Friday 13th February 2026

Lifestyle

All buttered up: Broche, and the art of the perfect croissant

During these cold winter months, in which – thanks to that pinnacle of British construction, breathable walls – I wake up in a freezing room, I find great solace in hiding beneath my blanket.

The case for doing nothing (on holiday)

My best memories of gallivanting around Europe were of parks. They were found in the tranquility of self-reflection as I enjoyed the serenity of nature, clutching my too-expensive coffee and watching the ducks swim about in the river as the cold winter wind whipped the fallen leaves off the ground beside me.

Why you shouldn’t finish your reading list

On being accepted into Oxford, everyone warned me about the reading lists. “You’ll be reading eight hours a day,” they said. At the time, it sounded almost romantic.

Kilts, Ceilidhs and Calling: Inside the World of Oxford Reeling

It's Thursday night in New College's Long Room, and several dozen students are desperately trying to master The Plough Speed, which, for the uninitiated, is a mind boggling routine of side-steps, spins and shuffles.

‘Pretworking’: A Spotter’s Guide

Aidan Balfe on the modus operandi of student hacks, and his attempt to introduce a new term to the Oxford idiolect

My town and my gown: A Tale of (cycling, in) Two Cities

Rosa Thomas' reflections on cycling in London — a vicious cycle with the wheels of misfortune

Friendship, Feminism and Fun(damental Rights)

India Parker talks to Jess Bollands, the President of the Oxford Belles, about the enormous success of their latest music video

My town and my gown: between Slough and Oxford

Jack Allsopp finds some surprising connections between his two homes from home

Letter from abroad: Salamanca

Claire Leibovich discusses trying to shake off Oxford pressures while in Spain

Cocktail of the week: rainbow sangria

Sam Purnell shares a cocktail reminiscent of sunny Spain

Recipe: Mediterranean baked sweet potatoes

Sam Purnell shares one of his favourite home-cooked recipes

Review: The Eagle and Child

Emily Beswick follows in the footsteps of her literary idols

Life Divided: Cherwell

Nicola Dwornik and Emma Leech express their love-hate relationship with Cherwell

Food diary: the bagel shops of Beijing

Esmé Curtis recalls swapping bagels for baozi when settling into her new home

Blind Date: Emma and Nicky

Life co-editors Emma and Nicky get a taste of the Balliol Blue and their own medicine

A bloody nightmare

Heather Cant wishes for a happier period

Blind Date: Akshay and Lily

Akshay and Lily chat about their love of electronic music over an apparently mesmerising plate of macaroni

A student’s guide to cheap wine

Emily Beswick finds the best bottles for under a fiver

Recipe: Date night on a budget

Esmé Curtis shares a duo of dishes that won’t fail to impress

Letter from Abroad: Yaroslavl

Pip Cull is greatly envious of Russia’s readiness to embrace childhood fantasy

Life Divided: drinking societies

Jamie Onslow and Emma Leech debate the merits and misogyny of drinking societies

Blind Date: John and Bessie

John and Bessie fail to see eye to eye on their blind date

Cocktail of the week: Lemon drop

Sam Purnell suggests a cheap, but highly refreshing cocktail to enjoy this weekend

Time-turners and doppelgängers: battling homesickness at Oxford

Nicola Dwornik talks about the difficulties of finding a true home within college walls

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