From the founding of St Frideswide's nunnery in the sixth century and the emergence of its university in the late twelfth century – the first in the English-speaking world – through its growth and development as one of the country’s leading centres of education, science, publishing and motor manufacturing, to its current status as one of the fastest growing and ethnically diverse cities in the UK, Oxford has a proud and distinctive identity. This extraordinary history is embodied in the many fine buildings that have shaped this ‘city of dreaming spires’.

Oxford in 50 Buildings explores the history of this rich and vibrant community through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures. From neoclassical marvels such as the iconic Ashmolean Museum to the twenty-first-century Saïd Business School, a welcome addition to the city’s famous skyline, this unique study celebrates the city’s architectural heritage in a new and accessible way. Local author Andrew Sargent guides the reader on a tour of the city’s historic buildings and modern architectural marvels.