[Roedou]

I've never heard 'up to London'; being from Manchester, London was definitely "down South".

Coming 'up' to Cambridge had a specific meaning, of matriculating at the University. For example: I came up to Cambridge in 2002. I assume that the University of Oxford uses it in the same way?

[standardhuman]

I came up to Cambridge in 2004 and was at Oxford before that. I can confirm that both places use it in this sense. :) That said, I've also noticed that many of my friends from those years still use "up" when simply visiting Oxford or Cambridge, and I do get the odd alumni e-mail inviting me to come "up" to Cambridge (not sure if this is unique to a secretary at Clare, or more widely used).