Decent little shop in Oxford for souvenirs. The quality is a bit higher than other similar Oxford…read moreshops, but so is the price. They had more unique items that could be given to people who would not want a big Oxford tshirt or pencil set. For instance, they had a whole section for folks who like to garden (see photos). They had tin mugs with cute gardening sayings. I got one for my mother who enjoys gardening all too much. It didn't seem like a chain store, and I really like local mom-and-pop shops so if I'm right that makes me happy! The front of the shop (window) is a bit confusing. The window says Oxford College Store on the front, but the sign above that says Bonnie. There's a hanging sign that reads Bonnie as well. Perhaps it was renamed, or they are trying to highlight their connection to Oxford University? Either way, it was a bit disconcerting to this foreigner.

I must admit, I avoided this place for ages because I just assumed it was a posh designer store…read morebecause of its name! When I actually got round to looking in it, I thought it was just another one of those touristy, overpriced 'Oxford University' memorabilia shops. BUT, and it's a big but, I was wrong! This has got some great clothes in a variety of styles, and is a refreshing change from the chain stores around town (which can be great, but you know what to expect every time). It's hardly a major item in there, but I'm quite fond of the lingerie. Prices vary but it's all fairly reasonable for Oxford, and if you're lucky you can grab a real bargain. As with all sales items, get it when you see it or you might be disappointed when you return! The staff are very friendly, and are happy to let you browse. If you're after an Oxford-branded gift for someone, or a treat for yourself, they're very helpful and can recommend things you might not have noticed.

Beautiful shop, with great quality clothing, jewellery and homewares. This has to be my new…read morefavourite shop in Oxford! I could easily blow my budget here, but it would be with a clear conscious seeing as it's ethical and fairtrade wares. Well worth a visit.

There are treasures to be found here, but I warn you it is not for the faint of heart. Heed my…read moreadvice, you need to be both mentally prepared and determined to emerge with a successful find here. Racks are overburdened to the point that if you manage to pull something out, you will not be able to shove that hanger back in. The shop pieces are mostly better for women than men, unless you're looking for nice blazer, jacket, or costume. There are quite a few nice menswear pieces in there. And if you have a specific style in mind, for example, a nice tweed, the the owner lady definitely has some kind of mental catalog of her stock. So if you feel overwhelmed, she can pick some stuff out for you if she has an idea of what you're looking for. Prices aren't the cheapest, but this place is a treasure trove of vintage one-offs if that means any added value to you. Also, no price tags. She prices items as you ask her. From what I gather, it depends on the age and value of the brand.

Like walking into a giant dressing up box. Fancy dress, tea dresses, jazzy shirts and net skirts. A…read morevintage wonderland. You will need to rumage as there are bundles of clothes EVERYWHERE and only really space for 3 people to stand. I brought a black waistcoast with silver hearts from the 60's for £15 :) The reason i'm not giving 5/5 is because its frusting when you find one great shoe- but not the other! One very sweet lady who works there. If you are looking for something in particular she will tell you if she has it or when she thinks she will have. Opening times: MonSat 10am5.30pm

While on a trip to London we made a quick stop here to purchase a delightful umbrella for my wife…read moreto use during our travels. Fair price, helpful customer service reps, and a clean, well-lit store... I've got no complaints at all and we would gladly go back again if we ever visit Oxford again - hopefully we will.

I love this shop. It used to be a real rabbit warren of a place, a bit like an old fashioned…read moredepartment store. (Think 'Are you being served') It was gutted a few years back and although the building looks the same on the outside inside it's a totally different place. There are three floors (as per usual) which are jam packed full of things to peruse and buy! The womenswear floor is large with a wide range of items for women of any taste. They have a Coast branch inside and a big collection of fancy dresses to suit. The homeware floor is big as well with quite a decent range of kitchen utensils which is nice because a lot of stores skimp on things like this. All in all the store is nice and bright, it can get a bit congested on the escalators and in the lobby though so be careful.

I have to admit that I loved this shop so much that I travelled all the way back to Oxford just to…read moreget some more t-shirts. Look, I can't say that the quality of the shirts are particularly great (they aren't screen printed - which means that I suspect that they won't last as long) but I have to admit that they are pretty funny. In fact, they are hilarious. In fact there are a lot of other things here that have some pretty awesome jokes. Yeah, worth checking out, though since it is in the covered market, it can be tricky to find.

The name might sound like an underwear shop, but it's actually a brilliant little clothes shop…read morenestled in the Covered Market. I discovered it while looking for a 'Cheer Up Goth' t-shirt (still not found one!) and was entertained by looking at the funny t-shirts. I don't think I'd wear many of them, but I've got a couple of friends who thrive on that sort of display of wit. I'm more interested in the Camden market, hippie-ish bags, colourful wall decorations and accessories. It's not too expensive, at around £16.50 for a t-shirt, and it's well worth popping in if you're buying a present for someone who's into that sort of thing. Top tip: try and go during the week as it gets very crowded on Saturdays.

Monaco is a small independent ladies clothing store just by the main shopping area in Headington…read more It specialises in Adini clothing, and a fair amount from Nomads. So it's full of natural fabrics in bright colours, nice casual tops and skirts, and smart dresses, scarves and jackets for dressing up. It also sells a small range of jewellry. There's a good range of stock with new additions coming in regularly, and there's usually a couple of sale rails. The owner is very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, so are the other staff who work there when she's not around. There's usually an attractive window display to tempt you in.

Hobbs is quite unusual in catering for business women and the smarter side of party clothing. It's…read morepretty expensive, but great if you're looking for a birthday or Christmas treat. I'm always a bit scared to go in wearing casual clothes, but lots of people browsing are dressed in jeans and trainers, so don't be put off. The staff are quite aloof, but are happy for you to browse. The layout is uncluttered enough to make it easy to head for the right section. The main types of clothing are: Business suits - trouser and skirt Smart clothes - that would be fine for most offices Casual clothes - we're talking Kensington 'casual', not student casual Party - forget skimpy cocktail dresses; this is sensible, adult, elegant. You're looking at well over £100 for a dress, over £150 for a suit jacket, and over £50 for a shirt. They do shoes, handbags and jewellery too. If you've got the money to shop here, it should be just the trick for smart work clothes. Personally, I prefer to spend the money I earn on non work-related things and would rather buy lots of fun items for the same price!

I love Coast clothes and I was delighted to find that they have their own shop, after only ever…read moreknowing about them from Debenhams. My first ball gown was by Coast, and is still one of my favourites (well, you can never have too many ball gowns now can you?!). I find the sizes are a bit 'off' - maybe it's because I'm bigger below than on top, but I find my dress doesn't stay up very well despite being the size I normally wear. Still, it came with a detachable halterneck strap - all situations covered. The quality is excellent - I've had it several years now without problems. The only downside is that everything is so expensive! I would love to own so many things in here, but I really can't justify it. Definitely worth checking out during the sales, but it's worth getting there quickly, as I'm sure they're popular!

Coast is a beautiful store, which sells some truly stunning clothes. They specialise in dresses,…read morebut also sell two piece outfits. There dresses are of superb quality, and really well made. The designs are original and the cut of the fabric is really good. The staff are really friendly and helpful, and will always offer advice on what styles and colours best suit you. They stock a good range of matching accessories- everything you could need from coats and cardigans to handbags and earrings! The dresses themselves are breathtaking. I've bought several from Coast for balls and parties, and have never received so many compliments about my outfit! I felt like a princess! I really cannot recommend this shop highly enough. The clothes are expensive- a dress can cost between £120-£200, but they are absolutely worth it. The perfect place if you are looking for a special outfit for a ball or a wedding.

FCUKHmm, the joke gets pretty old once you're over the age of about twelve. Still, let's give them…read morethe benefit of the doubt and assume their name just happened to be similar to a swear word. I'm sure you know the deal: designer clothes with a label that screams a certain something. It's more upmarket than Levis, probably about the same as Calvin Klein. They do men's, women's and children's, and thankfully the children's clothes are reasonably priced, although over £10 for a t-shirt that's only going to get dirty and outgrown is perhaps not the greatest investment. Good for smarter occasions though. The women's dresses are what draw me in and yet repulse me. They manage to produce some really gorgeous summery numbers, yet also some hideous sacks that could make Heidi Klumm look like a hag. At £70 plus for most dresses, this makes you think Still, you know you're always safe and oh-so-amusing with one of the classic FCUK t-shirts: men's, women's and children's

If money was no object I would shop in French connection much more often…read more I find it's the best place in oxford for jeans, their jeans are a lovely fit although a tad pricey. Beautiful dresses and super trendy threads, perfect for nights out on the town. The mens section is utter rubbish though, that's upstairs, just not worth climbing the stairs for

When in the UK I always make sure to do some shopping at M&S. Besides the amazing food sections…read more(and the M&S Foodhalls all over the country), it's the loungewear that gets my attention. Quality is there, it lasts for years and years. This store here had a very good and wide selection of both loungewear and underwear. Lots of other great stuff in this store. Found what I looked for and bought a whole bunch of them. Prices were quite a bit higher than three years ago when I last visited. But still a lot better - especially given the quality - than in my country. Surely a place to come back to when back in the UK.

Every day is a darn good coffee day. We've taken more and more to go into environmentally conscious…read moreM&S cafes as we spend a month touring England. They are bright, clean and spacious, and the seating areas and toilets are kept clean. We more and more opt to avoid the big coffee players like Starbucks, Nero, Costa and importantly for us we trust M&S to ensure that the food and drinks we buy aren't crap laden. They choose their own fair-trade coffee beans and have a coffee on their Cafe menu that they advertise as Magic (Spanish cortado style) which is £3.15 and it's darn good coffee. It's coffee we want. Simples. We don't really want these Starbucks drinks (other chains do exist) that flog you coffee so full of cheap sugar, topped with cream, swirled with some vegetable oil based topping that you means that you are consuming a full days worth of calories in a sickly sweet overpriced cupful. The seating is spacious, the staff are real friendly and the free WiFi is fast. There's always a decent selection of hot and cold food but it's cake for us, usually Victoria sponge and they usually have it. It's become more and more value for money too. Another advantage is that there's a large retail store attached to the cafe - what a great concept and it means I can get an Eccles cake for later from their in-store. Sheer buttery perfection is M&S Eccles cake.