Oxford's ancient university colleges create one of the world's most beautiful cityscapes, their honey-coloured stone courtyards and "dreaming spires" largely unchanged for centuries. The Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, and Christ Church Cathedral are architectural masterpieces, while the colleges themselves offer peaceful havens just steps from busy streets. World-class museums including the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers are free to visit. Punting on the Cherwell, cycling through the parks, and discovering hidden courtyards add to Oxford's timeless appeal.