12 Independent Shops You Need To Visit In Oxford

The city of dreaming spires and lovely local shops.

1. Boswells Oxford

Boswells / Via google.com

Oxford’s oldest department store, Boswells have been serving the residents, students and visitors of Oxford for the past 277 years. Boswells is known for its huge range of products, stocking everything from suitcases to Nerf guns and Oxford souvenir shot glasses, and for its standard of service.

2. Darn it and Stitch

Ben Morel

Slightly hidden off St. Aldates, this cute little haberdasher's is many Oxfordians' the go-to place for sewing and knitting supplies. Darn it and Stitch also hold dressmaking workshops upstairs.

3. The Cake Shop

Ben Morel

Located in Oxford’s famous covered market, The Cake Shop produces spectacular cakes that look too good to eat, but they should be eaten as they taste as good as they look. Their recreations of colleges are particularly impressive.

4. Blackwell’s

decltype / Via en.wikipedia.org

Home of the world-famous Norrington Room, which contains more than 160,000 books on over 3 miles of shelving, Blackwell’s original shop is the place to go in Oxford for anything book, music and art related.

5. Truck Music Store

Truck Store

Located on the Cowley Road - arguably the home of music in Oxford - the Truck Store is filled with vinyls, CDs and musical memorabilia. If you’re looking for a certain album by an obscure band you’re sure to find it in here thanks to the amazing staff and huge range of music. It’s also the place to buy tickets for the upcoming Truck Festival.

6. Shepherd & Woodward

David Hawgood / Via en.wikipedia.org

Outfitters to the students, tutors and dons of Oxford University, Shepherd & Woodward know about dressing to impress. It’s not just university members who can take advantage of their style, though, as they have a great menswear section. The place to go for a tweed jacket or a straw boater.

7. 2 North Parade

2 North Parade

The countryside comes into the city. Located in Oxford’s trendy Summertown, 2 North Parade is full of fresh produce, British meats, wines, ciders, beers and fresh bread. One of the great things about this little store is the staff will guide you on how to use your fresh ingredients to create delicious dishes.

8. Alice's Shop

With this being the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland being published there's no better chance to visit the undeniably unique Alice Shop. Alice's shop is where Alice Liddel, who inspired Lewis Carroll's Alice, used to buy sweets. Today the shop sells a huge range of Alice in Wonderland memorabilia.

9. The Hat Box

George Peachey

Filled to the brim with hats of all different styles. Whether you need a top hat for a fancy do, a fascinator for the races, or a beret because you've spent too much time wandering along the canals and now think you're an artist, The Hat Box is the place to head.

10. Oxford Cheese Company

Ben Morel

Not many cheese shops can claim to have created a new cheese, but the Oxford Cheese Company created Oxford Blue in 1995 and it now sits alongside a huge collection of cheese in their Covered Market store.

11. Casa Rose

Casa Rose / Via casaroseoxford.co.uk

Casa Rose is Oxford’s stylish boutique for ladies fashion, accessories and home gifts. With beautiful dresses and vintage style clothing filling the store, it’s a must visit for anyone who enjoys fashion.

12. Sanders of Oxford

Sanders Of Oxford / Via sandersofoxford.com

Sanders of Oxford is one the largest print sellers in England, with over 30,000 prints, maps and books in store. A venture into Sanders is like strolliing into the past with the walls covered in beautiful antique prints.