Latest news with #OxfordMail
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Oxford ranked eighth place in best UK city break league table
Oxford has been ranked eight for the best city break in the UK in a new league table. Consumer "champion" Which? rated the best medium-sized cities for a short break, with Oxford coming in below Bath, Chester and Lincoln. The dreaming spires city received a customer score of 74 per cent, below the number one city of Bath at 82 per cent. READ MORE: M40 'monstrous development' met with mass objections Perhaps unsurprisingly, Oxford received a five-star rating for the category "cultural sights", but just three stars for food and drink, accommodation, shopping and value for money. It was let down in the categories of ease of getting around and lack of crowds, and given just one star for parking. Missed a copy of the Oxford Mail you wanted? Here's what to do — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) May 13, 2024 The average hotel price in Oxford was found to be £115, higher than any of the seven cities listed above it apart from top-spot Bath. Cities ranked better for a break than Oxford also included Worcester, Canterbury, Shrewsbury and Harrogate. READ MORE: Oxford homeowners fear Botley Road buses returning At the other end of the ranking, the worst medium-sized city break destinations in the UK were named as Bournemouth and Torquay. The seaside towns were both described as "dirty" and "rundown" and got just two stars for food and drink, shopping, ease of getting around and value for money. Which? decided on the rankings after carrying out a survey of more than 7,100 UK travel experiences in April 2024, with customers rating the towns and cities they'd visited for at least one night within the past two years.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In pictures: Summer arts festival in Oxfordshire opens with artist display
A summer arts festival in Oxfordshire launched with music and an art fair to mark the opening of another month-long celebration of culture. Wantage Summer Arts Festival kicked off on Sunday, June 22, with a showcase of local artwork and musical acts. The festival will last until July 7 this year, with an extensive line up of musical, cultural, and artistic displays and activities to get involved with. READ MORE: Date revealed for decision on new Oxford United stadium It launched outside Marmalade Coffee Shop in Market Place, Wantage, with an all-day exhibition and event. Experience the pulse of Oxford at your fingertips 🗞️ With our flash sale, Oxford Mail keeps you updated for less: only £4 for 4 months or save 40 per cent on an annual subscription. Don't miss out on what's happening locally #DigitalDeal #LocalJournalismhttps:// — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 16, 2025 A showcase of paintings by Robert Rose including several brand new pieces were displayed, all "inspired by the local area". Musical acts included a lute player, a rock choir, a show song performance, folk tunes and popular ballads, and visitors enjoyed a King Alfred's Lost Wantage Palace walking tour. The festival has been running for nearly three decades and attracted thousands of visitors in past years.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Young guitarist from Oxford brought on stage to play with rockstar
A young guitarist from Oxford was invited to play on stage at a festival by rockstar Yungblud. Thomas Addenbrooke, 15, was attending Bludfest on Saturday, (June 21) when popular rock musician Yungblud invited him up on stage. Mr Addenbrooke played along to the smash hit song Fleabag with the artist, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, to a crowd of 30,000 at Milton Keynes Bowl. READ MORE: Fire and rescue statement on Burford high street incident Although the young musician's only previous public performance was at an open mic in Workshop Cafe in Cowley Road, Oxford, he still "rocked the stage with the rest of the band". Thomas Addenbrooke and Yungblud on stage at Bludfest (Image: Thomas Addenbrooke) Yungblud has been bringing fans on stage to play the guitar along to Fleabag since early last year, starting with a young fan called Betti, from the Czech Republic, at the last festival. Experience the pulse of Oxford at your fingertips 🗞️ With our flash sale, Oxford Mail keeps you updated for less: only £4 for 4 months or save 40 per cent on an annual subscription. Don't miss out on what's happening locally #DigitalDeal #LocalJournalismhttps:// — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 16, 2025 Bludfest is a festival founded by the punk rock star last year, in August 2024, designed to create a space for fans to "come and be who they are, with a little bit of bite". In its second iteration this year, featured artists included headliners Yungblud and Chase Atlantic, as well as Blackbear, Denzel Curry and Rachel Chinouriri. READ MORE: Abingdon: Contractors face heavy fines for roadworks delays Also in the line up were JXDN, Peach PRC, Luvcat, and Master Peace Cliffords. The festival founder rose to fame after his debut EP Yungblud, followed by his first full-length album 21st Century Liability released in 2018. His second studio album Weird! peaked at the top of the UK Album Charts in 2020, with his third, also called Yungblud, reaching number one on the album charts.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nine-mile stretch of A34 to be closed for next TWO weekends
A long stretch of the A34 is scheduled to close for the next two weekends while National Highways resurfaces sections of the road. The nine-mile section begins at Junction 13, the Chieveley Interchange in Berkshire, which connects the A34 with the M4. It ends with the Chilton Junction near Didcot, which links the A34 with the A4185. A spokesperson for National Highways said: 'We need weekend closures due to the depth of resurfacing we have to do in some sections.' READ MORE: The first weekend closure will begin at 9pm on Friday, June 27 and last until 6am on Monday, June 20 while the second will start and end at the same time, only from Friday, July 5 to Monday, July 7. The suggested diversion route takes vehicles east along the M4 to Junction 8/9 at Maidenhead. Map of the section that will be closed (Image: Google Maps) From there, drivers should exit and travel north on the A404 until the M40 Handy Cross roundabout, where they can take the first exit onto the M40 northbound. Experience the pulse of Oxford at your fingertips 🗞️ With our flash sale, Oxford Mail keeps you updated for less: only £4 for 4 months or save 40 per cent on an annual subscription. Don't miss out on what's happening locally #DigitalDeal #LocalJournalismhttps:// — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 16, 2025 Motorists should then continue on the M40 until Junction 9 when they can exit for the A34 and travel south to Oxford. The total diversion travel distance is approximately 70 miles and will take drivers more than an hour. National Highways added: 'We apologise for the long diversion. However, it's the most suitable option for both car and HGV drivers. 'This is essential resurfacing work. We have chosen weekend work as the least disruptive option overall.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Beat the heat: All of Oxfordshire's splash parks and pools open this summer
Summer is heating up, and families may be left wondering what to do to beat the heat in Oxfordshire at the weekends. With temperatures rising to 30 degrees Celsius in Oxford this Saturday, June 21, a refreshing splash about in water might be what's needed. Luckily, the county is well provided with splash parks and pools to help you or the little ones get out of the heat and have some fun. READ MORE: How did pro-Palestine activists break into RAF Brize Norton? Splash Park at The Leys The newly upgraded splash park at The Leys, Witney is open for the first time this year, from May 22. It has a range of features for all young ages and abilities and is accessible, and is operational from midday until 6pm each day. Pools to try in Oxfordshire this summer (Image: Newsquest)Cutteslowe & Sunnymead Splash 'N' Play The splash park is open in Cutteslowe Park from the first bank holiday in May each year. Its free to attend with onsite facilities including toilets, picnic tables, play areas including sand pits and splash play, and refreshments. Cutteslowe splash park is currently closed due to a "technical issue", according to Oxford City Council. Experience the pulse of Oxford at your fingertips 🗞️ With our flash sale, Oxford Mail keeps you updated for less: only £4 for 4 months or save 40 per cent on an annual subscription. Don't miss out on what's happening locally #DigitalDeal #LocalJournalismhttps:// — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 16, 2025 Hinksey Splash Park Also a new addition to Oxfordshire's splash park offering, a new water play and mini-wheels track opened in April at Hinksey Park in Oxford this year. The splash park is free to use and open everyday until the end of the summer, with the "learn and play" balance bike and scooter track designed for younger children open year round. Riverside Park And Pools, Wallingford A campsite adjacent to the River Thames, Riverside Park and Pools is a great summer destination with an interactive water feature suitable for ages which was recently refurbished. Its free for public use with no booking required. The site also boasts a heated outdoor pool, which can be booked through the Better UK app or online. READ MORE: A361 near Banbury closed after serious crash Didcot Splash Pad at Edmonds Park Didcot's Edmonds Park has a fun water feature for children's supervised play, offered by the town council. Its open 10am to 4pm everyday until September, and toilet facilities and a refreshment kiosk are available onsite. Splash parks are a great way for youngsters to beat the heatWantage Memorial Splash Park Just south of Wantage, the memorial gardens have a play area and an interactive water feature that is open during the summer months. During the summer season, until early September, the splash pad is open from 10.30am to 7pm. Woodstock Open Air Pool Woodstock Open Air Pool in Shipton Road is a seasonal 25m 4 lane heated swimming pool with changing rooms, toilets, and a reception area to buy refreshments and ice creams. Situated in the heart of West Oxfordshire and a short walk from Blenheim Palace, the pool also has a diving board and dive pit at a depth of 3.5m. Chippy Lido With its fully-heated 25m pool, café and large, tree-lined lawn, The Lido outdoor swimming pool describes itself as "an oasis of calm" in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds The lido is located in Fox Close, Chipping Norton and is run by a local charity. Swim slots are available to book online. READ MORE: Fraud at Oxford car park as pay machines compromised Banbury Open Air Pool Banbury's Woodgreen Open Air Pool opened in May this year to the delight of residents following improvements from Cherwell District Council. It will be open until early September and is available to book online. Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool in Abingdon is a popular place to go during the summer months after more than 15,000 people visited last year. The pool first opened on Thursday, first open on Thursday and will remain open over the coming weekend. After June 22 and until July 19 - the official summer season opening date - the pool on the banks of the Thames will open when the weather and staffing allow.
