So maybe for the summer I get the choice to stay between two places - London or Oxford. I have friends in both but really only have time to visit one of them.
The thing is, I’d really like to visit the place which is more multi-national (i.e. lots of different nationalities involved). Of particular interest to me are European nationals (e.g. Spain, France, Italy, Greece etc.). I wanna visit the place which has more of these nationalities floating about.
Now my guess would be that London is the place to see. I would think there’d be loads of International Europeans (either tourists, locals who now live there, or possibly even students). But my friend in Oxford suggests that Oxford has a rather large International European contingent. He says it’s from all the students that come there to study (he lives near the University of Oxford itself, by the way).
I dunno I think he’s doing it to lure me there instead of letting me go to London (he hates the other guy). But maybe what he is saying is right, right?
If I was visiting London I’d be staying somewhere in Central London (in the presumably more cosmopolitan area, I think my friend lives in Moorgate or something).
So which is the better one, taking into account what my interests are? Where do you reckon I’d find a more European International cohort?
Please bear in mind that I am primarily interested in meeting European (including Russian), American and Canadian people in these places.
Oxford is, of course, seething with tourists and students of all nationalities … since it’s a much smaller place than London, the actual proportion of non-English types may, indeed, be greater than London’s.
On the other hand, while Oxford undoubtedly has its charms, it is a much smaller place than London … there’s less to do and to see.
On the other other hand, there’s certainly enough to do and see in Oxford: if you have a few weeks to spend here, you can keep them fairly full.
A lot of international students will, naturally, be heading home over the summer … on yet another other hand, a fair number of language students and tourists of all nationalities will be coming here over the summer - it’s a time when the language schools do a lot of business.
When you visit Oxford you will see why some might find that statement funny.
I lived there for the best part of a decade and being a small-town girl I much preferred it to the vast, fast-city living of London. As well as its many charms, a good thing about Oxford is that London is accessible enough to go and visit it for the day or even just for the evening. I always found it easier than living in London itself, especially when it comes to getting back home at night thanks to the 24-hour London-Oxford bus service.
As far as the international crowd goes, both places meet your needs. Being a small city Oxford may prove an easier place to meet people, although that will depend on the contacts you already have in both places, and on your specific interests.
Not much more to add to what Steve Wright has already said. But I’m biased!
