Olivia Churchill
Latest news and stories
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Oxford’s Covid memorial removed over safety concerns as a lasting tribute is explored
A memorial created in Oxford during the Covid-19 pandemic has been dismantled after deteriorating to the point of becoming a potential safety risk. Several panels have been preserved as discussions continue about a more permanent tribute.
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Oxford Victorian Christmas Market set to return to Broad Street in November
Oxford’s Broad Street will host four days of festive shopping this November as the Victorian Christmas Market returns with around 50 stalls selling artisan gifts, seasonal food and Christmas treats.
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Be Free Young Carers receives £1,000 donation to support Oxfordshire children
Oxfordshire charity Be Free Young Carers has received a £1,000 donation from Persimmon Homes Wessex as it continues to provide respite activities, emotional support and opportunities for children and teenagers with caring responsibilities.
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Fashion giant Bershka has opened its first Oxfordshire store at Westgate Oxford
Global fashion brand Bershka has opened its first Oxfordshire store at Westgate Oxford. The 11,000 sq ft shop brings the brand’s trend-led clothing, accessories and footwear to the city, expanding its UK high-street presence beyond London and Birmingham.
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Free bus travel for veterans on Remembrance Sunday across Oxford and the Thames Valley
Veterans, serving UK military personnel and cadets will be able to travel free on participating bus services across Oxford and the Thames Valley on Remembrance Sunday, 08 November. Drivers will also be invited to observe the national two-minute silence at 11.00am.
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New book explores the overlooked history of Oxford’s black scholars
A new edition of Black Oxford: Untold Stories of Oxford University’s Black Scholars will be launched in November with a heritage bus tour through Oxford, followed by a free public talk at the Bodleian Libraries’ Weston Library.
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Oxford clinic brings brain scans and health assessments together for people experiencing psychosis
A new NHS and research clinic at Oxford’s Warneford Hospital is offering people experiencing psychosis for the first time a more comprehensive assessment in a single visit, combining MRI brain scans, memory tests and physical health checks with opportunities to participate in research.
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Four new walking trails open at Wittenham Clumps for October half term
Four new waymarked walking trails have opened at Wittenham Clumps, offering routes from a short family-friendly circuit to a longer countryside walk through woodland, meadows and farmland. The trails are free to use throughout the year, with maps available from Earth Trust’s visitor centre.
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Oxford Half 2026 runners raise more than £26,000 for Homeless Oxfordshire charity
More than 120 runners raised £26,057 for Homeless Oxfordshire at the 2027 Oxford Half Marathon. The money could almost fund a support worker for a year, helping people experiencing homelessness access the support they need to rebuild their lives.
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Oxford residents to regain free entry to Museum of Oxford after council U-turn
Oxford residents will be able to visit the Museum of Oxford for free again under a three-month pilot scheme, following a year of controversy over the introduction of entry charges. The council hopes new fundraising initiatives will help address the museum’s continuing funding gap.
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Barton Park Primary School pupils set to benefit from new orchard and kitchen garden
Pupils at Barton Park Primary School in Oxford are set to benefit from newly transformed outdoor spaces, including an orchard and kitchen garden designed to support practical learning about growing food, sustainability and healthy eating.
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Met Office issues amber warning for Storm Austen as commuters face travel disruption
An amber weather warning has been issued for Storm Austen, with powerful winds and heavy rain expected to disrupt travel on Friday. Oxfordshire commuters are being urged to check rail services and take precautions as the storm moves across southern England.
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Oxford offers £1 bus fares and free parking to NHS and school staff
NHS, school and early-years staff in Oxford can apply for £1 single bus fares and free parking at the city’s five park and ride sites, funded by income from the former temporary congestion charge. The benefits are expected to run for around eight months.
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Oxfordshire County Council brings forward Speedwell House headquarters redevelopment
Oxfordshire County Council is accelerating redevelopment work on Speedwell House, with offices due to open in April 2028, despite continuing uncertainty over plans to replace the county’s existing councils with new unitary authorities.
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County Council and City Council take websites offline over global security issue
The websites of Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have been taken offline as a precaution amid a global security issue affecting PHP, the programming language used to run websites.
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Oxford science festival brings hands-on experiments and planetary adventures to half-term
Families can handle fragments of asteroids and the Moon, explore robotics and try interactive science activities at Zone ONE, the flagship event of the 2026 IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival, returning to Oxford North this October.