Oxford is for lovers… literary lovers, Hogwarts lovers, and lovers of architecture. Walking cobblestone streets, and exploring their winding alleys, you’ll find every inch of the university radiates magic. However, there are four sites you cannot afford to miss.

Climb the Tower at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin

There’s a magnificent church located in Radcliffe Square, with a tower laced in gothic architecture. The view from the tower is one you absolutely mustn’t miss - I’ve thought of it every day since, and if you’ve ever been on the London Eye, honestly… the tower trumps it in every way.

Upon reaching the top, you’ll be exposed to the most picturesque view overlooking Oxford, along with an upclose peek at the statues and spire that crowns the top.

The stairs to get there are quite narrow (I won’t lie - the climb is brutal), and there’s not much room to move around at the top, but I promise the view is worth nearly dying for.

It costs 2.50 pounds to walk the tower.

Grab a Drink at Turf Tavern

Don’t leave town without grabbing a drink at the Turf Tavern - just as all the greats of Oxford have done. A few of the names that have been regulars at this little pub throughout the years include: Oscar Wilde, Emma Watson, Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Taylor & Margaret Thatcher. Several Harry Potter cast members hung out here during filming as well.

You’ll have to wander down a few different alleys to reach the Turf Tavern, as it’s fairly hidden - certainly something you wouldn’t likely find if you didn’t already know about it. One point of entry is through St. Helen’s Passage.

Visit the Divinity School

Dating back to the 1400s, the Divinity School is one of the oldest buildings at Oxford University. Theology, also known as Divinity, was once taught here, though the building is now apart of the Bodleian Libraries.

The gothic architecture is masterful, and you will find initials carved into the ceiling - those of donors and the man responsible for the ceiling work, along with family coat of arms.

Harry Potter fans will recognize the Divinity School from a few of the films, as it served as the Hogwarts Infirmary in The Sorcerer's Stone, and reappeared as the site of McGonagall’s dance lessons in The Goblet of Fire.

To simply enter the Divinity School, the cost is 2 pounds per person, or 5 pounds for a family.

Soak in the History of Saint Mary’s Passage

I grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia, so the story that follows brought me the purest of joy.

Picture a quiet, snowy evening - no one in sight-, and a young C.S. Lewis in a hurry to leave church. Lewis decides to leave early by sneaking out the back; however the door to do so is hidden behind a coat rack, so Lewis parts the coats, opens the door, and appears into a snow covered alley as if he came out of nowhere.

Entering what seemed like a new world, Lewis sees the lamp post in Saint Mary’s Passage. And if you take a look at the door he came out of, I think you’ll recognize a few memorable characters.

A lion - Aslan - is carved into the center of the door, while a fauns can be seen on both sides of the door, looking just as Mr. Tumnus does.

All of these sites can be found near Radcliffe Square.