Wednesday 21st January 2026

Lifestyle

In defence of the default order: The Alternative Tuck Shop

There is no place in Oxford that my muscle memory takes me to more reliably than the Alternative Tuck Shop. This happens regardless of my state – still half-asleep, perhaps slightly hungover, or already late for class.

Why you don’t need a “winter arc”

This winter, social media encourages us to embark on the journey of the "winter arc": a self-optimisation quest which leaves little room for hibernation.

The ick factor

Not all icks are created equal, and of course, they shouldn't be treated as such. Either way, they undeniably speak volumes about the person you're with.

Discovering neurodivergence: late diagnosis at Oxford

I always knew I was a bit of a peculiar child. But I was deeply surprised when a friend seeking a diagnosis herself suggested that I might be autistic.

Zero social anxiety?

Tiktok is helping us see what it might be like to have no social anxiety. But is complete disinhibition something we should all aspire to?

Stuck in a loop: Are you balancing your studies with your cycle? 

The menstrual cycle is not a disadvantage – understanding and accommodating it can bring huge advantages.

Why the rise of digital cameras?

There is an effortless quality to the pictures that seems to send out the message: I am not here to impress.

Split the G: the performative cult of Guinness drinking 

Beatrix Arnold discusses the golden harp, the ritualistic three-part pour, and the bravado of splitting the G

Digital Immunity

What if our concentration spans aren't doomed by the rise of short form content? Juliette McGrath reveals that there might be hope for us yet.

On being a fringe friend

The concept of being a fringe friend sounds pretty terrifying – but the alternative sounds even worse.

Staying green in Oxford

At home, things are quite simple: clearly labelled bins for various types of recycling, a reassuring food waste bin at hand in the kitchen,...

Finding the ‘I’ in Recovery

"Ultimately, getting better is not about erasing the past in the promise of the future; it is learning to say your name with a smile, knowing it has always been yours to say and will continue to be."

Trickster, terror, schemer, sly: Six years of April Fools

Exclusive secrets finally revealed by an April Fools mastermind

Disability and deferral: My unconventional journey to Oxford

Just over three years ago, I received my Oxford offer.  Like most sixth formers, my Oxford acceptance email came in the middle of my mock...

Reflections on the perils of overthinking

here is a lot to be said for blind positivity. On a good day, I’m a manifester, a big believer in my ability to speak things into existence. During my English A-Level, I had complete confidence that the crystals hidden in my bra would provide enough luck to snag me an A*. Today, I put great faith in words, relying on the same ‘I can do it’ that gets Olympic athletes across the finish line, to help me through difficult situations.

The fourth year: Oxford after your year abroad

I’m now in my fourth year, and as such, must grapple with the reality of my Oxford days drawing to a close. Granted, this is something that every student must contend with, and I watched on as most of my friends bade a fond farewell to this city where our friendships began when they graduated last summer. Yet there is something about the fourth year that I’m certain makes the final year even more strange: a sense of something already lost, of living in a moment that has already passed.

An evening at Pierre Victoire: French bistro dining at its best

Pierre Victoire has been here on Little Clarendon Street for decades – one of our porters even worked there before coming to college. So...

Being Cupid isn’t easy: What I learned from a term of running Cherpse

Now, having exhausted myself with these relentless pursuits, the job has been passed on to a new bright-eyed Cupid, and in my retirement I’ve become fondly reflective, and decided to curate my insights into this list: 

How Oxford celebrates Pancake Day, from races to formals

Today is Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent, and coincidentally, pancake day! Oxford does a lot to celebrate, and Cherwell is excited to...

‘Hot Girl Hilary’ – A mid-term reflection on what this really means

Better late than never, right? It’s the sentiment which lies at the heart of every tutorial essay, every near-sprint to a looming lecture or class (maybe even this article). Oxford time is a tin of treacle which seems to weigh down every step taken or word written, until you’re gasping for breath at the knife-edge of the essay deadline. It's the 5th week of term and you don’t want to run out of steam, but there isn’t much left in the tank. 

Unboxing the past: Snapshots of self-reflection

Memories aren't just windows into the past - they're about preserving pieces of who we are now.

Work hard, drink harder: Alcohol dependence and the Oxford experience

Since I arrived at Oxford, alcohol has been woven into the fabric of my university experience. Drinking isn’t just expected – it’s encouraged, celebrated, and deeply embedded in student culture. Nights out, pub trips, drinking societies, formals: Oxford demands drinking, and I’ve obliged, over and over again.

Brookes, Bridge, and Bodleian: A Tale of Two Universities

The University of Oxford, with its ancient colleges and lofty spires, has a reputation of intellectual prestige on the one hand and eccentricity on the other. Across the river Cherwell, its newer neighbour is a modern, dynamic, and sprightly alternative full of industrious opportunities. Yet, it is inevitably still a place where “I go to Oxford,” if left unspecified, tends to be followed by ‘no, not that one’. 

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