Written by Rowena Carr-Allison on Jun 21, 2010. Posted in On Location

Location Report: Oxford

A truly unique city, Oxford is renowned the world over for its eminent university and its beautiful architecture. Romantically nicknamed the ‘City of Dreaming Spires,’ it can trace its history back to the 8th Century. Since then, the town has become synonymous with the educational elite, giving us 26 British Prime Ministers (including the most recent), 47 Nobel prize-winners and legendary luminaries like Indira Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Sir Walter Raleigh, Lewis Carroll, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Stephen Hawking. It’s even spawned a few 'lovies' including Hugh Grant, Michael Palin, Ken Loach and Richard Curtis.

Walking around Oxford is that ultimate cliché: ‘taking a walk back in time.’ Each college is more impressive than the next with its intricate details and awesome medieval presence.

Full of nooks and crannies, Oxford’s gems are well hidden. Its best pubs like the Turf Tavern or The Bear are virtually impossible to find. Perhaps just as well, to keep the nine million tourists who visit every year at bay…

Its rich history and architecture make Oxford a firm film favourite. It’s featured in major productions from the Harry Potter films to Tomorrow Never Dies and the famous Inspector Morse series.. Popular locations in town include the magnificent Christchurch College and the Ashmolean, Britain's first museum. Having just undergone a GBP61 million facelift, the building’s stunning central atrium and six floors of galleries
are resplendent.

Karen Carey, Media Co-ordinator at Oxford University, confides: “The most popular area for filming the 'iconic' shots is around the Bodleain Library. They have a member of staff there that deals with film crews as there are so many requests.”

The Old Bodleian Library is best known for its 15th-century Divinity School’s splendid gothic hall. It’s also home to Convocation House and Charles I’s magnificent English Civil War wooden throne.

The Colleges offer innumerable opportunities indoors, such as at University College’s Victorian Gothic Chapel, or outdoors, like the Fellows Garden with its fantastic views of the Radcliffe Camera as seen in The Golden Compass.

Oxford Castle, built in 1071 and used as a prison until 1996, is also a popular location. Now redeveloped with a shopping center, Malmaison hotel and heritage complex, it was used in the 1969 Italian Job, A Fish Called Wanda and Robert Redford's Spy Game. Most recently, Oxfordshire hosted Gulliver at Blenheim palace.

To encourage filming in Oxfordshire, the city and the county council, with the support of the University of Oxford, have launched a new website: www.locationoxfordshire.co.uk.

Geron Swann, who runs Location Oxfordshire, has his favourite spots. “I particularly like Kirtlington Park, a stately home that has a variety of possibilities from parkland to an ammo dump!”

Could it pass as another city or is it simply too iconic and unique? “It can work as Edinburgh, Bath or any other Georgian or medieval city." adds Geron.

The site also covers local 'film friendly' support services – everything “from caterers to car parking, security to accommodation and IT to extras.”

As for permits, the process goes via the county council. Katherine Powley, County Network Co-ordinator, says: “We can help liaising with local authorities with regards to parking, crane lifts, noise levels and removing of modern street furniture so that the film crew has a smooth as possible visit to Oxfordshire.”

Welcome to Oxford.