Thursday 12th 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.

Letter from abroad: Amman

Miranda Woods writes about her experience living in Amman, the capital of Jordan

Letter from abroad: Paris

Elena Leonard talks about the pleasures of dining and working in the French capital

Blind Date: Week 1

Greyhounds and other dogs leave a strong impression on both sides of Cherwell's first blind date of the year

Why it’s okay to hate freshers’ week (but it’s only okay to admit it one year later)

Nicola Dwornik explains her animosity towards this cherished university institution

A night at the clubs… Sunday: Lola Lo’s

Richard Birch awards Lola's two and half stars for their Freshers' night

An open letter to Phoebe Aldridge

Cat Bean sends her warm encouragements and reassures Phoebe, Oxford and Ambridge are not that different after all

Seville: A Young Traveller’s Dream

A city with a café that’s purpose built for reading and meeting people surely deserves to be more widely renowned in the backpacking scene

The Trouble with Trinidad

For Katherine Pye, the colour and energy of Trinidad, Cuba cannot erase its dark past. Part of the Cherwell Travel Supplement.

Keep off the Grass: Freshers’ week

Go to the Freshers fair No matter how rough the night before was, make sure you go to the Freshers’ Fair. The Freshers’ fair is...

Keep off the Grass: College life decrypted

In another preview of Oxford’s independent Fresher’s guide Keep off the Grass, Matthew Fuller plunges into the slightly incestuous depths of college life

Keep Off The Grass: From School to University

Miriam Nemmaoui discusses the jump from school to university life in our latest preview of this year's Keep Off The Grass

Train trips

A train journey to San Francisco takes Vivian Darkbloom much further than she expected

Keep off the Grass: Clubbing in Oxford

Oxford's independent fresher's guide takes you round the city's best clubs

Keep off the Grass: Let’s have a ball

Oxford's independent freshers' guide brings you a preview of one of our pieces on the lavish tradition of Oxford balls

Greater than Destitution

After working in the Calais Jungle, Chris Smart reflects on an experience of hope in the midst of a failure of human compassion

Keep Off The Grass: Guide to the Libraries

Oxford's independent freshers' guide brings you an alternative tour of its hallowed halls

Commemoration Balls

White tie balls are one of Oxbridge’s great anachronisms. Upon a cursory search as to what the dress code entails, I realised it was...

The Oxonian Dandy: Accessories

Dante O'Keefe rounds off the term's tips with a note on accessories

Against Using Bells to Tell the Time

William Brown expresses his frustration at Oxford's need to constantly remind you of the time

Recipe: Vegan Brownies

Jess Mundy shares a recipe for chocolatey heaven

Follow us