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Shopping in Oxford

Oxford might be drenched in history, but opportunities for modern retail therapy are everywhere. As well as the identikit high street brands found across the UK, there are some quirky independent stores and strong markets. A fair amount of tourist tat, too.

Key areas

Cornmarket and Queen Street along with the High and Magdalen Street are the main shopping streets in Oxford, with most high-street shops and brand names represented. These shops and brands can also be found in the Westgate and Clarendon Centre indoor malls.

Oxford is great for book lovers, offering some of the best book browsing opportunities in the land, whether in second-hand and antiquarian bookshops or in the modern bookstores. The main Blackwells bookstore at 53 Broad Street includes the Norrington Room, which houses the largest display of books for sale in one room anywhere in the world.

Little Clarendon Street, Turl Street, Golden Cross and Gloucester Green are smaller streets with many charming gift shops, boutiques, silver specialists, jewellers or other independent shops of character.

Markets

The Covered Market on High Street is full of small shops selling everything from hand-made hats and gifts to Oxford sausages and antiquarian books. Cafés, sandwich stalls, butchers, bakers, delicatessens, green grocers and florists are also available.

Gloucester Green has an open air market on Wednesday and an antiques and bric-a-brac market on Thursdays, plus a farmers' market on the first Thursday of each month.

Shopping centres

The most prominent mall is the Westgate Centre at the end of Queen Street. The usual clothing and electrical stores mean there’s not much to mark it out as different to any other British shopping centre, but if you know what you’re looking for, it’s handily located. It has later shopping hours (until 2000) on Thursdays. The smaller Clarendon Centre, focused primarily on fashion, is located almost opposite the Westgate Centre.

Opening hours

Most shops open between from between 0830 and 0930 until between 1730 and 1900 in the evening.

Souvenirs

University branded memorabilia, from clothes to stationery, is popular. As it anything to do with the Mini car, which is now manufactured in a plant in the city. There are also plenty of book shops.

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Macdonald Randolph Hotel

Located opposite the Ashmolean Museum, the time-honoured Randolph has a similarly prestigious past, having previously welcomed Prime Ministers and Presidents through its doors. It's been open since 1886 and has a good spa and restaurant aside the comfortable guestrooms. The hotel is also the favoured watering hole of TV's Inspectors Morse and Lewis.

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Renowned as one of the country's leading hotels, Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir is notable for far more than just its food. It's set in the village of Great Milton in the Oxfordshire countryside, and with just 32 guestrooms it's somewhere that emphasises attention to detail above mass-market appeal. Definitely one for special occasions.

YHA Oxford

A 4-star hostel within a minute's walk of the train station, YHA Oxford has 203 beds and, in keeping with the organisation's revamped image, a modern, welcoming feel. There are various en suite rooms, many of them geared specifically at families. Other features include a bar, a games room and cycle storage.

Victoria House Hotel

Housed in a modern building in the city centre, the Victoria House Hotel is a basic but comfortable and convenient hotel that sits directly opposite the New Theatre. All rooms are en-suite and come with shower or bath, phone and TV – but be aware that the hotel doesn't serve breakfast.

Remont Hotel

A family-run bed and breakfast with the feel of an upscale boutique hotel, the Remont is the hotel of choice for those who value style and individuality above a city-centre location. There are 25 en-suite rooms, as well as two communal areas and a garden area. Breakfast is included too.

Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel

The Oxford Spires is set in parkland, but still sits less than half a mile from the historic centre. The hotel has 174 well-appointed en suite bedrooms, some of which have four-poster beds. It also has a swimming pool, sauna, spa bath, beauty therapy room and gym as well a stylish restaurant and library bar.