A theatre built to house the rowdy Oxford graduation ceremonies became the stage for a debate about God's existence.

This 11th century tower is said to be the oldest building in Oxford.

Hidden in plain sight, this creepy sculpture watches from above.

Once one of the largest rooms full of books in the world, this bookstore basement is still a treat for bibliophiles.

The fantastic charm of England's oldest botanical garden has made it a place of writerly inspiration for centuries.

A 26-foot shark sculpture—a statement about bombs—set off a municipal battle royale.

An extraordinary collection of scientific instruments - and Einstein's chalkboard - inside the world's oldest purpose built museum building.

Used as an example in one of the first dictionary entries for "museum" in 1706.

Home to the most complete dodo remains known - one head, and one foot.

Ancient Egyptian wigs, South American feather headdresses, a bounty of anthropological artifacts in Oxford.

One of Europe's oldest libraries.

Achill's most recently abandoned village dates back to to the Age of Enlightenment.

This collection of over 50 murals celebrates Brussels' rich history as the self-proclaimed home of the "comic strip."

The spot where Oxford garnered its name was also home to a medieval philosopher and includes a house covered in statues.

The shop where the girl who inspired the beloved character once bought sweets is now a book-themed commercial curiosity.

The natural history museum displaying the British bird collections and dioramas of Edward Booth, free of charge.

This shop and gallery is a modern-day cabinet of curiosities, unassumingly positioned along an urban thoroughfare.

Black cat statues guard this temple-like Egyptian revival factory.

Six ravens are kept captive (but well-fed) at the Tower of London to prevent the fall of the Crown.

After nearly 60 years, there's still a bear at Paddington Station looking for help.

Eighty million natural history specimens call this gargantuan museum home.

Catacombs turned marketplace.

The only university zoological museum in London houses extinct animals, bizarre natural history specimens, and a Micrarium of microscopic creatures.