Cambridge had impressed us as a magnificent university city but Oxford University was even grander. The ornate building facades carved with gargoyles, the secret inner courtyards, and elegant statues were all fighting for my attention as I tried to take it all in. We walked through the history filled streets past beautiful colleges and academic buildings, ending up at Christ College where parts of Harry Potter were filmed (and no doubt lots of famous thinkers studied here too). We paid the entry fee and walked through admiring Hogwarts, but also finding plenty to interest us in the non-Hogwarts parts of the college. The chapel, in particular, was fascinating with its long roll of names of students, staff, and old boys killed during the world wars, the elaborate dragon carvings at the ends of the choir stalls, and the bizarre and comedic stone faces staring down at us from the walls and ceiling.

Afterwards we walked back to the High Street and Dale dragged me past the many interesting looking shop fronts until we found a French Patisserie to get some lunch before we headed on to our next destination - Banbury! The cakes, macaroons, fruit tarts, and custard squares all looked like works of art yet with extraordinary willpower I ordered a sandwich. However, when it arrived it turned out to be almost as decadent as the cakes, with melted cheese oozing from between the toasted bread slices, as well as another layer of cheese, chopped olives and sundried tomatoes on top of the sandwich!

In Banbury we were staying near the famous Banbury Cross. The childhood nursery rhyme further came to life when across the road I spotted the statue of the lady on her white horse. Our accommodation was basic but clean, and there was parking out the back through a tunnel so narrow that Dale had only centimetres to spare on either side of the car!

We were spoilt for choice in terms of nearby attractions. I gave Dale the choice of Shakespeare, Winston Churchill or another castle. He wasn't particularly interested in Shakespeare - so that ruled out Stratford-upon-Avon. That left Churchill's home - Blenheim Palace - or Warwick Castle. In the end we settled on Warwick and set off just as another downpour began. Thunder rumbled and water covered the surface of the road as we made our way north. Fortunately it let up before we arrived in the medieval town of Warwick at around 4pm. Since it was nearing the end of the day we were able to buy half price tickets. The castle itself was still very busy, and it was easy to see why with its fabulous family-friendly set up. Not only is the castle itself an impressive sight with its high walls, towers, and lovely state rooms, but everywhere you look there are people dressed in medieval costumes and activities set up for kids to watch or participate in. For example there were tents set up around a cook fire where a medicine woman spoke sat in front of a small cauldron, there was an archer out near a target fletching an arrow, armoured guards stood at the drawbridge entrance, and a fool walked around trading the tourists. There was even a scruffy looking 'rat catcher', complete with stuffed rats, who had set up a game for kids who tried to toss the rats through a hoop - macabre! But what a fabulous holiday job!! Throughout the day there are archery or jousting demonstrations, and there is also a 'princess tower' tour to interest little girls. We enjoyed seeing the Kingmaker exhibition in the castle basement, which was so authentic that the exhibits were even designed to smell medieval!!