I am a huge lover of fantasy genre since I was a child. I think it started with me reading J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" while in school, given to me by my Lithuanian language teacher (Thank You!). So I was very pleasantly surprised when I went to Oxford, UK in spring of 2019, how much history of the fantasy genre can be found within it's cobbled streets. We had a couple of amazing tours with locals who shared the details of the past.

I invite you on this short trip with me though the ancient streets of Oxford, UK. Our first stop is at an unusual looking doorway.

It's beautiful wooden engravings are inspired by the stories of "Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis.

Two golden coloured fauns, creatures part human and part goat that are playing a flute, guard the entrance. The lamp post in the background is said to be the one that C.S. Lewis saw and got inspired by while stepping out of a pub (A lamp post plays a huge role in the Narnia story). J.R.R Tolkien said that no good fantasy would have electric lamps in it, some say that is why Lewis added it to his books (they had a friendly rivalry). 

Next we peer though a closed gateway to see a beautiful old clock. This clock is the inspiration for Tolkien's Eye of Sauron.

We also see a beautiful main entrance, which inspired Tolkien to write about Two Towers. This and the clock are part of All Souls College.

I can almost see Tolkien sitting on this bench at Exeter College and musing about what challenges will Frodo face before finally he gets to fulfil his mission and save the world from its evil threat. He initially studied classics at the college but changed his course in 1913 to English language and literature, graduating in 1915 with first-class honours. He went on to be a professor at Oxford.

Next we stumble upon Alice's Shop. It is quite easy to spot when passing by. This is the original shop where "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carrol was first sold. All three authors mentioned lived, studied and taught in Oxford.

For our final stop, we visit the famous Bodleian Library. We are greeted by a magnificent tower, called The Tower of the Five Orders, before going inside. Both the exterior and interior are absolutely stunning and I believe it is a must see if visiting Oxford. The guide we got was an Oxford alumni who spoke with such passion about the building and its history that it really stuck with me. Taking photos inside was restricted in the most beautiful areas (that's where the books are), so I really recommend seeing (and smelling!) it with your own eyes.

This is one of the few inner areas we were allowed to photograph. Multiple Harry Potter scenes were filmed here, alongside many other TV shows and movies.

Also part of the library, this is the Radcliffe Camera. Something really fascinating was said by the guide about this building but I can't quite recall what. I absolutely love the way this building looks from outside. 

I will leave you with a photo which don't have a story for, but for me it looks like straight out of a fantasy novel setting. Looks like a doorway to another world, different from our own. Hope you enjoyed this fantastical trip to Oxford and as always, would love to hear from you in the comments!