Cambridge or Oxford, which do you prefer?

[Cyril Haearn]

This is intended to be a bit of fun but it occurred to me after reading a discussion about cycle ways in the respective counties, which may not have much to do with the cities
I used to know both well, how different are they? Which do you prefer?
Interesting fact about Cambridge: it had/has a queer train station with one very long platform for both directions
Any interesting facts about Oxford?

Especially interested in non-cycling thoughts, diolch

Changing ones vote is allowed, unlike in the real world

[Cunobelin]

Oxford has teh Eagle and Child where Tolkien wrote large parts of Lord of the Rings
Cambridge has the Eagle where two gentleman named Watson and Crick announce the discovery of DNA


Both are fairly matched as you will always find there is a comparative feature.

For me though, Cambridge has more green areas than Oxford.

[pwa]

I don't know Cambridge. I went there as a child but it left little impression. Oxford was a traffic jam framed by interesting buildings last time I went there.

[Thornyone]

I got to know Cambridge a bit when I was a student in Norwich. I have also visited Oxford a few times over the years. In the days that I visited both places entry to colleges was free. Cambridge is (was?- not been for a number of years) much more beautiful and less traffic-choked. King’s College chapel is peerless, the layout of the main colleges is more attractive and the backs so green. Oxford seemed dustier and less restful.

[Audax67]

I voted 'Other', since I graduated from Edinburgh some time before the K-T layer was laid down.

[Psamathe]

It always used to be said you could walk between the two cities without ever leaving college owned land. Urban myth? Still true today (if it ever was)?

Ian

[Mick F]

I've never been to Cambridge, but I have cycled through Oxford.
Horrible place.

Hopefully, Cambridge is nice.

[mjr]

I've never been to Cambridge, but I have cycled through Oxford.
Horrible place.

Hopefully, Cambridge is nice.

Cambridge is nicer for cycling IMO (better infrastructure, more willingness to try to direct motorists around instead of through) but I feel the city is dominated by its largest university far more than Oxford is and that's quite a sad achievement!

[Cyril Haearn]

Tolkien had German ancestors, Tollkuehn (very daring)
Why is the word 'Oxbridge' used, not 'Camford'?

[ferrit worrier]

A couple of years ago i was led on a cycle trip round Oxford by our youngest daughter who was studying at Oxford Brookes. A really good afternoon early evening ride. Finishing at Mission Burrito down a little side street.
One of those really nice Father, Daughter memmories.

[Si]

Oxford for me every time....speaking as a tourist. Cambridge seems a bit loose round the edges and less solid in the middle. Plus we are morse and lewis fans!

Only ever cycled in cambridge.....wasnt overly impressed. Lots of crowded shared use on the route i was taken on.

[Cunobelin]

A couple of years ago i was led on a cycle trip round Oxford by our youngest daughter who was studying at Oxford Brookes. A really good afternoon early evening ride. Finishing at Mission Burrito down a little side street.
One of those really nice Father, Daughter memmories.

There is a Morse tour.... Have a pint at every pub that Morse did!

Best done on foot!

[Vorpal]

I like both. I think there area few more interesting things to see in Oxford, but Cambridge is a little more fun. Also, I know how to get around Cambridge a bit better, having been there more.

I like the shops & green spaces in Cambridge; I like the historic places in Oxford.

I picked both.

Although I could just as easily have picked another university town. My choice would be Edinburgh.

[Cyril Haearn]

Oxford is maybe better for cycloclimbing, Cambridge has nothing like Divinity Road
Cambridge has the Fens nearby, a strange region I would like to rediscover
Oxford does have Otmoor, mind, and Lomas used to build frames in the Cowley Road +1, but there is a big car factory there too, - 1

Didn't Blackwells take over Heffers? Or was it the other way round

[Cunobelin]

Oxford is maybe better for cycloclimbing, Cambridge has nothing like Divinity Road
Cambridge has the Fens nearby, a strange region I would like to rediscover
Oxford does have Otmoor, mind, and Lomas used to build frames in the Cowley Road +1, but there is a big car factory there too, - 1

Didn't Blackwells take over Heffers? Or was it the other way round

Heffers is IIRC still there in Trinity Street,but in name only. It was a family business and I had a friend who worked there until the late 90's when it was bought by Blackwells. Despite the size, they used to be a real bookshop, and had real customers. It was not uncommon to walk in and be handed a book that the staff had put aside because it fitted your reading profile. Often new authors or an author you knew under an alias. They were rarely wrong!


Used to be a great wheeze for a couple of free drinks....

Heffers often had book launches, and I have some excellent signed copies of books from these.

However for the less well attended ones, getting tickets was easy and you could usually blag a couple of free glasses of wine