A curious Marc West peeks inside some usually private properties for Oxford Open Doors

Have you ever wondered what’s going on behind that door or who lives in a house like that?

Well, as the bells rang out from Magdalen College Tower, it marked the start of a 48-hour amnesty on the otherwise private dwellings of our neighbours.

For the ninth year running, the city once again flung wide its doors giving town, gown and tourists the annual opportunity to experience its many hidden gems free of charge – a rare chance to look more than just through the keyhole.

A highlight is the university welcoming all to the closed cloisters and quiet quads of its 38 colleges. However, for me, it's the lesser-trumpeted constructions that feel the most real and thus speak volumes about the generations of people who've worked, lived and played within them.

Up a narrow unassuming staircase above the hustle and bustle of the Sunday shoppers in Cornmarket Street, lies a fabled room that was once the office of none other than Sir John Betjeman. However, that’s not the sole reason I – or the hundreds of others queueing outside – were there. In 1927, while undertaking work above his premises, a gentleman’s outfitter uncovered something very special indeed – rare and vibrant wall paintings dating from the late 1500s. And, as if that weren’t impressive enough for one small room, it’s also believed this is the very place where the Bard himself enjoyed the hospitality of his friend John Davenant’s Crown Tavern during his many excursions between his home of Stratford-upon-Avon and London.

Just off Cowley Road, the preserved hamlet of Bartlemas is an oasis of peace.

Set in a grove of fruit-laden trees, its simple 14th century chapel has a serenity like no other – broken only today by the angelic harmonies of Bartlemas Singers who're taking their weekly rehearsal. It’s far from the most celebrated architecture on offer across the weekend, but certainly one with the most atmosphere – a place I revisit time and time again with the same wide eyes and reverence.

Finally, I just had to stick my nose into the UFO-like building that landed in Jericho late last year. Designed by Swiss daring design duo Herzog & de Meuron, the Blavatnik School of Government was recently shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize and just walking up Walton Street it’s easy to see why – as the design subtly reflects the shapes of Oxford’s traditional architecture we’ve known and loved for centuries. And, inside, it's not dissimilar to a Bond baddie’s secret lair with the rooftop terrace providing some of the best views of the dreaming spires it now adequately accompanies on the skyline.

From the brand new to the very oldest, these breathtaking buildings tell the story of our city through bricks and mortar and lift the latch on a thousand years of history.

With so much unlocked for such a short time, the hardest part is choosing which of them to visit. So, I suggest you start planning now for next year. In 2017, organisers Oxford Preservation Trust celebrate their 90th anniversary and will host a full programme of interesting events and lectures.

For all details, visit oxfordpreservation.org.uk.