Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of the university buildings. The River Thames runs through Oxford, where for a distance of some 10 miles it is known as the Isis.
 
It is located some 55 miles (90 km) north west of London and 70 miles (110 km) south east of Birmingham. Most local bus services are provided by the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach South Midlands and include two frequent coach services to London.

Oxford has numerous major tourist attractions, many belonging to the university and colleges. As well as several famous institutions, the town centre is home to Carfax Tower and a historical themed ride, The Oxford Story. Many tourists shop at the historic Covered Market. In the summer, punting on the Thames/Isis and the Cherwell is popular.

Museums and Galleries
There are several museums, galleries and buildings of special interest:
Oxford University Museum of Natural History,
Ashmolean Museum, Britain's oldest museum,
Pitt Rivers Museum,
Museum of Natural History, home of (the remains of) the Oxford Dodo,
Museum of the History of Science, in Britain's oldest purpose-built museum building,
Museum of Oxford,
Museum of Modern Art,
Oxford University Press Oxford University Press,
The Bodleian Library,
The Clarendon Building (often used as a set for film and television),
The Radcliffe Camera (one of several institutions named after John Radcliffe),
The Sheldonian Theatre.