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How it rates

For many people, it is all about the university. Formal teaching began here in 1096 and the town's importance grew after 1167 when Anglo-Norman students were expelled from the Sorbonne and came to Oxford. From the beginning tensions brewed between the locals and students, with violent exchanges that led to one group of students leaving in 1209 to create Cambridge university. Today, tourists flock here in the summer for the architecture, museums and Englishness of the city.

Architectural gems

The poet Matthew Arnold coined the phrase “city of dreaming spires”, with reference to Oxford's university architecture. The largest and most spectacular example is Christ Church, which includes England's smallest cathedral. The wealthiest and perhaps the most beautiful is Magdalen College with its medieval chapel and cloister filled with gargoyles. The Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre and their neighbours are considered one of the finest groups of buildings in Europe.

What's new

Oxbridge Homes has a small development east of the city centre in Headington. Four family houses with four bedrooms and three bathrooms are on the market for £485,000 through Savills (01865 269010).

Travel

Direct trains to London take 50 minutes. Buses run every 15 minutes day and night between Oxford and London. Driving to Central London takes at least an hour - Heathrow is about an hour away.

Quality of life

Top-notch. Those who have enjoyed the Oxford of Inspector Morse or Brideshead Revisited will not be disappointed. If the weather is fine, visit some of the university grounds or head for Magdalen Bridge or Folly Bridge, for an afternoon's punting. However, its position in the Thames basin means that Oxford suffers badly from air pollution.

Smartest streets

With the centre of Oxford dominated by the university, the top properties can be found in the north of the city. The streets around Woodstock and Banbury Roads are full of large Victorian houses costing anything up to £5.6 million.

Restaurants

Branca's unstuffy approach to food makes this Italian brasserie a hit with the university crowds. Many locals rave about the Lebanese restaurant Al-Shami and Quod on the High Street. If you want to spend a bit more, Gee's is a swanky restaurant in an old conservatory. But better than any of these is the Italian newcomer La Cucina on St Clements.

Nightlife

The Oxford Playhouse is the main theatre in town, while the Carling Academy is the place for classy gigs. There are plenty of tiny drinking holes littering the winding passages of the city. Jericho is the overpriced boho area with trendy bars, but the more happening area is the Cowley Road with its cheap student pubs.

Education

Excellent for all ages. The Dragon School is a renowned co-ed prep school. St Philip and St James School is one of the top primary schools in the country. The GDST Oxford High School for girls is another national leader with Headington School a popular boarding option.

Working life

Unsurprisingly, the university is the biggest employer in the city. It was not until the arrival of the canal system in 1790 that Oxford expanded outside its academic core. The real boom began when William Morris started producing cars in 1912 in the Cowley factories, east of the city. Today they produce BMW's new Mini cars.

Upside

This great academic centre has both magnificent architecture and great institutions, including the oldest museum in England, the Ashmolean Museum. But it is not all old - Modern Art Oxford is one of the best contemporary art museums outside London. And then just a few minutes' walk from the centre you are deep in Christ Church meadows.

Downside

There is still a clear divide in the city: centuries on, and students and locals rarely mix. Traffic is a huge problem, with no sign of a let-up. According to figures from the Accommodation for Students website, Oxford had the fifth most expensive rental prices for university towns last year.

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