Oxford is most famed for its prestigious university, which has been at the centre of countless academic breakthroughs. However, if you scratch beneath the surface of quality education, you will find a bustling city with plenty of fantastic shopping destinations. Below, you will find an overview of the best shopping destinations to suit all tastes.
Westgate Shopping Centre
The Westgate Shopping Centre has recently been renovated and has over 100 different stores. You will find everything from global giants like John Lewis to independent menswear stores like Burrows and Hare.
Once you’ve finished shopping, you can move on by dropping into the delicious restaurants on offer including Nando’s, Dirty Bones, Mowgli’s Street Food and much more. No matter what your taste, you’ll find it at Westgate Oxford.
Covered Market
If you’re in search of a quirky shopping experience, look no further than the Covered Market, which is crammed full of independent eateries, stalls, and shops where you can find everything from handmade trinkets to fresh produce. You won’t need to worry about the typical British weather either, as this historic market is completely under cover. Be sure to take a bag with you because you’ll be walking away with plenty of tasty snacks.
Little Clarendon Street
Little Clarendon Street is beautifully cobbled and looks pretty during the evening. It’s lined with unique boutique stores offering delicious foods, trendy products, and designer furniture mixed in for good measure.
Alongside the shopping opportunities here, you will find many quality restaurants including Al-Andalus tapas bar, Pierre Victoire, and Moshi. After you’ve finished having a meal, you can head over to The Duke of Cambridge for your fill of classy cocktails.
Cornmarket
Most cities have a high street that doubles as their central shopping street, but this isn’t the case in Oxford. Instead, you will find the majority of shops in Cornmarket and its surroundings. Whether you need to grab a coffee at Starbucks, visit HMV for your fill of media, or grab your stationery essentials at WH Smith, Cornmarket has the lot. As well as the majority of city centre shops, you will find the entrance to Clarendon Shopping Centre, which is due for a major revamp over the next few years.
Burford
If you’re willing to travel a stone’s throw outside of central Oxford, you’ll come across the idyllic town of Burford, which sits in the Cotswolds region. If you’re a fan of antiquing and rummaging through pre-loved items, we recommend a visit. With a location in the Cotswolds, you can tie in your antiquing experience with a scenic walk, which will take you along the banks of the River Windrush.
Oxford is a fantastic destination set at the forefront of innovation. No matter what your needs are, you will fulfil them in one of the many shopping areas above. When you need to leave the busy city centre, you will find many picturesque villages offering countless hidden treasures for you to explore.