In picture-perfect Oxford, walking tours reckon with an uncomfortable side of history

Learn about Oxford University’s chequered past even as you enjoy the city’s pubs, punting and nature walks. ST PHOTO: CLARA LOCK
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OXFORD – Banks, shops and spires towering above stately colleges. In the centre of Oxford city, tour guide Lorika Shkreli asks our group which buildings we think belong to the university.

The answer? Virtually all of them. Oxford University’s 43 colleges own most of the real estate in the city centre, with the notable exceptions of Oxford Town Hall, and Carfax Tower, which is part of the former city church.

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