2019 – Experience Oxfordshire

Dec 31 2020

First Ever Superheroes Week Comes to Fairytale Farm this February Half-Term

Fairytale Farm’s first ever Superheroes Week has just been announced. With superhero-themed activities running all day right through the February half-term (15th to 23rd February 2020), it will get 2020 off to a flying start. Fairytale Farm owner, Nick Laister, says: “Those fairytale baddies had better watch out as Fairytale Farm is taken over by…

Dec 31 2020

John Simpson, Veteran BBC News Correspondent, Announced as Keynote Speaker at Experience Oxfordshire’s Annual Cultural Platform for 2020

Experience Oxfordshire is delighted to announce its Cultural Platform event for 2020. John Simpson CBE, the renowned war zone correspondent, broadcaster & author, and current World Affairs Editor of BBC News, will deliver a keynote speech at Heythrop Park Resort on 11th March 2020. His speech will be followed by a conversation with Richard Venables…

Dec 30 2020

Special Offer For Oxford Residents at Oxford Castle & Prison in January

Oxford Castle & Prison are running a discount in January for OX residents. Throughout January 2020, those with an OX postcode will receive 40% discount on admission to Oxford Castle & Prison when visiting at the weekends (Saturday and Sunday). Chris Abbott, General Manager at Oxford Castle & Prison said: “We are really…

Dec 17 2019

New Timetable Launches for Oxford and the North Cotswolds with Changes to 75% of All Trains

The new December weekday train timetable for Oxford and the North Cotswold has launched yesterday, Monday 16 December, providing faster journey times, more seats and more frequent services to key locations. Users are being warned to check before travelling to avoid being caught out. Regular users have been asked to check their new journey…

Dec 13 2019

Blenheim Palace Wins Double Gold at Tourism South East Awards

Blenheim Palace had double reason to celebrate at this year’s Beautiful South Awards For Excellence. The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site won Gold in the International Tourism Award and picked up the top prize as Wedding Venue of the Year. The ceremony took place at The Grand Brighton and was hosted by travel…

Dec 13 2019

Oxford Castle & Prison Win Silver at Prestigious Tourism Awards

Oxford Castle & Prison have won Silver for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the prestigious Beautiful South Awards. The Beautiful South Awards, organised by Tourism South East recognises achievements for businesses and professionals in the tourism industry over the last 18 months. Oxford Castle & Prison were awarded Silver for Small…

Dec 11 2019

Oxford Visitor Information Centre Recognised for Customer Service in Industry Awards

Oxford’s Visitor Information Centre has been awarded Silver for Visitor Information Service of the Year at last night’s Beautiful South Awards for Excellence which were held at the Grand Hotel Brighton. The awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the tourism sector and inspire other businesses to reinvest and raise standards in quality, innovation and…

Dec 11 2019

Graduate Hotels Announces Second Location in the UK

AJ Capital Partners Acquires the Macdonald Randolph Hotel with Plans to Debut Graduate Oxford, England as Part of the Graduate Hotels® Collection. Oxford, England – Graduate Hotels, owned by Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners, announced today that it has acquired the Macdonald Randolph Hotel in Oxford, England. This marks the second Graduate Hotels property to…

Dec 05 2019

Bicester’s Eco Business Centre Scoops Award for Planning Innovation

Bicester’s newest office and coworking space has been commended by industry experts for planning excellence. The Eco Business Centre, in North West Bicester, was developed by Cherwell District Council and is an exemplar in sustainability. It is zero carbon and is the first non-residential Passivhaus Plus building in the UK, a rigorous standard for energy…

Dec 05 2019

Oxford Bus Company ‘Brand the Bus’ Competition Attracted Thousands of Votes

The public vote for the Oxford Bus Company’s award-winning ‘Brand the Bus’ competition has now closed, and ten good causes have been nominated for the grand finale. Some 6,130 unique online votes were cast for 32 entries made by charities and good causes to be branded on a bus. The top ten good causes nominated…

Dec 05 2019

Leading Children’s Authors and Illustrators Champion Magical Museum of Stories

The Story Museum – Opening Saturday 4 April 2020 ● Favourite stories will be collected, shared and brought to life in Oxford museum, opening following a £6m capital development project ● Featuring immersive galleries inspired by books, oral storytelling, games and films for visitors of all ages ● Supported by leading children’s authors and illustrators…

Dec 02 2019

Birmingham Airport Picks Up Two Awards for Best UK Airport

Birmingham Airport has been crowned UK Best Airport two nights running by its customers and airlines. Last night (Thursday), Birmingham received the Airport Operators Association (AOA) UK Best Large Airport award, which is voted by airlines. This was the second consecutive year the accolade was given to Birmingham in the category which recognises excellence…

Dec 02 2019

Unique Oxfordshire Art in December

As Christmas draws closer, there’s great art to see across Oxfordshire and, away from the High Street, Artweeks artists’ venues offer both peaceful sanctuary and unique gifts created locally. And there’s something special about an original piece of art, jewellery, pottery or wood which is truly one of a kind, hand-crafted with a rare imagination…

Nov 26 2019

‘Tis the Season of Style at Bicester Village

From 8 November, Bicester Village will be transformed into an illuminated Cotswold Christmas garden with a magical lantern-lit parade, live music and more than 160 glittering boutiques offering savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price. Extended shopping hours throughout the festive period will give you ample time to choose just the...

Nov 26 2019

Beauty & The Beast Christmas Pantomime At Oxford Playhouse

Friday 29 November 2019 to Sunday 12 January 2020 Full casting has been announced for Oxford Playhouse’s fun-filled family pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, which is set to wow audiences from Friday 29 November 2019 to Sunday 12 January 2020. Roseanna Frascona will play Belle. Roseanna’s theatre credits include Macbeth (Chichester Festival Theatre), and…

Nov 19 2019

Happy 70th Birthday Raymond Blanc, OBE

The celebrations continue at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Happy 70th Birthday Raymond Blanc, OBE Throughout this year of celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Belmond Le Manoir, there has been a fantastic selection of events hosted by Raymond Blanc. A summer garden party on Bastille Day, an intimate French-themed dinner and a prestigious…

Nov 19 2019

Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons Celebrates Receiving Top Accolade From Times & Sunday Times Readers 2019

For the seventh year running, Raymond Blanc OBE and his team at the two Michelin-starred hotel and restaurant, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, in Oxfordshire have won Best UK Hotel in the Times & Sunday Times Reader Awards. Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Belmond Le Manoir is continuing to surprise and delight guests by…

Nov 19 2019

Oxford Tube Announces New Timetable and Express Service

Introduction of 12 express journeys to Baker Street Monday to Friday, between Oxford and London in both directions Significant increase in number of journeys – an extra 13,446 seats each week Up to every 8-minute frequency on Saturdays leaving Oxford Stagecoach, who operates the Oxford Tube, confirmed fares will remain unchanged The Oxford Tube…

Nov 18 2019

Oxford Bus Company Issues Final Call to Enter ‘Brand The Bus’ Competition

Good causes are into the final week to enter the Oxford Bus Company ‘Brand the Bus’ competition, to be in with a chance to appear on a double-decker. The competition offers local good causes and charities the opportunity to have an Oxford Bus Company bus emblazoned with its branding. People can vote for their favourite…

Nov 12 2019

Museum Late Night Diversity

Join us at the Pitt Rivers Museum this Friday for the national launch of LGBT+ History Month 2019 and enjoy a pride-filled evening in the Museum with tours, poetry, talks, stalls, activities and much more! The LGBT+ History Month launch event will take place with a series of talks from speakers including Maisie Barker (Schools…

Nov 12 2019

Blenheim Estate Office Wins Oxford Preservation Trust Award

The Blenheim Estate Office has been recognised in the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards 2019. The single-storey office received an OPT plaque in the Small Projects category for the annual awards celebrating the best in building conservation and preservation as well as exemplary new architecture. The Estate Office, which opened in Woodstock last year,…