42 | Graduate Prospectus 2014–15
Nightlife and music For a relatively small city, where it seems nothing is ever more than 15 minutes away, Oxford attracts the best in arts, culture and entertainment. What most surprises newcomers is the sheer variety on offer. Oxford offers opera and classical music, club nights and live gigs, formal dining and decadent cocktails, pubs and bars, plus places that serve food from all over the world and to suit all budgets.
City scene As compelling as college life is, it is also well worth venturing out and seeing what the city has to offer. This includes both mainstream and art-house cinemas; a number of theatres, staging everything from West End shows to classic drama and experimental theatre; and a variety of pubs, bars, clubs and live music venues. Music and comedy Oxford’s live music scene is thriving. The O2 Academy is a well-established stop on the UK touring indie bands circuit, including frequent visits from big names. A number of other venues offer live music and club nights featuring all types of music including indie, hip-hop, punk, pop, jazz and folk. Many of the UK’s top comedy acts regularly visit Oxford, often performing at the New Theatre, and the Glee Club Oxford hosts live comedy nights every weekend. Special events Special events happen in Oxford throughout the year, including Party in the Park, the Oxford Folk Festival, the Jericho Street Fair and Oxford Pride, and many events rooted in Oxford’s history. For example, on the first day of May crowds gather on the High Street and Magdalen Bridge to listen to choristers sing an invocation to summer from the top of Magdalen College Tower at sunrise. Over the years this has turned into a major celebration, with balls and parties taking place the night before and lasting through into the morning. Most colleges also hold their own themed party nights, known as college ‘bops’, and these provide a great opportunity to invite friends from other colleges. London is only a bus or train ride away, where a whole other world of entertainment and experiences awaits.
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The University Parks are amazing, and the cafes are always surprising, with poets and musicians performing on a daily basis. The graffiti art in Cowley reminds me of Brazil.” Diego Scardone, MSc Latin American Studies (St Antony’s College)
Photographs by (top) May Chan, DPhil Comparative Philology and General Linguistics (Worcester College); and by Yunli Song, DPhil Systems Biology DTC (Lady Margaret Hall)