Oxfordis a city in theSouth Eastregion of England and thecounty townofOxfordshire. Itis the 52nd largest city in the United Kingdom,and one of the fastest growing and most ethnically diverse.Oxford has a broad economic base. Its industries include motor manufacturing, education, publishing and a large number of information technology and science-based businesses, some being academic offshoots.
The city is known worldwide as the home of theUniversity of Oxford, the oldest university in theEnglish-speaking world.Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of everyEnglish architecturalperiod since the lateSaxonperiod. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poetMatthew Arnold.