High Street

You are now joining High Street, which is the busiest street in the city, lined with beautiful monuments. The magnificent facade of Queen’s College, was built in honor of a queen, but which one? It is Queen Philippa of Hainault, the wife of King Henry III. I suppose that doesn’t ring a bell to you. Anyway, the college is for her and her alone, hence the name “Queen’s” with an apostrophe before the “s,” not “Queens'” in the plural form followed by the lone apostrophe. In opposition to Cambridge, which honors multiple queens. Well, English grammar is important. On the other side of the street, to your right, you have the Grand Café, which is the very first café in England and a true institution in Oxford. If you want to try English afternoon tea and taste scones covered in clotted cream, this thick cream similar to butter, in a sumptuous setting, now might be the perfect time! A bit further down on the right, you’ll also see the majestic entrance of the Examination School. This is the examination center, built by Sir Thomas Jackson in the 19th century. During World War I, the building, like other colleges in the city, was requisitioned to create a military hospital where the Royal Army Medical Corps could treat the wounded. Today, it is the largest conference venue in the city center, entirely classified as a historic monument.