Far be it from me to suggest you make a trip to Oxford just to visit one of the most wonderful…read morebookstores ever, but if you happen to be in or near Oxford it'd be a shame to miss out. Despite a plethora of 1-star reviews of Blackwell's online ordering service, the in-store experience is sheer delight. The selection (on multiple stories of the building) is simply stunning. Not wanting to come back home with a suitcase full of books (well, wanting to but loathe to carry them), my purchase here was a single book which I read in its entirety before leaving the UK. Bookstores which began their lives in the 1800's are rare finds. Blackwell's is one and they haven't endured due to mere good luck. Someone is paying attention to the look and feel of the place as well as the vast and deep selection of great reads. Blackwell's is a great place to get lost in.

Blackwell's is a bookstore experience! It reminded me of the bookstore I grew up in with a big…read morekid's section upstairs, places to sit and read, and the good, booky smell that can only be captured by a place constantly shelving and sharing books. Note that there is a one stall bathroom inside the children's section that gets a lot of use and gets smelly.

Friendly bookstore in Oxford. Stopped in to look for some books on the local area and ended up…read morestaying for a coffee too. Found a book we liked about historical sites around Oxford (the whole place is a historical site!), some post cards and the coffee was really good too. I think it's a British chain, but it definitely didn't feel that way.

very good books are yummy i like eating it very tasty and beautiful drawings and picturesread more

Oxford University Press is famous the world over for producing good quality academic books,…read morejournals and reference articles. This shop is just a sample of the huge range you can find on the internet, but it's really nice to be able to flick through the pages and physically hold the books, especially considering the obscurity of some of the topics. There are academic books on arts and science subjects, with some catering for people who really know their stuff, and others serving as great introductions for people who want to know more but in a more casual way. I love the 'Very Short Introduction' series, which explains things ranging from dinosaurs to Nietzsche to particle physics all in easily digestible but non-patronising form, and all at an affordable price. It makes me feel pretty smart having them lying around the house, and I now don't feel completely lost at dinner conversations when someone mentions Postcolonialism or Classical Mythology. Aside from this, there really is a huge range of books, including resources for teachers and textbooks for child and adult learners, as well as the usual stock of reference books like the infamous Oxford dictionary. The prices are what you'd expect from an academic shop stocking its own products and they have sales on every now and again. The staff are friendly and know their stuff. Pop in, treat yourself, and learn about something new. A book will last a lot longer than a TV programme, although it may be equally addictive!

Words that describe Arcadia: Whimsical, magical, adorable, twee, cute, colourful…read more This is an adorable little shop, just off Cornmarket St on St. Michaels. It's a shop filled with trinkets, vintage items, books, pretty stationary, calendars, cards and more. This absolutely gorgeous spot almost feels like a step back in time, with classical music playing, an old-world parisian vibe, and a collection of vintage penguin books for your perusal. Definitely worth a visit if you need a gift for someone, or just want something pretty for yourself. Prices seem reasonable as well.

This little gem is hidden off the main shopping street in Oxford. It is a real treaure chest,…read moreeverytime i go in there are new little things filling every possible space. Vintage books, scented candles, boxes, cards and so much more. This is always a stop on my christmas shopping runs.

This is a great bookshop for browsing in. Because it only stocks second hand books you'll never…read moreknow what you'll find. Mind you if you are looking for a book that everybody was reading last year, you'll probably find several copies in here, people in Oxford seem to get through books pretty quickly. They have a special children's section downstairs where I have found several books that I've remembered from my childhood and re-purchased to hand on to my own children. It is also the only place I've ever found a second hand Tin-Tin and Asterix book. I've only found them there once but I keep looking.

This Oxfam specialises in second-hand books, but don't be fooled into thinking it's only dusty old…read moreMills and Book; in traditional Oxford style, this forms an excellent bookshop in its own right, and you wouldn't be foolish to go in looking for a particular book. Every item is still in good condition and priced (sometimes rather annoyingly) accurately. You may not find a fantastic bargain, but it's still cheaper than buying new, and there are lots of unusual books and editions that are hard to get hold of. The organisation is superb, with books divided into categories, and the staff seem keen to help. The window display reflects a certain theme and changes regularly, which is an indication of just how many specialist topics they deal with. Definitely worth looking at if you're after a book at short notice, and it's always encouraging to think you're doing your bit for charity at the same time.

Happy to find out the Inner Bookshop is still going. Now off to take a long browse on their website.read more

This is a wonderful treasure trove of books on all sorts of weird and wonderful subjects at really…read moregood prices. My visit today unearthed a number of great potential Xmas presents and a few books that I want for myself too! They also sell some marvellous postcards, joss sticks and are a hub of information for alternative health and local groups. You can then also retire next door to the wholefood cafe to relax on a comfy sofa and read your new acquisitions! If you are looking for alternative magazines they also stock a plethera of them from around the globe - not a place for anyone without an open mind but the staff give everyone a warm welcome!

Almost on the brink of being horribly alternative, I could not keep myself away from here after my…read morefirst visit. My very strictly-no-red-trousers boyfriend coyly lured me here on the pretence of it having coffee and cake after a long walk. He usually does this so he can roam around bookstores for 2 hrs+. While I normally find it annoying I could not stop looking around. There are some new novels but there is a great deal of used books, beautifully bound. Most of the collection is 20th century fiction. Modern classics (Dr. Zhivago and Slaughterhouse 5) and poetry are well stocked and there is a peculiar feeling that the books are meticulously chosen as the categories are select but complete in depth. I found some gorgeous Oxford emblem bearing 1947 published versions of 'English Short Stories' 'Lorna Doone' and a stunning gold leafed Dante's Divine Comedy. So on to the second layer of the shop: The Cafe. A small number of colorful tables occupy the front where you can sit and sip a enviable selection of international leaf teas, ranging from your standard Earl Grey to things like "Green Chai" "Brazilian Mate", "Russian Caravan" and a satisfying amount of Chinese teas. They go for 2 pounds a pot and you can choose your own cup. I haven't tried the cake selection...yet. There is also coffee available but in a refreshing hipster without being hipster fashion there are no lattes or americanos. Sorry. No wi-fi either so don't think you can spend your day here with your macbook and your big glasses. The time limit is an hour unless you want to buy another pot. Very nice to see people of all ages come in to the whimsical bookshop and there is no huge open glass for everyone to spot you being every-so busy. Just go about your business. Also, the owner is just the right amount of involved, which is nice. Overall an independent Jericho based bookshop of which Oxford is very much in need. They host poetry and jazz evenings which I hear are extremely popular as well. Carry on, AB.

This place is basically like an Office Depot. I use it to buy office supplies, phone cards,…read moremagazines, and the like. They always have what I am looking for, even if they call thumb tacks "push pins." Convenient and not expensive.

You know what you're getting with Smiths; the only problem with the Oxford branch is finding what…read moreyou want. I always find it quicker to ask than to stubbornly bumble my way around. The stationery is all good quality, with plenty of plain notepads, ringbinders and pens to satisfy those basic needs, but also lots of funky collections of things for your inner (or real) school child. I like the pencil cases - furry animals or shiny tins - and the ring binders with stripes or cartoon animals on. Yes, it's childish, but if you're going to do boring things involving filing, you might as well bring a bit of colour into it. They so everything from printer paper to ink cartridges, calligraphy sets to sketching pencils, diaries and calendars, post-its and hole punches. Your desktop will never have been so jazzed up. The other half of the shop has a great range of magazines. It's one of the only places in Oxford where you can get quite obscure magazines and is well worth checking out. The staff are friendly and there are some good deals on chocolates as you whizz your way through the queue.

Beautiful books about beautiful things, plus posters, cards and the sort of notebooks that people…read morebuy thinking they will inspire them to write great works (leather bound with lovely paper). I like the craft section which includes books and magazines with trendy Japanese and American designs so you can knit or sew something your children won't be ashamed to receive.

Blackwell's Art & Poster Shop is a bit of a mixed bag. The upstairs section for books specifically…read moreon art and art history is very comprehensive and you should be able to find what you're looking for. There's an opportunity to look at some huge, beautiful, very expensive books on architecture, which are conveniently laid out to be browsed through on the balcony. There is also a reasonable crafts section upstairs. The downstairs area is more of a muddle, with graphic design, cinema, typography, photography, and graphic novels all stuffed in together at one end. While offering a small selection of books on all of these subjects, the range in each is extremely limited. Although it's the best place for graphic novels in Oxford in terms of selection and unusual choices, it's no substitute for a dedicated comics shop. It is a good place to buy greetings cards, diaries, calendars, and other paper goods, as there's a good range of these down the length of the downstairs area, and the ever-popular £3 mini prints of classic paintings are a great way of quickly and cheaply brightening up a new room. Yes, a few thousand Oxford students will probably have the same ones, but they're great quality prints considering the price and there are also cheap frames available to complement them. It's not actually very good for posters, as most of the ones they have are very expensive and look like they've been hanging around for an awfully long time.

Enter the magical world of the Music Box…read more ...if you can fit! This has to be one of the world's smallest shops. And they manage to pack it all in! They have a great selection of guitars and other instruments, both 2nd hand and new. I have bought all my guitars from there. They know what they are talking about for sure. Tons of fun accessories and anything you might desire. A busy but friendly service.