Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire: Top 10 blue plaques to visit across the county
The Oxford Blue Plaque Scheme celebrates everything from the invention of modern medicines to famous authors of the region.
There are hundreds of blue plaques for tourists and residents alike to find in Oxfordshire.
We have compiled a list of the top 10.
Baroness Lucy Faithfull
The baroness became the first blue plaque commemorated in 2026 this month, with a plaque adorning her home on Woodstock Road in Oxford, from 1958 until her passing in 1996.
The baroness was a social worker and champion of children’s rights. She was appointed by Oxford City Council in 1958 as one of the first children’s officers created by the Children Act of 1948, earning her nickname of ‘Mother to hundreds’.
H.H Asquith
Henry Herbert Asquith was honoured with a blue plaque in 2012.
The Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916 lived in Sutton Courtenay from 1912 until his passing in 1928, and is buried in the churchyard of All Saints.
The former leader of the liberal party was also 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith.
His government introduced ground-breaking welfare and constitutional advances, including the first ever old age state pension and the principle of national insurance contributions
Iffley Road Track
The plaque was unveiled at the Oxford University Sports Ground on Iffley Road in May 2004 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first sub-four minute mile ran.
Athlete Roger Bannister broke the record in May 1954 on the Iffley Road track running for the Amateur Athletics Association against Oxford University.
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Revd Edward Stone
Revd Edward Stone was honoured with a blue plaque in 2003 in memory of his work discovering salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin.
The plaque in Chipping Norton was unveiled where he previously lived at Hitchman Brewery, West Street.
Oxford Park and Ride
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first park and ride, the Oxford Civic Society unveiled the plaque in 2019.
Redbridge Park and Ride car park with a dedicated bus service opened in December 1973.
There had been earlier experiments in Oxford itself and in Nottingham and Leicester but the Redbridge Park and Ride was the first in the UK to be successfully sustained from its inception until the present day.
Penicillin
A plaque unveiled in 2018 at the former outpatient building of the Radcliffe Infirmary is in celebration of the discovery and use of penicillin.
Now the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences University of Oxford, the building was the place where the first antibiotic was used to treat infection in 1941.
This followed the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, and work performed by Howard Florey and a team of scientists at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology to make it a viable treatment.
A related blue plaque ceremony was held on the same day at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.
J. R. R. Tolkein
The infamous author of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was educated at Exeter College, Oxford.
He returned to Oxford after service in the First World War, during which he wrote his first stories.
His blue plaque was unveiled by his daughter in 2002 at their former family home at 20 Northmoor Road.
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Dame Agatha Christie
The ‘queen of crime’ famed for 66 detective novels was commemorated alongside her husband, archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan at their former home in Wallingford.
The plaque was unveiled by her grandson in 2010 at Winterbrook House, which is believed to have inspired the fictional village of St Mary Mead in her famed Miss Marple stories.
Ivy Williams
The first woman to be called to the Bar of England and Wales had a plaque unveiled in her memory in 2020.
The plaque, at her former home on King Edward Street in the city, celebrates her role as a champion for women’s role in education.
C.S. Lewis
Famous author of the Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis was celebrated with a blue plaque in 2008.
The plaque is placed at his former home at The Kilns, in Lewis Close, Headington Quarry where he lived during his time as a fellow at Oxford University and even during his time as a professor at Cambridge University.
The event was organised by the Friends of Launton Parish Hall near Bicester on Saturday, May 9, as part of its campaign to save its hall.
The newest plans will see the installation of a new heating system, toilets and the rearrangement of the internal space to make it larger.
There are also plans to install solar panels on the roof and storage batteries to help power the heating.
Robert Cornford, chair of The Friends, said: “We are very pleased with the amount raised which will help fund the next stage of the project, being led by the Parish Council.”
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In 2025, a new roof, which cost around £65,000, was completed thanks to contributions the parish council and friends group, the Rural England Prosperity Fund and Section 106 developer funds.
Mr Cornford said: “We have been very lucky to secure funding for the work from The FCC Communities Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the Doris Field Charitable Trust, as well as from our own fundraising events.”
At the fair, visitors enjoyed cakes, jams and plants, as well as a raffle, tombola, and refreshments.
A highlight of the event was the ‘Grow a Sunflower’ competition; results will be reported in September.
Launton Parish Hall is located on Bicester Road, next door to the village’s primary school.
The Friends of Launton Parish Hall will hold its annual general meeting on June 18, unless building work has begun.
Carterton youth worker Mike How is driving his restored 36-year-old Fiat 126 on a 2,300-mile journey to Poland to raise money for the mental health charity Mind.
Mr How, a long-term advocate for mental health awareness, began his journey on Monday, May 11, aiming to raise £1 for every mile travelled, a nod to the distance to the Fiat’s birthplace.
Mr How, who has lived with mental health challenges since his early 20s, said: “I have battled with mental health difficulties since my early 20’s and have been supported by some fantastic people in all aspects of health services.
“Thankfully I am getting the correct ADHD diagnosis at 46 years young.”
He was joined on the journey by his uncle Tony, who is driving a classic 50-year-old VW T2 camper that will complete the trip alongside Mr How’s Fiat.
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Simon Gamage, a friend from Witney, said: “Mike is one of my oldest friends and we went to school together at Wood Green in the 1990s.
“He is from Witney and now lives in Carterton.
“He hasn’t sought any publicity for the trip he’s doing.
“He is a qualified youth worker and passionate advocate for child, youth and adult mental health, and of raising awareness of it, removing any stigma attached to people talking about their mental health and seeking help with it.”
The journey will take them through France, Belgium, Germany, and Holland.
Mr How plans to return to Poland, where the Fiat 126 was manufactured, completing the round trip in just under two weeks.
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The fundraiser has already surpassed its initial £2,000 target, reaching more than £3,700 with hopes for further donations.
Mr Gamage said: “I just heard from Mike and he’s made it to Belgium on target after his first day so all going to plan so far.
“Mike’s uncle Tony has now joined him driving his classic VW camper, and apparently they have been attracting a lot of attention on the road since they set off.”
Mr How stressed the importance of the cause.
He said: “We all have mental health and need to keep talking about it, looking after it and supporting services to help people equally as well as we do those of us with physical health problems.”
The fundraiser is hosted on JustGiving, where Mr How encouraged supporters to contribute using the platform, describing it as “simple, fast and totally secure”.
Thames Valley Police has said the incident happened along Mably Way near to the Grove Lidl on Thursday, May 7, and have asked for any witnesses to come forward.
Specifically it occurred at 4.30pm while the woman was running along the road, on the opposite side of the doctor’s surgery, heading towards the roundabout near the supermarket.
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A police spokesperson said: “As she reached the roundabout and began to run towards Wantage town centre, an unknown male riding a bicycle approached her on the road.
“As he passed, the man mounted the kerb where the woman was running and attempted to grab the hem of her shorts.
“He then cycled away along Mably Way in the direction of the police station.”
Investigating officer PC Fraser Ellingworth said: “This was a distressing incident for the victim, who was simply out running at the time.
“We are carrying out enquiries and are keen to identify the individual involved as quickly as possible.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen what happened, or who recognises the description of the man or the bicycle, to please come forward.”
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The woman was not injured during the incident and the offender has been described as a white man, possibly in his late twenties to early thirties, with short dark or buzz-cut hair.
He was wearing dark clothing and the bicycle was described as a black or dark-coloured bike with large tyres.
Anyone with information can contact the force on 101 or by making a report via its website quoting investigation reference number 43260225323.
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