DISCOVER OXFORD

Do you ever walk in somewhere and just love it before you even really know anything about it? That's pretty much how we all felt going into Ajia this weekend. Ajia is the new pan-Asian cocktails and nibbles concept on George Street from the the people behind Busaba. It's a sexy modern underground lounge set-up - you want to say a little speakeasy but without the overdone retro. Once you've passed the bright, vibrant wall-to-wall multimedia entrance, you reach a nicely dimmed

Our days of fighting to get a seat at Oxford's most coveted table are over. In fact, none of us will get to enjoy the stellar cuisine of Oli's Thai as the owners dropped the bombshell announcement in mid-December that they were closing for good in the new year. Absolutely deserving recipient of the Michelin Bib Gourman honour, this tiny 5 table restaurant has had an amazing run and enjoyed a waiting list often 3 to 6 months out. Not surprising that the closure has sent Oxfo

Is there anything more enchanting than luxurious afternoon tea in a historic hotel overlooking, yet removed from, City Centre bustle? Not sure. The Randolph Hotel has undergone a breathtaking refurbishment since being taken over by Graduate Hotels. Some have argued that it's gone a bit eccentric, but we love it and think they've hit the mark with this one. Oxford needs more of this! The general vibe is urban, contemporary and youthful but everything meticulously retains a

Indie shopping in Oxforshire

Get your calendar ready, because this festive season is jam-packed with Christmas Markets. Little, large and everything in between, we're sure you'll find something to spend your chocolate money on in your local area. From festive crafts to foodie delights, there's enough to keep you busy leading up to the big day in Oxford and beyond. Victorian Christmas Market From November 19th-21st, expect yuletide stalls fully stocked and decked out in traditional style and all traders w

Oxfordshire's own palace is bringing you a cornucopia of family activities, merging traditional and modern visuals and storytelling. From light shows to markets, clue solving and eating, there's something for everyone this Christmas at Blenheim Palace. Illuminated Light Trail You and the family can see the grounds of Blenheim like never before with gorgeous illuminations, colourful scenery and dazzling displays. The Story Of The Nutcracker Discover the story of The Nutcracker

It's not just winter wonderlands, turkeys and paper hats this Christmas. There's a whole host of new and exciting adventures to be had in and around Oxford - plus big news for 2022 and beyond! A New Train Station? The big big news this month is the amazing Oxford Station announcement. The £69m project has been submitted to Oxford City Council. Fingers crossed, Network Rail's plan includes a fifth platform on the western side of the station and a full length canopy. We need th

Oxford's hugely popular Light Festival returns this year with a strong community focus. The big lights, street celebration, extravagant performances and immersive art make a return, but with more pockets of community projects for you to enjoy. OXFORD LIGHTS FESTIVAL IS A FREE EVENT - ON NOVEMBER 19-21. The Festival will kick off off with the Christmas Lights switch-on on in the City Centre on November 19th. The main event: Large-scale illumination sure to amaze City Centre r

The Museum of Oxford reopened this month to a stunning new space which has tripled in size. After a £2.8 million makeover over two years, the Museum is once again open to everyone who wants to learn about the history of Oxford and its people. Displays, artefacts and modern technologies do a great job of showcasing Oxford through the ages. Visitors will love the more immersive experience, with those fondly remembering the Oxford Story interactive ride. The Museum is set to enj

It's time to dust off our party hats because the infamous Oxford Castle is turning 950 this month! So many years... can you imagine the memories it has? All those years acting as a castle, a prison, a place to stay... if walls could talk. To celebrate such a big milestone, the Oxford Preservation Trust and the Oxford Castle Committee (and more) will be holding a free event! To commemorate this anniversary there will be a son et lumière show where there will be a stunning proj

Bonfire Night is back with a bang! After a two year hiatus, the quirky British tradition of Guy Fawkes Night is alive and well, bringing communities together all over the county. So, whether it’s a big pile of fire or a snazzy fireworks display, take a look at what’s happening nearby. Oxford Roundtable Fireworks - South Park Perhaps the most popular of Oxford’s fireworks events are the festivities at South Park. There will be whole festive village complete with fun fair and f

Welcome to the first monthly round up from us on what’s new in and around Oxford. This month there’s lots of new openings and re-openings as we head in to the festive season. So, grab your pumpkin spice latte, pull up your thermal socks and have a read of where to go and what to do in Oxford this October: OLE + STEEN REOPENS We couldn’t believe how much love there was on social media this week about Ole + Steen re-opening for the first time since 2020. We’ve sure been missing

It’s that time of year again where we get the chance to dress up and celebrate all things terrifying - and a great excuse to down pumpkin spice lattes! That’s right, Halloween is ready for you and we’ve collected 13 spooky activities for ghouls great and small. The Ashmolean Museum The Ashmolean are offering an alternative to the traditional jump scares this year by teaching you how to draw horror characters of Manga. The Oxford Castle + Prison Already famed for being one of

There's a strong argument to be made for brunch being better than dinner. It's breakfast but fancier, fuller, later and there's booze involved. Plus you get to put a poached egg on anything you want. Seriously, what's not to love? To help you celebrate National Brunch Weekend, we've put together a quick go-to list of lush atmospheric brunches in Oxford. The Ivy Oxford Brasserie The Vaults & Garden All Bar One Gee's Handle Bar Cafe & Kitchen Oxford Brunch Bar #discoveroxford

It was our first time back at Brasserie Blanc since 2019 and there's comfort in knowing you'll enjoy your evening before you even get there. BB is the kind of place where the menu is modern and creative but the basics are reliable and you know there'll be no disappointments. The welcome is genuine and the service is always great. Lucky enough to get a window table on what was probably the last sunny summery warm Friday night of the year, we got to enjoy cocktails and salty n

It's here! We're live!! We're super excited to finally launch our website! And what better time to do it than on International Tourism Day? Discover Oxford is a fresh and engaging new digital magazine with curated directory and a special focus on the cooler, trendier, more modern side of Oxford. Like many Oxfordians, I'm not from here but I've now lived in Oxford long enough to be a local - or a sort of local? Either way, this is where I live and I love exploring as if I've j