Oxford’s traditional architecture has an international reputation. Some of us applied for this reason first, only for our degrees to glue our eyes to laptop screens and books. But when you find the time to explore the city, soon enough you will find that there’s a multitude of places that could be (or already have been) part of a film set.

Maybe you’d like to tell a special someone that ‘you know a spot’. Except you don’t. However, I know one. Well, quite a few, actually. Allow me to recommend my Top 5 places in Oxford that are ideal for ignoring degrees and indulging in amorous exchanges.

1. Somewhere High Up

 The Varsity Club’s panoramic roof terrace allows you to enjoy the sights of our towering spires, especially if you want to immerse yourself fully into old Oxford. You are now on a mission to get on the roof of one of the colleges. Luckily, no parkour is required. A lot of the central colleges have slightly newer rooms built into their roofs, and these come with windows of varying sizes. With a bit of effort, you could feasibly crawl through and recreate that scene from The Riot Club, for example. Let’s give brutalist buildings some respect too – some of them have small balconies from which you can enjoy views from a height, albeit less remarkable.

Just make sure the college hasn’t installed motion sensors up there yet…

2. Pierre Victoire, Jericho

Tucked away on Little Clarendon Street lies a restaurant that transports you across the Channel. Its intimate and very French décor makes for a very cosy date location. It’s also independent, so you and your petit(e) ami(e) will be able to enjoy an authentic and unique dining experience in the heart of Oxford.

3. Cloisters, obviously

Home to an array of Harry Potter scenes are Oxford’s cloisters. Magdalen, New College, and Christ Church are where they can be found. There’s no good reason to visit them at night, unless it’s for contemplation or other more nefarious behaviour, like sacking off your problem sheet. In places like these, you’ll rapidly forget that you’re in a twenty-first century city centre, with the medieval architecture remaining largely unchanged since their initial construction. Sometimes you may find peculiar art instalments which ruin the mood, however. 

4. FREUD’s Smoking Area

An old religious building that’s been converted into a venue for black-tie events and the occasional bop. The atmosphere is romantic , and you’re all dressed up. You’ve run out of free drink tokens, and your card has just been declined at the overpriced bar. Sadly, no hot person has come to rescue you from financial deficit, and in shame you go out for some air, and tobacco. Cigarette in hand, you find you are now in a lighter deficit. That’s when one of your former lovers comes to your assistance. Think of it as a modern damsel-in-distress moment. It kind of has the same vibe as sending ‘happy birthday’ to a failed tinder date with whom you ‘ended on good terms’. Ah well. Still romantic, still strange, maybe you guys will fall in love again, who knows.  

5. The Radcliffe Camera

Hear me out. HEAR. ME. OUT.

In a final search for study motivation, you head to Oxford’s most scenic and architecturally impressive library – the Rad Cam – for some last-minute inspiration. You happen to find a spot outside to sit and enjoy a pre-grind set lunch. Suddenly, a familiar face approaches. You might recall them from Bridge, or perhaps you’ve met them before in daylight and like more than just their face. And then they’re diverging from the path to the door and are coming over to say hi. How did this happen? – By coincidence, of course – except you deliberately dressed up well today and sat on the alcove ledge closest to the entrance. They also sent a snap earlier where you noticed the background of your ‘favourite library’ too. How ‘romantic’ and ‘spontaneous’ and totally ‘not creepy’…

Now I’m no love whisperer, and my humour is poor. But this could be a helper, and that’s what I’m here for.