Museum of Oxford Walks: The Lost Shops of Oxford

‘Do you remember Woolworths, or Gills or Russell Acott?’

Shops often evoke powerful memories of time and place. It could be a favourite childhood treat, a first job, first date, or even a regular meeting point.

Join Maurice East to explore the history of Oxford through the fascinating stories of ever-changing city centre shops through the ages.

The tour will include; the ‘shambles’ of medieval Oxford; the lost Jewish quarter of St Aldates; the covered market; coaching inns; grand tearooms; the controversial destruction of a famous hotel; and much much more!

Accessibility and further information

Meeting point: Museum of Oxford shop (located inside the Oxford Town Hall). Please arrive 5 minutes before the start of the walk and check in at the Museum Shop with our friendly front of house team.

The walk lasts 1.5 hours. It starts and ends at the Town Hall.

The route is flat, on paved streets and is easy walking, but please note the walk can include cobbled streets and narrow pavements. Please email [email protected] if you would like to discuss any access requirements ahead of booking a walk.

Please note that this walk is recommended for ages 16+.

Tickets cost £15 and are available to purchase online (booking fee applies) or at the Museum shop.

Maurice East is a local historian who was born and raised in Oxford. He interprets the social history of the city through the lens of growing up as a ‘townie’ and shines a spotlight on stories far off the usual tourist trail. His main area of research is the history of car making at Cowley and how the arrival of industry, cars and blue collar workers changed Oxford forever in the early twentieth century.

Access at the Museum

The Museum is accessible for wheelchair users, buggies and baby carriers. There is step-free, level entry access to the Town Hall via the entrance closest to Carfax (to the left of the main steps as you face the Town Hall). Inside the Museum, Museum Makers is accessible via a platform lift and lift to the basement level. Accessible toilets are available in the Museum (close to Museum Makers) and in the Town Hall on the ground floor, before entering the Museum.

Please contact the Museum team if you'd like to talk to a member of staff about your access requirements. Further access information can be found on our website: https://museumofoxford.org/plan-your-visit/access

Host or Publisher Museum of Oxford