The city of Oxford has emerged as the UK’s best city for bookshops.

A whopping 60 percent of their survey respondents said Oxford’s literary scene is either ‘good’ or ‘amazing’. 

Oxford is the birthplace of Blackwell’s, an academic bookseller that now has 18 branches across the country.

Blackwell’s opened in Broad Street in 1879 and is now considered a landmark of the city.

Its famous Norrington Room is the single largest room selling books in the world, with 5km worth of shelving holding more than 160,000 volumes. 

Barker & Co Booksellers (Image: Andy Ffrench)

A new secondhand bookshop has recently opened in Oxford city centre.

Scott Moynihan, his partner Sumner Braund, Mehdi Bensenane and his partner Helen Flatley have opened Barker & Co Booksellers at Golden Cross, off Cornmarket, which also features a Pizza Express and other shops and a cafe.

That’s far from the only place you can browse books in Oxford, though.

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The Time Out awards also highlight Gulp Fiction, Arcadia, and Daunt Books in Summertown as other bookshops central to the crowning of Oxford as the book capital.

As for the rest of the city’s cultural offerings, the survey revealed 77 per cent of locals said that it’s great for art, 69 percent agreed that it’s good for movies and 76 per cent said it was historic.

Findings from the South Western Railway research has also revealed that the most popular genre for stories set in Oxford is fantasy, such as Pullman’s The Golden Compass or Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches.

The warning comes from Georgina Liverpool, branch manager at Beaverbrooks jewellers in Oxford, who said products containing SPF can leave a film on diamonds and metal bands, making them appear cloudy or dull.

Ms Liverpool said: “Many people don’t realise that products containing SPF can leave a film on your diamond and metal band, which can make jewellery appear dull or cloudy.

“The sticky residue from SPF can also gather in the setting, trapping dust, sand and lint, especially when you’re at the beach.

“While platinum and high-quality gold are resilient, repeated exposure to sunscreen can accelerate tarnishing or discolouration of the metal – so while SPF is essential for your skin, it’s certainly not for your jewellery.”

She recommends allowing sunscreen to fully absorb and washing hands before putting jewellery back on.

Ms Liverpool said: “If you can, it’s worth removing your ring before applying sunscreen or heading to the beach or pool.

“If your diamond does pick up residue or build-up, a gentle clean at home should restore its sparkle.”

She suggests using a small amount of mild washing-up liquid, warm water and a soft toothbrush to clean the ring, followed by a thorough rinse and drying with a lint-free cloth.

She also advises travellers to check their insurance cover for high-value pieces.

Beaverbrooks’ Oxford store, located on Queen Street, offers advice and cleaning tips to anyone seeking help with their jewellery.

Oxfordshire County Council plans to introduce the changes in line with its ‘Vision Zero’ strategy.

Vision Zero is a long-term road safety strategy for Oxfordshire to eliminate road deaths and life‑changing injuries, with a target date of 2050.

The proposals affect sections of the A361 between Williamscot (near Banbury) and Bradwell Grove (near Burford), including reduced speed limits of 40mph in several areas currently set at 50mph and 60mph.

A 50mph limit is proposed for the stretch between Chipping Norton and Ascott-under-Wychwood, which currently has a 60mph national speed limit.

Public consultation on the proposals is open until May 29.

Additional speed limit orders have already been approved for other areas.

On May 5, Oxfordshire County Council formalised new 40mph speed limits on routes connecting to the A34 slip roads at Hampton Gay and Poyle.

These include sections of the A34 on- and off-slip roads, Bicester Road, Kidlington Road, and Oxford Road.

The existing 30mph limit at Hampton Poyle has also been incorporated into the new parish-wide order.

A separate order introducing a continuous 50mph limit on the A420 from Bourton to Hinton Waldrist, replacing the remaining 60mph sections, will come into force on May 8.

The aim is to improve safety along the Swindon to Oxford route.

Related amendments have also been made to Faringdon Road, Fernham Road, Park Road, London Street, and Stanford Road.

A new 40mph zone will apply to a section of London Street up to the existing 20mph limit near Sudbury Court.

In the Cherwell district, the council proposes to introduce ‘no waiting at any time’ parking restrictions along the entire length of Kalabergos Close in Frontier Park, Banbury.

Temporary traffic orders are also in place to facilitate roadworks.

In South Newington, Church Lane will be closed around the clock from May 5 to May 15 to allow for electricity cable works.

Bodicote’s Wykham Lane will be closed from May 20 to August 18 for electrical utility works.

In Bloxham, Ells Lane will be closed from May 18 to June 28 for power-related improvements.

In Oxford, Leckford Place will be closed to vehicles from May 25 to June 12 for footway and kerbing works.

In Headington, Masons Alley will remain closed until May 2027 due to structural concerns following the partial collapse of a boundary wall.

Seasonal traffic regulation orders are proposed in Letcombe Bassett and West Challow to prohibit vehicles wider than 1.6 metres from using Green Road between October 1 and April 30 due to recurring surface damage.

A year-round restriction is planned for the byway between Letcombe Regis and West Challow to protect vulnerable users and preserve the route.

A premises licence application has been submitted for Ewelme Down House in Wallingford to enable online wine sales.

Ewelme Hills Limited has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Representations can be submitted in writing to the Licensing Team at South Oxfordshire District Council by May 28.

The application can be viewed at Abbey House in Abingdon or on the council’s website.

Additional public rights of way orders have also been announced.

Oxfordshire County Council made several modification orders in April 2026 that will update the Definitive Map and Statement.

In Shrivenham, part of Footpath No. 15 will be extinguished and new routes for Footpaths No. 15 and 18 created.

In East Hendred, a section of Bridleway No. 25 will be diverted.

Objections to these orders must be submitted to the Countryside Access Legal Team at County Hall in Oxford by June 5.

Full details of all proposals and traffic orders are available online at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk or by contacting Oxfordshire County Council on 0345 310 1111.

If you want to keep up to date with all the latest public notices, you can do so here: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/