OXFORD, ENGLAND - Finally, I can look my snooty Ivy League school friends straight in the eye and tell them “I went to Oxford.”

And while in England’s ancient city of scholars I learnt a lot about its colleges and buildings, its mysterious medieval alleyways, its quirky ceremonies, its twisting streets and its legendary pubs.

My Oxford education begins as soon as I enter the stately Randolph Macdonald Hotel, which I learn dates back to 1864 and is the perfect place to stay because it’s in easy walking distance of the city’s 38 colleges, shopping streets and tourist attractions.

The hotel looks like it just opened thanks to the meticulous condition it’s always kept and its Victorian/Gothic design blends in beautifully with the other majestic buildings standing along Beaumont Street.

Left: The buildings that dominate Radcliffe Sq. date back centuries. Right: Symbols of a Oxford are everywhere.

The Randolph sits directly across from the Ashmolean Museum, where art students come to study great works presented in some very impressive exhibitions and the Oxford Playhouse is also close by.

There’s so much to see in Oxford that it’s hard to know where to start.

“St. Marys Church,” is what the doorman at the Randolph suggests.

The massive church, which sits in the very centre of town and is officially known as the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, was actually adopted as the first building of Oxford University in 1252, although its history dates back to 1086.

The church’s imposing tower, which you can see from almost everywhere in Oxford, was built around 1270 and it kept growing until it became the impressive structure it is today. Its impressive organ is one of only two of its kind in England - the other is in the chapel of Trinity College of Oxford’s arch rival Cambridge University.

Above: Around every corner there's a reminder that you are walking the streets of England's most educated city.

For centuries, the church has been the spiritual heart of England’s oldest university and scholars from around the world have debated religion, politics and morality within its ancient walls.

The view one gets from the church tower of the city, the many buildings that make up the university and especially world famous Radcliffe Square opposite is quite breathtaking.

So impressed with Radcliffe Square, we decide to make it the second stop on our tour.

The great square, which is always filled with people - students rushing off the class or tourists taking pictures - is named after John Radcliffe, a former Oxford student who became doctor to the king and left much of his fortune to the university when he died.

The centrepiece of the square is the circular Radcliffe Camera, a library that the good doctor paid for. It opened in 1748 and is now part of the world famous Bodleian Library - the two are connected by an underground tunnel, which, is where some of its 600,000 books are stored. A unique underground railway transports books between the two libraries.

All Souls College, with its imposing iron gate, sits to the right of the square which is used for many university ceremonies and has starred in a lot of television and film productions.

Left: An Oxford professor stops to talk to a local on the main street. Right: Ancient homes looks out on the main street.

A short walk form the Radcliffe Square you’ll find High Street, the city’s main thoroughfare which is lined with quaint shops, landmark hotels, historic pubs and many buildings that belong to the university.

German-born scholar Nikolaus Pevsner once described Oxford’s High Street as “one of the world’s great streets”, and after waking it, few will disagree.

A number of narrow lanes run off the famous street and lead to historic pubs and shops. Down Rose Lane we come upon Britain’s oldest botanic garden and spend several tranquil moments behind its old stone walls.

Oriel Square, surrounded by brightly-painted 18th century houses, is just off High Street and it’s another great place to pause during your walking tour. The entrance to Oriel College sits opposite the square.

We come across plenty of museums - the Ashmolean, which opened in 1683 and is said to be Britain’s oldest, houses some fascinating artifacts but for our money, the Castle Museum and its 1,000 years of history topped our list. Part of the castle was also a prison and housed some of Britain’s most notorious villains. It’s now a hotel.

Albert Einstein fans have to make their way to Oxford for in the Museum of History and Science they’ll find one of the most treasured blackboards in all the world containing the great scientist’s Theory of Relativity written in his own hand in chalk. After arguing his Theory at Oxford the blackboard was preserved and now is the most valuable and interesting object in the museum.

The city’s covered market, which dates back to 1774, is a must see - aromas of fresh fruits and flowers mix with coffee and fresh baked goods and the atmosphere is always charged with lots of chatter and laughter. You’ll learn a lot about the surrounding countryside from the vendors at this market.

Pitt Rivers Museum - locals I learn call it the Pitt Stop - is another entertaining place to hang out while in Oxford. Founded in 1884, is a wood carvers dream - it even has a totem pole that truly excited the youngest visitors.

Above: Oxford's streets were always a fixture on the popular TV detective series Inspector Morse.

Being one of England’s oldest cities, you know Oxford has lots of pubs but the ones we find down ancient lanes like the Wheatsheaf Yard is where the locals hang out and the meals are truly authentic English, right down to the mush peas. Te fish and chips at the historic White Horse pub on Broad Street was another of our favourites.

You quickly learn that Oxford is one of England’s culinary capitals and the range of restaurants here is most impressive. Some of England’s top celebrity chefs, like Jamie Oliver, have even opened rooms here. For something truly unique, may we suggest you dine on a boathouse - the Cherwell Boathouse restaurant is an Edwardian period vessel that sits in the river of the same name.

Because there’s so many students on a budget, there’s lots of budget restaurants to choose from and food trucks offering Indian, Chinese and Turkish food are among the best we’ve ever tried.

The one thing I quickly learn on my visit to Oxford is that one visit is not enough to appreciate all this ancient city offers tourists - so I’ll just have to come back one day.