A book lover’s guide to Oxford

The streets of Oxford sometimes feel like you’ve stepped into a movie with its beautiful architecture and green surroundings.

After stepping off the train and walking toward Jericho, I walked past two bookshops within a minute’s walking distance from one another.

I gravitated towards Bad Girl Books, a romantasy bookshop on Walton Street. The outer walls are painted a baby pink colour, with lots of books and merch in the windows. When we visited Threshing Day had just been released by Rebecca Yarros and that same week there were university students starting their first term- so I thought the banner in the shop window, “Threshers’ week”, was a smart way of catching students’ attention. Inside, there’s a room with candles, a ‘blind date with a book’ section, staff-recommended books and so many merchandise items including hats, book sleeves, vases, keyrings and more. If you’re looking for a gift for a book lover in your life, then this would be the place to visit. There are so many niche items there too, for fans of specific series and franchises.

As we head downstairs, past shelves of illustrated greeting cards, we find ourselves in the basement with even more books. There are special editions, signed, and independent author’s all displayed throughout the space. Among the books there is a rack of T-shirts with cute bookish designs and slogans on them.

This is a fun and unique shop and one I think has really zoned in on a niche audience in a way that celebrates the fantasy and romance genre. I loved it so much I made a second visit on our last day. I’d highly recommend this one.

On the same street, you have Last Bookshop Jericho, where second-hand and remainder books line the oak bookshelves. Outside in boxes on a table there are books displayed for as little as £1. This feels like the spot to go to if you want to find unique books for a good price.

The next day we visited Daunt Books, in Summertown. Much like the famous store in Marylebone, London, the beautiful wooden shelves and tables are lined with brand new books, from a range of genres. They also sell nice stationary items too. The area is quaint and perfect for a Sunday stroll, with markets lining the street as vendors prepare hot food and sell an array of homemade items. There are nice independent cafes and restaurants on the same street as well.

Next on the list is Blackwell’s, a fan favourite for a reason. This shop spans multiple buildings. On one side of Broad Street you’ll spot one shop that sells comics, graphic novels and items that fit more into the sci-fi genre. There are lots of cool things to spot, including a full-size Dalek on the upper floor. Across the street, there’s another shop they own that has non-fiction on one level, and music and music theory books on the lower level. They also sell Oxford-themed gifts in this shop.

Next door there’s the fiction part of Blackwell’s, with brand new books lining the shelves. This is a cool shop and I like that they have managed to create spaces for each niche audience that they have. This is a bustling area as there are a lot of students who roam the street, as well as tourists. But there’s also a lot of cool attractions to see nearby including the Bodleian Library. It’s filled with books surrounding the most beautiful architecture. It’s the perfect spot to visit if you want to take in some culture and see what the city has to offer while sticking to a bookish themed day.

Gulp Fiction, inside Oxford market on High Street, is a beautiful spot to browse and have a nice warm drink. They have a cafe and seating area as well as two floors of books. Upstairs has been made into a cosy environment with lots of leather armchairs. They even have a happy hour bar that stays open until late from Thursdays to Saturday, with a menu full of various cocktails. The book selection was great too. They had new fiction, non-fiction as well as lots of different genres. It is definitely a shop you can get lost in for hours.

A short walk from the market is another shop called Baker & Company, on Golden Cross. It’s inside a beautiful archway surrounded by other independent shops and cafes. There is a warm atmosphere to the shop, with oak shelves. It has an antique vibe, like walking into a living room with quaint furniture and rugs, making the space feel enticing. They have a lot of history books and art prints available to buy. I think a lot of the books are second-hand. It is a great shop to explore if you love visiting unique bookshops.

After visiting Last Bookshop in Brighton the previous year, I knew I wanted to pop into the one in Oxford on Magdalen Street. While it shares a similar name to the Jericho shop, I don’t think it’s connected in any way. This shop is bright orange on the outside and hard to miss, right in the middle of the city centre. The aim of this bookshop is to make sure books aren’t wasted, so extra stock that hasn’t been sold by publishers gets sold at a discounted price here. Books were £5 or less and they had everything from fantasy, to thriller, to classics and more. All the books were in new condition as well. I’d recommend visiting if you’re in the area.