There's nothing better than losing track of time while wandering around a city bursting with character before popping into cosy bookshops — and there's only one UK city for it: Oxford.
A Haven for Bibliophiles
This beautiful city, known as the 'city of dreaming spires', is brimming with cosy bookshops, including one that holds a Guinness World Record. It offers the perfect escape for book lovers or those looking to explore its magnificent medieval architecture of Gothic spires and honey-colored stone, grand libraries, cobbled streets and narrow lanes. A stroll around Oxford is enough to transport you to a scene from Hogwarts. The historic city, renowned for its prestigious university, was used as a filming location for the Harry Potter franchise.
The historic Duke Humfrey's Library, which dates back to 1487 and is part of the Bodleian Libraries, was portrayed as the Hogwarts Library in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Meanwhile, the vaulted ceiling of the Divinity School was used as the backdrop for the Hogwarts Infirmary. Christ Church College provided numerous scenes for Harry Potter, with its staircase and hallways used to represent Hogwarts, and its Tudor great dining hall famously inspiring The Great Hall. New College also took centre stage with its ancient covered cloisters and courtyard, used to portray parts of Hogwarts.
UK's Best City for Bookshops
Yet away from its famous movie links and breathtaking architecture, Oxford is an oasis for bibliophiles. The city has the optimal balance of world-famous literary heritage and a vibrant, modern vibe. Thanks to its literary delights of more than 30 bookshops nestled among the historic streets, Oxford was named the UK's best city for bookshops by Time Out. The publication conducted a survey and found that 60 per cent of people said that Oxford's book offerings were either 'good' or 'amazing'.
The city is the birthplace of the well-known UK bookseller and library supplier, Blackwell's, after it was founded in 1879. Its flagship store is situated on Broad Street in Oxford, and is a labyrinthine maze of shelves stacked with hundreds of thousands of titles. The Norrington Room, nestled underground, is perhaps the most impressive feature. Spanning 10,000 square feet and featuring over three miles of shelves stacked with more than 150,000 books, it is officially the largest single bookselling room and holds a Guinness World Record. A wander around the store is a bookworm's haven, welcoming a gentle calmness away from the busy streets outside, along with a friendly atmosphere and an abundance of enticing reads. Many have described it as a Tardis-like space, as it spans across multiple floors, with a welcoming café to enjoy a warming cuppa and sweet treat alongside a gripping thriller.
Independent Bookshops
But that's not the only notable offering for bibliophiles. Elsewhere, there's the independent Bookstop and the Last Bookshop by Bill and Ben Books, with a focus on preloved titles, alongside the little shop of Arcadia found on St Michael's Street. In Oxford's iconic 250-year-old market, where small shops burst with eateries, vintage clothing and produce, there's Gulp Fiction, which hosts book clubs, author events and jazz nights. St Philip's Books, situated next door to the Alice in Wonderland shop, is another highlight for rare finds, while Daunt Books in Summertown is packed with titles suitable for all ages. Yet it's easy to lose track of time while exploring Oxford, especially as the city famously runs on its own time.
'Oxford Time'
Before the railway standardised British time back in the 19th century, cities would set clocks by the sun. Due to Oxford's location, its natural solar time is five minutes and two seconds behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). In a long-standing tradition, it's known as 'Oxford time', and today, many of its scheduled events and lectures begin five minutes past the hour.
Whether you're an avid reader or simply want to explore the historic sites used as a film set and a place on its own time, a day trip or weekend escape to Oxford is absolutely worth it. Just be sure to set your watch five minutes and two seconds behind to experience it like a local!
