Oxford is a cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. Founded in the 8th century, it was granted city status in 1542. The city is located at the confluence of the rivers Thames and Cherwell. It had a population of 163,257 in 2022. It is 56 miles north-west of London, 64 miles south-east of Birmingham and 61 miles north-east of Bristol.