I love browsing old antique shops. I rarely buy anything, but I love the feeling that hundreds of…read moreyears of history are in one room. Antiques on High has the proper smell of old things and has an interesting range of antiques. Rather than focusing on big pieces of furniture, which so many antique shops do, it uses its space wisely to host: Jewellery, books, records, clothes, ornaments, pictures, maps and various collectables. The condition of the goods varies, but they're priced fairly reasonably. I find it's best to go in without the aim of buying something in particular, but just to browse. I can't say anything has ever caught my eye enough to want to buy it, but I've seen plenty of other people who have found the perfect addition to their home or the ideal gift. The best bit is the craft section, where there's a gallery of jewellery, leather, pottery, glass and art in general, all produced locally and all promising to be valuable antiques in the future. There's a great range in here and you can get something for less than a pound or spend hundreds of pounds. Equally, you can pop in for a few minutes or spend hours browsing - it's almost like a mini museum. If you like antique shops, this won't disappoint; if you've never been in one, try approaching it. Don't be put off by the prison-like bars in the windows; the staff are friendly and it's a different world inside.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my yearly visits to this shop. There are superb finds. Beautiful pieces…read moreof jewelry and vintage items in every case. My favorite is Caroline. I have bought wonderful treasures from her. They are all truly nice charming people. I miss this place.

What a fabulous shop! I was utterly charmed from the moment I stepped through the doorway. The…read morestaff in the shop were unfailingly kind and patient with me as I tried out a variety of fountain pens. At the end of my visit, I walked away a wonderful new purchase and a smile on my face. I will happily visit this shop again when I am next in Oxford. Good customer service is an increasing rarity, but this shop has it in spades!

If I could live in a store, it would be this one. Amazing ranges of antiques, curios and gifts, and…read moreof course stationery supplies. As a calligrapher, I am especially partial to their amazing selection of inks! Best yet, the staff is friendly and enthusiastic about their products - they'll happily do a test run with inks so you can make a well-informed decision. Unfortunately, it does fill up with tourists a bit, making it harder to get service, but still worthwhile.

A nice change from Ikea: this home store specialises in ranges of lighting and bits and bobs for…read morethe home. I don't own a house, but I still find the range of lamps, lightshades and quirky lampstands really intriguing. It's best to go in with an open mind and let yourself be drawn to something, rather than going in with a set idea of what you want. There are lots of things under the rather vague category of 'soft furnishings', which can range from bags to trays to ornaments. The general trend is colourful and contemporary, with the odd squirt of quirkiness. It's a bit different from the nearby antique shops, but it works. The items seem like good quality and the staff are helpful. Prices are reasonable and all in all it's worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing. Personally, I find it interesting, but can't quite get excited about lighting and soft furnishings. I guess you've got to do it at some point though, and you could do a lot worse than starting here.

Northlight is a fascinating shop just to browse around, and great if you're looking for an…read moreintriguing gift, especially for a style-conscious fella. I've received and given a few presents from there and they always go down a treat, especially when used to brighten up a gloomy student room. They have a selection of almost painfully elegant home furnishings, including cushions, throws, candles, decorative items They also sell crockery and other kitchenware as well as picnic bags and hand-made kids' toys. There are some quirky items of jewellery in a cabinet at the side, and lovely children's mobiles dangling from the ceiling. This is all crammed into a tiny shop (don't take a large bag with you!) with very friendly staff. I am so tempted by their lovely fruit bowls, sigh. It really isn't cheap, by the way, but if you are looking to treat someone (including yourself) then it is a great place to find an unusual present.

What an unusual shop. The first time I saw Sanders, I couldn't quite believe that a shop existed…read moreselling only prints and maps. It's certainly a nice idea, but who on earth buys these things? I guess it's mainly for tourists who want souvenirs or home-owners looking for an unusual picture to go on their wall. Aside from that, it's definitely worth a visit. So what does it stock? Maps - of the world, of countries, of Oxford - lots of historic maps which are really fascinating for seeing how things have changed, and are works of art in themselves, being mainly hand-drawn and illustrated. Prints - Japanese woodblock, metal engravings, normal paintings - fine art, English landscapes, maps. You can get basic prints for about £30 to frame yourself, but the sky's the limit with the upper prices here: think £1500 for an Italian copper engraving and you'll start to get the idea. So all in all, an unusual shop with some amazing pictures that look far better quality than a tatty poster. The staff are knowledgable and able to help unusual enquiries, which is very useful considering the thousands of items they stock. However, this is most definitely a specialist shop and it's easy to feel slightly out of place.