This neighbourhood has long been described as the Bohemian area of Oxford and is favoured by academics, artists and connoisseurs of fine food and wine.  It has many boutique shops and the narrow streets are lined with terraced town cottages and larger houses dating back to the 19c.  Many of these properties have been refurbished and are now flats of great character.

The area was originally an industrial area which grew up because of the presence of the Oxford Canal, which arrived in 1790. The Eagle Ironworks (now being redeveloped), wharves and the Oxford University Press are all based there alongside the Old Radcliffe Infirmary.

Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure has a scene set in St Barnabas Church, and it is possible that the suburb nicknamed 'Beersheba' in the novel is actually Jericho. As a homage to Hardy, in 1996, one of Jericho's pubs was renamed Jude the Obscure.

The first episode of the long running ITV drama series "Inspector Morse", called "The Dead of Jericho", was partially filmed here, notably Combe Road (which is 'Canal Reach' in the drama). It also featured the exterior of the 'Bookbinders Arms' pub on the corner of Victor Street.