Henley Festival 2024: Capturing the magic with daily highlights and stunning photos With the sun finally shining on the Thames riverside, Henley Festival 2024 – the UK’s only black-tie festival celebrating world-class music and arts – kicked off another year of sensational entertainment. The festival is a truly unique event, embracing a vibrant programme from pop to world music, classical to jazz, where art and gastronomy share equal billing with music. Follow our day-by-day feature, capturing the magic of the festival with daily highlights and stunning photos. Wednesday 10 July ..read more

Zog and the Flying Doctors flying onto the Oxford Playhouse stage in July. Photo credit: Mark Senior Zog and his crew are flying back to the stage in 2024. Based on the bestselling sequel by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Zog and the Flying Doctors will once again tour the UK in 2024, opening at Oxford Playhouse on 17 July before flying into London to play at Cadogan Hall from 01 to 31 August 2024. Zog, a super keen student turned air-ambulance, still lands with a bang-crash-thump. Together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a u ..read more

Here’s all you need to know about changes to the electoral voting boundaries across Oxfordshire in the run-up to the 2024 General Election There are changes to the electoral voting boundaries across Oxfordshire in the run-up to the General Election, and here is an explainer of where you are eligible to cast that all-important ballot. There are currently six electoral constituencies in the county, but this number is set to soon become seven as Banbury in the north is split into a new Bicester and Woodstock voting area. Here is a run-down of the changes you should be aware of for each constitue ..read more

Oxford’s Boswells Store at Nos. 1 to 5 Broad Street has been reborn as a luxurious boutique hotel History has it that in 1738, a Francis Boswell began selling travelling goods at 50 Cornmarket Street (on the west side, just north of Frewin Court) in Oxford. He rebuilt the shop with its neighbours in 1874, and the business stayed in the Boswell family until 1890 when Henry Boswell sold it to Arthur Pearson, who retained the Boswells name. Meanwhile, in 1854, No. 1 Broad Street housed the cabinet maker William Herbert, who expanded his premises from 31 Cornmarket Street. In ..read more

General Election 2024: Who can I vote for in Oxfordshire? Here are the candidates for each of the seven constituencies covering Oxfordshire There are seven constituencies covering Oxfordshire as follows: Banbury Bicester and Woodstock Didcot and Wantage Henley and Thame Oxford East Oxford West and Abingdon Witney Registered voters in each constituency go to the polling station to cast their votes for their preferred candidate in their local polling station. Some people can vote by post in advance. The polls open at 7.00am and close at 10.00pm, and anyone on the electoral regi ..read more

General Election 2024: Key dates and what happens next Thursday, 23 May 2024 – General election called. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a general election for 04 July, ending months of speculation about when the UK would go to the polls. The latest a parliament can be dissolved for a general election is on the fifth anniversary of the day it first met, and the prime minister can call the election at a time of their choosing within the five-year period. Read more: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces UK general election for Thursday 04 July Friday, 24 May – Parliament is prorogued. The P ..read more

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a General Election for 04 July 5.25pm Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a General Election for 04 July, saying it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”. The prime minister said that earlier today, he asked King Charles to dissolve Parliament on 30 May – this was granted. It means a general election will take place on Thursday, 04 July. Battling the rain in Downing Street, Sunak said he was proud of what his government had achieved as he set out intentions to fight for “every vote”. He added that there were uncertain times ahead and insiste ..read more

Beyond Walls: What’s driving the rise in downsizing in Oxfordshire? For many, the decision to downsize to a smaller and lower maintenance property is linked to a new chapter in life, such as retirement or grown-up children leaving home. For those with wanderlust, downsizing can offer the freedom to embark upon new adventures. Today’s downsizers also hold the key to freeing up larger properties to allow growing families the opportunity to upsize. However, the current tough economic climate is driving more people to consider downsizing for financial reasons. Recent data from Knight Fr ..read more

Troy is a beautifully restored Grade II Regency Manor house nestled amidst farmland, south of the picturesque village of Ewelme in South Oxfordshire This charming Regency Farmhouse believed to have originated in 1827, possibly occupies the historic grounds of a former monastery, as attested by the presence of an ancient yew tree. Initially named “Troy”, the house underwent a brief interlude as “Gould’s Grove” before returning to its original designation.  Its most renowned occupant, Jerome K. Jerome, celebrated as the author of ‘Three Men in a Boat’, humbly depicted Troy in his autobiogr ..read more

Claire Foster in association with / 30 April 2024 Picnic for free in these six National Trust wildflower meadows with great views in Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire (National Trust Images / Hugh Mothersole) Six National Trust-protected wildflower meadows with great views where you can picnic for free in Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire May is National Walking Month and No Mow Month – both great reasons to explore wildflower meadows with a picnic. Wildflower meadows, particularly chalk grasslands, are increasingly rare but vitally important because they support many different species of plants and ..read more