Oxford is THE place for serious academics and it's an impressive university city, filled with the legendary dreaming spires and churches around every corner.

When someone talks of going to university at Oxford, what many people don't realise is that could mean any one of countless colleges, from Magdalen, merton and Christ Church.

The role call of famous people who have studied or lived here is endless: from Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll and Lawrence of Arabia, to former American President Bill Clinton and playwright Alan Bennett.

Wander round the streets and don't miss some of the fantastic museums, hidden behind buildings, each one looking grander than the last.

The University Museum in Parks Road houses everything from dinosaur displays to dodo bones while the nearby Pitt-Rivers Museum has archaeology and musical instruments.  You'll notice many of the churches have beautiful stained glass windows and the city is known for this feature.

Many of the university buildings can be explored but choose wisely as most charge a fee to go in. 

There's only one way to get around here - by bike - and there's usually hundreds of them chained to railings or outside shops or simply abandoned.

Finally, no visit to Oxford would be complete without a trip down to the river where you can hire a punt for a river trip or just watch the world go by. 

Not surprisingly this most famous of university cities has been the backdrop for many films and television series, most notably in recent years, Inspector Morse, which starred the late John Thaw.