Hotels near the Oxford May Day

Centuries-old traditions are upheld for Oxford May Day by the population of this student town. Spectators gather in their thousands to hear the choir of Magdalen College sing in the new May dawn from the top of their chapel tower.

The night of 30 April starts with parties throughout the town, and extended opening times for certain pubs.

Large crowds gather at the Magdalen Bridge from about 5am. Foolhardy students have been known to attempt spectacular jumps into the rushing river, but a spate of injuries led to the closure of the bridge in 2006.

As the choir starts to sing the Medieval Eucharist hymn from the tower of Magdalen College, the raucous crowd goes quiet - despite their disorientated state the sound of the boys' voices soaring out into sudden silence so early in the morning is a very moving conclusion to the night's festivities.