Our story

It all started in 2017, when we traded the comfort of our London home for the charm and promise of Oxford. As anyone who has moved cities will understand, the familiar rhythms of daily life disappear overnight — and you find yourself trying to rebuild a sense of place from scratch.

The early months were unexpectedly disorienting. With two young ones to entertain, we were constantly searching for things to do. But unlike London, where information was everywhere, Oxfordshire felt like a puzzle with the pieces scattered.

In conversation with other parents at a baby and toddler group at St Andrew’s Church in Summertown, we realised something surprising – no one seemed to know what was going on locally either. Everyone was relying on scraps of hearsay, WhatsApp threads, or sheer luck.

The problem wasn’t that the region lacked wonderful things to do – it was that there was no easy way to find them. And in that moment, surrounded by cups of lukewarm tea and toddlers negotiating over toys, the idea of a simple shared list was born.

In 2018, we decided to give the list a proper home. We published it online, and The Oxford Magazine was born – a platform celebrating Oxfordshire, highlighting things to do, places to eat, and experiences to enjoy.

Today, The Oxford Magazine reaches over 2 million pageviews a year and has become a trusted guide for exploring the region. Our dedication to community storytelling has even been recognised as part of the BBC Local News Partnerships scheme – something we’re incredibly proud of.

Looking back, it’s remarkable to see how a response to a shared frustration has grown into something far bigger than we could have imagined. Thank you for being part of the journey. Here’s to continuing to discover, explore, and celebrate Oxford and Oxfordshire together.

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