Woodstock
About Woodstock
Welcome to the Woodstock edition of The Oxford Magazine.
Woodstock, an old English word meaning “clearing in the woods”, is a picturesque historic town in Oxfordshire draped in history.
This dignified market town has historical links to nobility and royalty, as Woodstock Manor was the birthplace of the eldest son of King Edward III and was where Queen Mary I was imprisoned for a time by Elizabeth I.
The town grew up as a coaching stop around the Royal hunting lodge, which later became the site of Blenheim Palace, home of the Dukes of Marlborough since the early 1700s, and the birthplace of the statesman Sir Winston Churchill – he was born in the palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon.
The Oxfordshire Museum can fill you in on the town’s fabled history, while the plush centre of Woodstock more than merits a saunter for its regal townhouses, clad with ivy and wisteria. Today, Woodstock is fast gaining a reputation as an exciting hub for contemporary art, with a host of galleries.
Local news & editions
New exhibition at SOFO Museum to explore stories of children and military lives
The exhibition explores the experience of children of serving military personnel and also children who have been affected by conflict, historically and contemporarily.
New exhibition at Blenheim Palace to showcase Churchill’s friendship with artist Paul Maze
Blenheim Palace is hosting a new exhibition showcasing Winston Churchill’s love of painting and lifelong friendship with renowned Anglo-French artist Paul Maze
Incredibly popular Blenheim Palace Flower Show set to return this summer
Featuring more stands than ever, the incredibly popular Blenheim Palace Flower Show will make a welcome return this summer from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 June.
Hello Spring, Hello Woodstock
Visit Woodstock between 26 and 31 March and discover for yourself all that the town has to offer, with many of the independent shops promoting offers with their newly arrived spring stock and personal service.
Lionel Richie cancels 2022 European tour including Nocturne Live
Lionel Richie has cancelled his 2022 ‘Hello’ summer tour dates, including his scheduled headline appearance at Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace this summer.
Ridge makes £25,000 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities
The company made the donation as part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations, which it has been marking throughout 2021 with a series of charitable and community initiatives.
Have your say on West Oxfordshire District Council’s 2022/23 budget
Residents and businesses are being urged to give their views on where West Oxfordshire District Council’s tax will be spent as it prepares its budget for the next financial year.
Design competition launched for £1bn innovation district at Begbroke
The winning design team will set the bold ambition and design intent for a project that will transform the area around the university’s Begbroke Science Park to the north of Oxford.
Owen Mumford announces verified science based targets and plans for net zero
As part of its sustainability action plan, Owen Mumford has joined the Business Ambition for 1.5°c commitment and is one of the first 1000 global businesses to sign up.
Planning application submitted for expansion of Begbroke Science Park
The plans will add a further 12,500 square meters of new lab and office space to the site, with one of the buildings used by the university and the other leased to the private sector.
