Cork or Oxford?

Neither city is a beach destination, but Cork at least has the sea. Sandy coves such as Myrtleville and Fountainstown are about half an hour away on the edge of the harbour, and Inchydoney's long strand is within an hour, although the Atlantic stays cold and a car helps.

Oxford is landlocked, and the south coast is too far for a casual outing. Swimming there means a summer dip in the Thames at Port Meadow, the Cherwell or the open-air pool at Hinksey, with grassy banks instead of sand.

Cork is the better city for food lovers, mainly because of its produce. The English Market is a real working larder of farmhouse cheeses, spiced beef and fish, the modern Irish kitchens around it buy from the same suppliers, and Kinsale's seafood is close by.

Oxford eats well without standing out. Its strengths are the old pub, the Sunday roast by the river and the Covered Market, and Cowley Road brings Middle Eastern, South Asian and Caribbean cooking that Cork's narrower range lacks. In both cities, late-night eating is limited.

Oxford is far richer here. The honey-stone colleges, the Bodleian, the Sheldonian and Christ Church form a working medieval townscape, and the Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers and Natural History Museum are better collections than the city's size suggests. Expect two or three full days.

Cork's sights are pleasant but modest: St Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Shandon bells you can ring yourself, Irish painting at the Crawford and the old City Gaol. Its Georgian quays are charming, but a day or two covers everything.

Both cities are pub towns that quieten well before dawn, and the difference lies in the character of the night. In Cork, the draw is the traditional music session in a wood-panelled back room, with students keeping the centre busy from Thursday to Saturday.

Oxford follows the university calendar. In summer, the riverside pubs along the Thames are the place to be, Cowley Road has the late bars, and Jericho is the spot for a quieter cocktail. It is noticeably calmer outside term.

Cork has the bigger landscapes. The harbour suits sailing and kayaking, the cliff paths at Ballycotton and the Old Head of Kinsale open onto the Atlantic, and the islands and inlets of West Cork, Gougane Barra and the Kerry mountains lie further out.

Oxford's countryside begins at the edge of the centre, with Port Meadow, Christ Church Meadow and flat river paths for walking or cycling. Within an hour lie the Cotswolds, the Chilterns and the Ridgeway. It is gentler walking than Cork offers, but drier underfoot.

Both make good bases, but Oxford has more famous places within reach. Blenheim Palace is twenty minutes away, the Cotswold villages are within an hour, and London, Stratford, Warwick, Windsor and Bath all work as day outings, many of them by fast train.

Cork's excursions are smaller in scale but full of character. Cobh's Titanic and emigrant history is a short train ride away, and Kinsale, Blarney, the Midleton distillery and Youghal are all close. Killarney and the Rock of Cashel make longer days, and West Cork really needs a car.

Both are small, friendly cities that are easy with children, with a few strong draws rather than a full programme. In Cork, the highlight is Fota Wildlife Park, where animals roam with few barriers, plus the observatory at Blackrock Castle. Rain means you need indoor fallbacks.

Oxford's appeal is free museums full of dinosaurs and curiosities, punting on the Cherwell, and Harry Potter settings at Christ Church. Its bigger family outings, such as the wildlife park, Blenheim's maze and the studio tour, all need a trip out of town.

Oxford is easier to get around. Its centre is flat, partly closed to traffic and crossed on foot in twenty minutes, and the station is a short walk away with direct trains to London. A car is more trouble than help there.

Cork's island centre is also walkable, though the climb to Shandon is steep and the city buses crawl in traffic. The rail line to Fota, Cobh and Midleton is handy, but the West Cork coast more or less requires a car, which is the opposite of Oxford.

Oxford gives shoppers more to do. Beyond the chains on Cornmarket, it has the Covered Market traders, Jericho's independents, antique map dealers and Blackwell's on Broad Street, and the designer outlet village near Bicester is twenty minutes away.

Cork is a couple of hours' browsing at most. Patrick Street has the department stores, and the Huguenot Quarter and Princes Street have the independents. Its best souvenirs are edible, cheese from the English Market, alongside Irish knitwear and whiskey.

Neither is cheap, and the costs fall in different places. Cork's hotels are pricey for a small city, and eating and drinking cost more than in most of Western Europe, though market lunches help.

Oxford's main expense is accommodation, since there are few central rooms and university events keep demand high. Once you are there, free museums and Cowley Road cafés soften the bill, while college entry fees add up.

Oxford has the more memorable stage, thanks to its choirs. Evensong at Christ Church, Magdalen or New College is a world-class experience open to anyone, and the Sheldonian and the historic Holywell Music Room add concerts and chamber music.

Cork's real stage is the pub session, where traditional musicians play most nights. The Opera House and the Everyman cover touring shows and drama, and the long-running October jazz festival fills the whole city with music for a weekend.

Oxford's way to unwind is quiet green space. Britain's oldest botanic garden, the walled college gardens, Magdalen's deer park and Addison's Walk are best early in the morning, and a slow afternoon on a punt does the same job. Spas are few, but the calm is easy to find.

Cork offers little beyond a hotel spa or the resort on Fota Island. Its one local ritual is bracing year-round sea swimming in the harbour coves, which wakes you up more than it calms you down.