Cambridge. Oxford

Cambridge

This city has been described as the loveliest city of Britain thanks to its wonderful courtyards, bridges across the river Cam and architecture. The history of the city dates back to the Neolithic times. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has a big collection of relics. In Roman times there was a settlement and later the Saxons and the Normans came to this place. Soon Cambridge became a teaching centre for scholars from neighbouring monasteries and by the 13th century the University of Cambridge was founded. Like Oxford, the University consists of several colleges the oldest among which is Peterhouse, founded in 1284. The oldest colleges and University buildings are in the central area of Cambridge.

Oxford

This city is known all over the world not only by its beautiful architecture and landscape, but mostly by Oxford University. The city is also known as the " city of dreaming spires", as Matthew Arnold (an English poet) called it in regard to the harmonious architecture of the university buildings. King Charles I used Oxford as English capital when he was driven out of London in the 17th century/

The University of Oxford is over 800 years old. Today the University of Oxford consists of 35 independent colleges and 5 halls. It provides central libraries, laboratories and services. There are some museums and art galleries in Oxford. For example, the Ashmolean Museum which is the oldest museum in Britain. It has a good collection of antiques, European paintings, sculpture and silver. In the Christ Church Picture Gallery there are works of Italian painters from the 14th to the 18th century.

The Museum of the History of Science houses numerous scientific instruments dating back to the 16th century, collections of ancient chemical apparatuses, watches and clocks and medical instruments.

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