the New Theatre in Oxford at the Will Young concert this evening. Not a real big fan however he was entertaining and know who to told the crowd who loved every minute of his show.

Queen Arrives In Oxford In State Bentley

The Queen visited Oxford this morning to look around the new gallery's of the Ashmolean Museum which were opened to the public early last month. As you can imagine the Queen visiting Oxford was a very popular event, and I was unable to get close enough with the crowds for a photo of her, so I had to settle on the motorcade as it drove down St Giles. The Queen come to Oxford from Windsor in her special State Bentley with her standard flying from the roof, there were only two of these Special Bentley's ever made and given to the Queen in 2002 for her Golden Jubilee.

Ice Sculpturs At Oxford Castle

A couple of days ago at the start of the Christmas Celebrations for Oxford there was an Ice Sculptor putting on a great demonstration within the Oxford Caste area. Once he had finished a sculpture he would put it on display and then start work on the next. Luckily for us public it was fairly chilly that night and they did not melt too fast and we could see the great skill involved in making these great objects.