Matthew Arnold called Oxford a sweet city of dreaming spires. No longer: it is a maelstrom of varied energies, the very antithesis of tradition's ivory tower. But so it should be, to my mind ...

Meanwhile, Oxford earned itself the nickname of the City of Dreaming Spires because of its Gothic towers and steeples. Both cities have also earned their stripes in the entertainment industry.

Spend a few hours in a small city like Oxford and a paradox begins ... it’s only a short walk back to the dreaming spires. This is a sharing menu packed full of showstoppers.