Thursday 12th February 2026

Lifestyle

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.

The dating bio’s obsession with Oxford

As Michaelmas drew to a close, a dramatic conversation about Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, finding his partner on a dating app prompted my friend and I to try a dating app for the first time in the UK.

Creaming Spires – 5th week Trinity

Ophelia Balls gets over-familiar with a friend

Houmous Girl – 4th week Trinity

This week sees Houmous Girl relay the tale of a burgeoning Oxford romance

Interview: Chang-rae Lee

Rhiannon Gibbs-Harris speaks to author Chang-rae Lee about the self, bad reviews and golf

Creaming Spires – 4th week Trinity

Ophelia Balls heads to Cowley in search of the Hipster

Houmous Girl – 3rd week Trinity

The characters of Oxford are feeling the pinch

Shakespeare Re-imagined: a Novel Choice

Sara Semic speaks to author Marina Fiorato about ink and virginity in 'Beatrice and Benedick'

Creaming Spires: 3rd week Trinity

Ophelia Balls discusses the pros and cons of physical activities with an Oxford Blue

Review: Worcester Formal

This week our reviewers are satisfied, but largely unimpressed.

Beyond Meat: Futuristic Food

Liz English explores new sources of eco-friendly nutrition

Creaming Spires – 2nd week Trinity

Ophelia Balls discovers first-hand that bored people are boring people

Houmous Girl – 2nd week Trinity

Your friends and acquaintances quibble over the evening's plan

New York: Swapping Revision for the Upper East Side

Naomi Polonsky leaves French and Russian for Frank Lloyd Wright and ruthless real estate

Houmous Girl – 1st week Trinity

Some familiar Oxford characters react to news of a sinkhole in town...

Copenhagen: an unorthodox tour

Emma Cookson is impressed by the lesser known attractions of the Danish capital

New Term, New You

Some guidelines for Trinity 2k14 that will make you a better, smarter, nicer person

Zurich and Vaduz: A foray into last-minute travel

Natalie Stumpf tells us how to cure the travel bug with the help of One Direction

A Mother’s Day survival guide

Sara Semic takes you through the ins and outs of the 'mother' of all Sundays

Paris: A view from the backstreets

Jessica Parker Humphreys provides a guide to the more alternative side of Paris

Freddy the Fresher: 7th Week Hilary

Freddy struggles to make ends meet as the end of term approaches

Creaming Spires: 6th Week Hilary

Ava Gina experiences the worst kind of come-down

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