0:10 Abandoned pub 2:27 Blackbird Leys Estate 5:01 Ghost town? 6:54 My thoughts, is it that bad? 8:15 Beautiful park 10:32 Exploring oxford city centre and attractions
Hi there ... local here ... we don't say Arbington ... we call that area you're in near the lakes Hinksey. Abingdon is a town 7 miles south of the City.
I went to Oxford about 40 years ago to see a friend who’d studied there. He was in one of the colleges but to be honest, I never took to the place and have no desire to go back. Can’t explain it really. Great video.
The pub was a major part of the British way of life. At some point in the early 90's that changed and the Tax attached to a pint in a pub was seen as easy meat by our Peers.
Altough some things are definately worsening in some ways.....it's definately fear p*rn. People sometimes prefer to complain than look for the positive.
Well done Ed. Good to see those dreamy spires again. I've been around there in the 90's and noughties and back once or twice in the past ten years. I passed my Motorcycle test in 1992 at Oxford Stadium in Cowley, still the home of speedway and greyhounds, and a big part of British life a few years back. The international student population there adds to the positives, and those dreamy spires and old buildings bring the tourists in, and then you found Blackbird Leys! Has an interesting history that area. They cleared the slums of Oxford in the 1950's and moved everyone out to the new estate called Blackbird Leys. (Comic Hugh Laurie came from Blackbird Leys). That area, Cowley, was the base of our once great British Motoring industry. Only BMW Mini left now. I visited Wetherspoons in Cowley in 2019 and a picture there showed how massive the manufacturing area was when making cars, and would've employed, in many cases a job for life, a lot of people back in the day. The pub you passed closed in 2021. That area does have a well known bad reputation, lots of low earners and poverty, with riots in the 90's, but this is the same everywhere. You saw good and not so good again, and the times we are living in, economy, ect, just change things so much. Overall, I would not hesitate to return to Oxford again. What you missed actually, and more importantly, was Didcot! A 'must visit' for another time. 👍💯🇬🇧✔️😉
Seeing the outskirts here, you'll find them in The Netherlands, including the exact same architecture of social housing of the 60's -80's outside historic cities and towns (from the 15-17 hundreds).....
@ I lived there basically all my life so I’d say it’s the best place ever but lots of people don’t like the Brutalist art and the designs of other buildings which I find ridiculous
I went to Oxford years ago, only the city centre though. But like most cities way too expensive for ordinary people to live (and are not encouraged to) hence the estates that all look identical. The contrast is stark. Really good video once again.
Definately LEEEES. Oxford has always had a "towny" rougher side (we seperate in Oxford between "town and gown") and a Cowley car factory has nothing to do with a 15th century "quad" in the center. In that respect, Cambridge is a much more homogeneous place. Go check it out ! At 12' (with the shopping trolley), you were outside Christ Church, with it's largest quad in Oxford, founded by Cardinal Wolsey / Henry VIII, and with THE (one and only !) Cathedral inside. I believe also that part of the prison is now a hotel, and that you keep sleep in a (very expensive) cell ... Glad you showed the old covered market as well. Great place !!! Very Merry Christmas, Ed !!
I know Oxford pretty well, and the the content of Ed's video is actually quite considered. The problem is the title. I do worry that some of these urban discovery videos sometimes serve a kind of right wing agenda; but that just isn't the case here. The real populartiy of the genre is, predictably, around some of the American cities, where deprivation is at a level that we Brits really would find quite shocking.
Supposedly one of Englands first 15 minute city's. Only for the very top earners today I think. The rest will just commute. And if they keep moving people out of the cities, to places like Kent, Essex, Sussex ect, this is what all future cities may end up like. 🤔
0:10 Abandoned pub
2:27 Blackbird Leys Estate
5:01 Ghost town?
6:54 My thoughts, is it that bad?
8:15 Beautiful park
10:32 Exploring oxford city centre and attractions
Thanks. Merry Christmas Ed. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more thought provoking content in 2025. 🌲👍💯🇬🇧✔️😉
@@InvictaView thank you so much brother that's my first super like. That's made my week truly.
Hope you have a good Christmas too
Hi there ... local here ... we don't say Arbington ... we call that area you're in near the lakes Hinksey. Abingdon is a town 7 miles south of the City.
@@squeezyjohn1 ahhh interesting, thanks for the insight:)
Oxford has more crime than smaller towns nearby. Great reporting mate
Thanks mate glad you enjoyed
I went to Oxford about 40 years ago to see a friend who’d studied there. He was in one of the colleges but to be honest, I never took to the place and have no desire to go back. Can’t explain it really. Great video.
@@andrewjones4006 fair enough mate!
There are too many feral academics.
The pub was a major part of the British way of life. At some point in the early 90's that changed and the Tax attached to a pint in a pub was seen as easy meat by our Peers.
Exactly this mate
Why are there so many youtube vids saying everywhere is shit?
@@Paul-eb4jp did I say Oxford was shit?
Because it is
Altough some things are definately worsening in some ways.....it's definately fear p*rn. People sometimes prefer to complain than look for the positive.
@EdBrinton Not in so many words.
@@Paul-eb4jp can't name one sentence. Interesting
Well done Ed. Good to see those dreamy spires again.
I've been around there in the 90's and noughties and back once or twice in the past ten years.
I passed my Motorcycle test in 1992 at Oxford Stadium in Cowley, still the home of speedway and greyhounds, and a big part of British life a few years back.
The international student population there adds to the positives, and those dreamy spires and old buildings bring the tourists in, and then you found Blackbird Leys!
Has an interesting history that area. They cleared the slums of Oxford in the 1950's and moved everyone out to the new estate called Blackbird Leys. (Comic Hugh Laurie came from Blackbird Leys). That area, Cowley, was the base of our once great British Motoring industry. Only BMW Mini left now. I visited Wetherspoons in Cowley in 2019 and a picture there showed how massive the manufacturing area was when making cars, and would've employed, in many cases a job for life, a lot of people back in the day.
The pub you passed closed in 2021.
That area does have a well known bad reputation, lots of low earners and poverty, with riots in the 90's, but this is the same everywhere.
You saw good and not so good again, and the times we are living in, economy, ect, just change things so much.
Overall, I would not hesitate to return to Oxford again.
What you missed actually, and more importantly, was Didcot! A 'must visit' for another time. 👍💯🇬🇧✔️😉
@@InvictaView yeah I'll definitely try to visit asap, good shout indeed mate
Seeing the outskirts here, you'll find them in The Netherlands, including the exact same architecture of social housing of the 60's -80's outside historic cities and towns (from the 15-17 hundreds).....
@@jsb7975 good insight thanks man!
12:24 damn I remember going down this road to get to like Oxford university or something and I thought it was quite pretty
@JimmuCossey it's so beautiful isn't it
@@EdBrinton it’s decent I’d say 7/10 a place like Canterbury or West Yorkshire or the City of London is way more beautiful
Is city of London good@JimmuCossey
@ I lived there basically all my life so I’d say it’s the best place ever but lots of people don’t like the Brutalist art and the designs of other buildings which I find ridiculous
@JimmuCosseysounds pretty cool actually 😊
Is it always windy in the winter in UK?😅
@@teresa86114 always 🤣
I went to Oxford years ago, only the city centre though. But like most cities way too expensive for ordinary people to live (and are not encouraged to) hence the estates that all look identical. The contrast is stark. Really good video once again.
@@garethpayne6907 thank you mate I appreciate that. Have a good Christmas yourself mate
Definately LEEEES. Oxford has always had a "towny" rougher side (we seperate in Oxford between "town and gown") and a Cowley car factory has nothing to do with a 15th century "quad" in the center. In that respect, Cambridge is a much more homogeneous place. Go check it out ! At 12' (with the shopping trolley), you were outside Christ Church, with it's largest quad in Oxford, founded by Cardinal Wolsey / Henry VIII, and with THE (one and only !) Cathedral inside. I believe also that part of the prison is now a hotel, and that you keep sleep in a (very expensive) cell ... Glad you showed the old covered market as well. Great place !!!
Very Merry Christmas, Ed !!
thanks for the tour!
Anytime brother
3:04 Palm tree giving a tropical housing estate vibe😊
@@Firode9856 indeed! Felt pretty cool haha
Those shops in the Leys are normally open!
Areas adjoining rivers/canals may look attractive, but aren't a great bet as we get more flood events due to climate change.
@@londonEnglishVideos yeah the rivers were so high there
I know Oxford pretty well, and the the content of Ed's video is actually quite considered. The problem is the title. I do worry that some of these urban discovery videos sometimes serve a kind of right wing agenda; but that just isn't the case here. The real populartiy of the genre is, predictably, around some of the American cities, where deprivation is at a level that we Brits really would find quite shocking.
@@mookie2637 I have to make some of my petrol costs back with a clickable title mate. Thanks for your comment also
It seems really nice, even Blackbird Keys looks nicer than most parts of the South East😂
True that mate!
it’s called gentrification mate
@Trey12392 yeah
God bless England 🏴 the greatest country in history largest empire gave the world its law language sports god bless it
🏴🏴🏴
Another good video Ed I've never been to Oxford but it doesn't look too bad! If you want to see somewhere really run down I'd say Stoke
@@garyrigby21 yeah I definitely need to go up north at some point mate! Cheers
@EdBrinton I'd love to see your take on Liverpool and Leeds
hello some of this vid is on a housing estate but not good grr oxford used to be a aflueint area
@@classics144sportscarschannel I know right mate
The shops etc are coming down, rejuvenating the area
Ah lovely Oxford the place where cars are banned and the city Hitler wanted to make Englands new capital if he had won the war! 😂
Supposedly one of Englands first 15 minute city's. Only for the very top earners today I think. The rest will just commute.
And if they keep moving people out of the cities, to places like Kent, Essex, Sussex ect, this is what all future cities may end up like. 🤔
Ummmm, Christmas? Bloody hell.
Christmas?