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.

Loads of furniture of the bright and modern variety. Not really my style, but my friend who's into…read moreall things kitch regularly lusts after various things in here. It's better quality than Ikea, but with a price to match, and they have some unique lampstands and funky chairs that wouldn't have looked out of place in the 70s (in a good way). Definitely worth considering if you're buying a present for someone, or if you're into that sort of thing. If not, at least wander past and look at the window displays.

Great place for window shopping and browsing and for finding things you won't find elsewhere in…read moreOxford. Very modern and stylish.

This has got to be the future for garden centres in cities: smart locally-based boutique garden…read moreshops. I can't be doing with hacking around these mega-gardening centres that have now been completely homogenised and stripped of all character. This quirky little shop has a huge range of stuff and the owner is keen to accommodate any individual requests. He will even deliver locally. Thoroughly recommended.

This is a smallish store (by US standards) but has a very wide variety of household products. I…read moreagree with a previous reviewer who describes it as an old fashioned hardware store. I ended up finding the cable ties that I needed, after searching many other stores. The staff was helpful and directed me to the product I needed. I will keep it in mind as I did not know about it before.

A small but well stocked hardware / building supply store in the middle of Oxford. Robert Dyas is…read morea bit hard to locate as its on a back street of Oxford and around the corner. This is the kind of store I have in my hometown in the US. Just like here, even though they're small they've probably got what you need. I bought gardening tools their. They didn't have tools for a large garden but small ones perfect for the back yard.

Great place, wide range of stock and personal, knowledgeable service. You don't need to go to a…read morebig chain.

All sorts of bits and bobs in this alladin's cave of a hardware shop…read more Ask at the counter and the staff will scurry off into the back and return with the items your item (and maybe a couple of alternatives if you were a bit vague in your request). Well frequented by tradesmen who know exactly what they're after, it can be a little intimidating, but the service for the uninitiated is friendly and helpful. Probably best not to ask if they've got fork 'andles.

This is a wonderful shop with some beautiful pots and an owner who loves his craft.read more

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.

The only people I'll trust with my vine (apart from my father but he isn't always available)…read more Friendly, reliable and knowledgeable. And they travel out at least as far as Kidlington and perhaps further! (I realise from my profile that it looks as though I live in Geneva but our house and garden in the UK are rented out and the gardening upkeep is done by ONR.)

From the owner: Highly skilled gardening and landscape services. Teaching and education provision.read more