Oxford Salford Train

The historic university city of Oxford is located in the county of Oxfordshire and is roughly 35 miles to the east of Cheltenham and 30 miles to the south west of Milton Keynes. Although known for its university the economy of Oxford is also reliant on car making, publishing, science and technology, bellfounding and brewing. Several of the University's colleges had private breweries which includes Brasenose College whose brewery survived until 1889.

Oxford used to be an important port of the River Thames, although the section of the Thames that runs through Oxford is called The Isis. To accommodate commercial traffic the Oxford-Burcot Commission in the 17th century took steps to improve the navigability of the river. The Oxford Canal was constructed in the 18th century in order to connect Oxford with the Midlands. Commercial traffic has given way to recreational use of the river and canal. Oxford was the original base of Salters Steamers and there is a regular service from Folly Bridge downstream to Abingdon and beyond.

Interesting attractions in the city include the Ashmolean Museum, the Bodleian Library, Christ Church Cathedral, The Headington Shark, the Museum of History and Science and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Salford, located in the north west of England, has a secret that many visitors don't realise - 60% of the city is green space! The city has three green flag parks, five local nature reserves and over 20 public parks, all of which offer visitors plenty of things to do and see. You can explore one of the beautiful country parks such as Clifton Country Park's meadows, play hide and seek in Worsley Woods, take a leisurely stroll at Blackleach Country Park, or enjoy a brass band concert with an ice cream in the summer at Victoria Park. If you prefer a more wild approach, try some real wilderness at Chat Moss. If you are looking for a taste of Salford's past, visit Ordsall Hall which is a formerly moated Tudor mansion, the oldest parts of which were built during the 15th century. The mansion is located in the Ordsall area of Salford and was the family seat of the Radclyffe family, who lived in the house for more than 300 years. The hall was the setting for William Harrison Ainsworth's 1842 novel Guy Fawkes, written around the plausible although unsubstantiated local story that the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was planned in the house.