Bridge of Sighs hotels in Oxford, United Kingdom

There are a great many attractions in Oxfordshire, and no shortage of things to do in its richly varied landscape of hills, green fields and meandering river valleys. Some of Oxfordshire's greatest cultural treasures are of course located in Oxford itself, a city steeped in history and tradition. When you stay in Oxford for any length of time, at a guesthouse or B&B, or in a hotel such as Mercure Oxford Eastgate Hotel or Victoria House Hotel, be sure to pay the famous Bridge of Sighs a visit.

The Bridge of Sighs from Oxfordshire Hotels

The Bridge of Sighs is actually known as the far more prosaic Hertford Bridge. It is actually a skyway over New College Lane which joins the two sections of Hertford College. The bridge is a city landmark because of its very distinctive design, reminiscent of its more famous namesake in Venice. Based in a hotel, guesthouse or family-run B&B nearby, you can easily walk along to Hertford College and see it and many other local attractions for yourself during a stroll around the great city.

Oxfordshire Hotels for Seeing the Bridge of Sighs

The odd thing about Oxford's Bridge of Sighs is that it was never intended to resemble the famous bridge in Venice, but the architect was surely at least subconsciously influenced by the Rialto Bridge in that same Italian city! A local Oxford legend has it that during a survey of students' health decades ago the bridge was closed off because it was decided that they were getting too heavy and needed more exercise. The lie is given to this urban myth by the fact that using the bridge involves actually climbing more stairs. QED, as they say in the Oxford colleges!

Sir Thomas Jackson was responsible for most of the bridge's ebullient architecture. He completed its construction in 1914, in the face of opposition from the masters of New College. Linking Hertford College's Old and New Quadrangles, it is open to college members at all times. The bridge provides an attractive photo opportunity if you're staying at a nearby Oxfordshire hotel.