Knowing the story of Oxford will hopefully help you enjoy the city more. In this section we will dive into the past, including Oxford's origins as a university town, and look at the people of Oxford who made the city famous. More articles coming soon.
You can also delve into the past in our Oxford Old Postcards from the Past section.
Oxford is known worldwide as the home of Oxford University, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and as the 'city of dreaming spires', a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold. Oxford was first settled in Saxon times and was initially known as 'Oxenaforda', meaning 'Ford of the Oxen'.
Oxford is the birth place of or home to some well known writers, sport stars, musicians, politicians and artists. We list a few of the most notable here. If you have the time, we urge you to read a little more about each one on the internet.
In pictures: Jericho in Oxford - BBC News (31 Dec 2022) 
Joey Beauchamp: Oxford United legend's funeral takes place - BBC News (24 Mar 2022)
Oxford bookseller Blackwell's sold to Waterstones - BBC News (1 Mar 2022)
Oxford University 'lost' college discovered during excavations - BBC News (1 Feb 2022)
Cecil Rhodes statue will not be removed by Oxford College - BBC News (20 May 2021)
Covid: Brian Pinker, 82, first to get Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine - BBC News (4 Jan 2021)
Prof Sarah Gilbert: The woman who designed the Oxford vaccine - BBC News (23 Nov 2020)
Don't hide history, says Oxford head in statue row - BBC News (11 Jun 2020)
Oxford's oldest department store Boswells set to close - BBC News (27 Nov 2019)
Minis weave through Oxford streets for 60th anniversary - BBC News (26 Aug 2019)
Elephant sculpture commemorates short-lived Oxford Zoo - BBC News (4 Oct 2018)
'Billy Bunter' deal sees Oxford publisher amass huge comic collection - BBC News (28 Sep 2018)
Oxford sinkhole 'caused by medieval ditch' - BBC News (5 Sep 2018)
Four more emperor heads found in Oxford - BBC News (22 Jun 2018)
Discover the violent end of the Oxford dodo - BBC News (20 Apr 2018)
Oxford medieval road discovered under field near Willow Walk - BBC News (29 Nov 2017)
Oxford site for statue of Morse creator Colin Dexter identified - BBC News (29 Sep 2017)
The Oxford monastery hidden in plain sight - BBC News (19 Sep 2017)
Electric Mini to be built in Oxford - BBC News (25 Jul 2017)
Why is this Oxford college five minutes slow? - BBC News (25 Mar 2017)
