Friday 13th February 2026

Lifestyle

The case for doing nothing (on holiday)

My best memories of gallivanting around Europe were of parks. They were found in the tranquility of self-reflection as I enjoyed the serenity of nature, clutching my too-expensive coffee and watching the ducks swim about in the river as the cold winter wind whipped the fallen leaves off the ground beside me.

Why you shouldn’t finish your reading list

On being accepted into Oxford, everyone warned me about the reading lists. “You’ll be reading eight hours a day,” they said. At the time, it sounded almost romantic.

Kilts, Ceilidhs and Calling: Inside the World of Oxford Reeling

It's Thursday night in New College's Long Room, and several dozen students are desperately trying to master The Plough Speed, which, for the uninitiated, is a mind boggling routine of side-steps, spins and shuffles.

Moving cities, keeping home

l've moved cities enough times to know that leaving is never just about packing boxes. After spending eighteen years in London, I found myself applying to a number of different cities, including Oxford, for university.

Review: George Street Social

Emily Beswick visits a haven for price-savvy food fanatics

PTSD rewrote me

Izzy Smith reflects on the way in which PTSD affects her life and her identity

Cocktail of the week: raspberry basil highball

Sam Purnell devises a refreshing cocktail delicious with or without alcohol

Letter from abroad: Vienna

Rebecca Morton explores how Vienna has taken her outside the ‘Oxford Bubble’

Blind Date: Andrew and Alice

Alice and Andrew bond over Wahoo, a capella, and Tesco's bagels

Unearthing the past: in search of stasis, simplicity and Mrs Simpson

Daniel Curtis reflects on school memories and how disorientating Oxford can appear at first

Life divided: collections

Nicola Dwornik describes two different takes on the termly ‘collections’ experience

The Oxford interview: a helper’s view

Ramani Chandramohan sees the process from the other side of the desk a year on from her own interview

Holidays: Cherwell Visuals competition

Whether you spent the vac away or at home, send your holiday art to [email protected] for a chance to see it in print

Restaurant review: Mildred’s

Amy Booth reviews a refreshingly impressive vegetarian restaurant in London

2016: the year in food

Emily Beswick and Sam Purnell pick their five most unforgettable food moments

Recipe: as American as apple pie

Julianna Lewis reflects on two Christmases on either side of the Atlantic

Windy colours

Emma Leech recalls her encounter with Henry the homeless artist and his unexpected colour palette

An Indian Christmas feast

Gitanjali Sharma recalls the Indian dishes she sampled around the Christmas dinner table this year

Recipe: Chanukah doughnuts, a user’s guide

Rachel Korn explores one of the festival’s most popular food traditions

Christmas around the world: Hungary

Rosie Gyorfi speaks about her celebration of Hungarian Christmas traditions in the UK

Recipe: Let the festivities be-gin

Julia Alsop shares a trio of sparkling winter cocktails to liven up your Christmas celebrations

Christmas around the world: Austria

Jack Schofield discusses the (sometimes terrifying) festive traditions of alpine Austria

Recipe: festive gingerbread stars

Emily Beswick suggests a great teatime snack, or thrifty Christmas gift

Recipe: A duo of warming Christmas drinks

Sam Purnell shares his favourite two drinks to enjoy this festive season

Follow us