Families, children and collectors flooded to the shopping centre on Thursday morning (May 7) as the doors to the brand’s 22nd location opened.

General view of The LEGO store at Westgate Oxford, as The LEGO Group opens its first location in Oxford city centre, the brand’s 22nd store in the UK. (Image: Richard Dawson/PA Media Assignments)

Two young Oxford residents, Xavier, seven, and Herbie, five, cut the ribbon as the crowd cheered and entered the 250sqm store.

Visitors explored immersive experiences inside, including the Pick a Brick Wall and Build a Minifigure Tower.

General view of The LEGO store at Westgate Oxford, as The LEGO Group opens its first location in Oxford city centre, the brand’s 22nd store in the UK. (Image: Richard Dawson/PA Media Assignments)

READ MORE: Countdown host Susie Dent praises ‘incredible’ Oxford team

Inside the new Lego store at Westgate Oxford. (Image: Newsquest)

In the future at the store, open seven days week, there will be hands-on play opportunities, including free build challenges and events each month.

Shoppers were treated to impressive builds and exclusive opening offers, while enjoying Lego product favourites such as Lego Dreamzzz, Lego Friends, and Lego Ninjago.

Retail exclusives included Lego Ideas Tintin Moon rocket, and the Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter.

This new store is the 22nd LEGO Store in UK and brings with it the creation of 25 new jobs within the local community.

The new Lego store at Westgate Oxford. (Image: Newsquest)

Shweta Munshi, vice president of marketing for Lego retail, said: “We are very excited to have welcomed customers into our brand-new store at Westgate Oxford.

“This new store is more than just a place to buy Lego bricks – it’s a place where imagination comes to life, and where children and adults alike can find inspiration and joy.”

Clare Martin, acting centre director at Westgate Oxford: “The buzz surrounding Lego’s arrival has been fantastic, so we are delighted to see that energy come to life at the official launch today.

“We are proud to be home to the only Lego store in Oxfordshire and the wider region.”

The dispute in the Middle East between the US, Israel, and Iran has caused major disruptions to jet fuel supplies recently.

As a result, jet fuel prices have surged, with fears of shortages continuing to grow.

Major airlines around the world have already responded to rising jet fuel prices by increasing fares and cutting flights.

Lufthansa, for example, announced in April it would cancel 20,000 flights over the following six months to save fuel.

Meanwhile, more than 120 flights from the UK have already been cancelled for May, according to new figures from Aviation analytics company Cirium.

“Risk of some disruption” to flights this summer

Despite all these cancellations, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips recently, said there would be limited disruptions to upcoming summer holidays.

📢 Coming up on Sunday Morning with @TrevorPTweets …

🔵 Transport Secretary @Heidi_Labour
🔵 Green Party leader @ZackPolanski
🔵 SNP Westminster leader @StephenFlynnSNP
🔵 Tory peer Lord Hayward

🕣 Sunday 8:30am
📱 https://t.co/ofq10rQCZi
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 & Freeview 233 pic.twitter.com/56oE9nZkwn

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 3, 2026

Ms Alexander explained: “I’ve spent every week of the last two months in close contact with airlines and airports.

“On Thursday of this week, airlines told me very clearly that they have good visibility over the next six to eight weeks of jet fuel supply.

“There is no current disruption to jet fuel supplies.

She continued: “The last thing I want is for people to turn up at a departure gate and have last-minute cancellations.

“I am confident, sat here today on the basis of the information that I have available to me, that the majority of people who are travelling this summer will have a similar experience to that which they had last year.”

The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together onto fewer planes to save fuel.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also issued an update saying there is “a risk of some disruption” to travel this summer due to the situation in the Middle East, but reassured travellers they would be “well protected”.

Did you know that if you arrive over 3 hours late at your destination, and it’s the airline’s fault, you could claim up to £520 per person.

Always remember to contact your airline in the first instance.

Know your rights before you travel: https://t.co/TG4Uyf7Ytb pic.twitter.com/bWsnkKp4RD

— UK Civil Aviation Authority (@UK_CAA) May 2, 2026

The CAA said: “As the summer travel season approaches, airlines, government and industry partners are working closely to support smooth journeys.

“While there is a risk of some disruption as a result of the situation in the Middle East, travellers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest passenger rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.”

Virgin Atlantic temporarily suspends flights from the UK to 2 holiday hotspots

Amid all the travel chaos caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Virgin Atlantic has released its winter 2026 schedule update.

The airline has “significantly” increased its capacity to South Africa for the upcoming winter season.

But Virgin Atlantic has also made the “difficult decision” to temporarily suspend all seasonal services to Dubai and Seattle for winter 2026.

These services will resume in March 2027.

In the meantime, those hoping to travel to Seattle can fly with Virgin Atlantic’s partner Delta Air Lines, which offers daily services from London Heathrow.

In a statement on its website, Virgin Atlantic said: “Unfortunately, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our seasonal service to Dubai for the winter 2026 season, while services to Seattle will be temporarily suspended for the Winter 2026 season only, before resuming in March 2027.

The airline continued: “Our schedule and any affected bookings will be updated in the GDSs on Saturday 09 May 2026.

“We’re very sorry for the disappointment caused to our customers.”

Do these changes to Virgin Atlantic’s winter services affect your travel plans? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

Currently, the programme, which sees celebrities take on gruesome bushtucker trials in the Australian jungle, has a spin-off based in South Africa.

Now though, a source has told The Sun that a new Canadian spin-off show is coming to our screens.

Canadian I’m A Celebrity series to come to ITV

The newspaper has revealed that the new show will see celebrities take on challenges and trials “in the Canadian wilderness.”

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It says fans can expect a big twist to the series, which will be called I’m A Celebrity Wild Frontier.

The twist will mean celebrities are paired up “as they navigate the rugged, untamed terrain and tackle ­terrifying trials.”

Presenting duo Ant and Dec will return to host the new show and it’s thought the series will air in 2027.

A source told The Sun: “This has all been very hush-hush, but everyone involved is really excited to get cracking with filming.

“The scenery will be stunning and the action explosive.

Where is I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! filmed?

“Imagine the tension of two stars paired together, forced to eat, sleep, breathe and work together in constant near proximity.

“There will likely be fireworks and already some pretty big names are in the mix to appear.”

The arrival of the new series next year will mark 25 years since the first I’m A Celebrity series began in 2002.

It’s not unusual to see successful TV shows get spin-off versions or even series in other countries, including the likes of Married At First Sight which has a UK and an Australian version and Love Island has a UK version as well as USA and Australian versions.

The announcement comes after the latest I’m A Celebrity South Africa series ended in April.

During the live final of the ITV reality show, actor Adam Thomas was crowned the I’m A Celebrity legend but during the explosive episode, he was accused of being “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” by Jimmy Bullard.

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After defending the actor, singer Sinitta and reality TV star Gemma Collins walked off set.

Newsquest has approached ITV for comment.

Who would you like to see take on the Canadian version of the show? Tell us in the comments below.