Shopping at the Newly Regenerated Westgate Oxford
Westgate Oxford is located in the Oxford city centre. It is roughly a twenty- minute walk from Oxford Station, with multiple bus routes, making it very easy to get to. You also have the option of cycling and driving here too. But first, a quick history lesson…
A quick history of Westgate…
Westgate was built in the early 1970s and originally had a Selfridges store, which later became Primark in 2006. In 1986, the centre was refurbished at a cost of £3 million, but it didn’t stop there… Between 2016 and 2017, Westgate underwent a whopping £500 million redevelopment, and the result was amazing!
The design achieved the perfect balance between old and new, as it blended with the old infrastructure of Oxford, while having a modern design because of the new open plan, complete with walkways. The success of this new regeneration has earnt Westgate a ranking at 8th place in the Top 10 Best Shopping Centres in England by Travel Sage.
First impressions of Westgate
The first thing you’ll notice when you’ve walked through the tunnel entrance is how massive this place is! Across three floors, there are over a hundred stores and restaurants here, and the atmosphere is amazing! Go to shops here are John Lewis for gifts and technology, Guess, and T2, where you can find a wide selection of unique teas and sample them. My personal favourites are the fruit teas, which are very refreshing.
Clothes and accessories shopping
For clothes shopping, then you are spoilt for choice here! There are a wide range of clothes stores to choose from and they have some epic sales all year round! Shops include designer brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Ted Baker. My favourite stores for clothes shopping are Guess, Ted Baker, and Flannels where you can find luxury brands including Gucci.
If you are looking for something classy, then there’s Burrows & Hare. I loved it here as it reminds me of the clothes tailors on Jermyn Street in London, and the products here speak quality. Here, you’ll find a selection of leather goods, grooming products, and plants presented in glass vases…
For watch lovers, Westgate is home to a Goldsmiths with one of their largest Rolex boutiques and one of nine stores that stocks IWC watches. Other luxury brands here included Omega. Here, I’ve had the opportunity to look at Omega and even Rolex wristwatches. You can see my review for the Omega Seamaster 300 here.
Try tasty street food at Social Street Food or see incredible views from The Roof Terrace
Food lovers will have an amazing experience here because they have a choice of eating at The Roof Terrace or Westgate’s Social Street Food, located on the Lower Ground Floor. Here, you’ll find a selection of food vendors that serve different cuisines including American, and the renowned Crazy Golf. The Roof Terrace is located on the third floor, where as well as restaurants, you will find the escape room, and cinema.
This is one of my favourite floors, because of the views of Oxford’s old architecture. I found it very therapeutic here as well, because of the tropical design by using wooden flooring, and plants outside Cinnamon Kitchen. The best time to come here is during the summer months when it’s getting dark, as the lights make the deck look amazing. Plus, you can take some incredible pictures…
For even better views of Oxford, you can visit St Mary’s Church which is approximately a 10-15 minute walk away. Here you can see landmarks such as the Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College.
Verdict
In my opinion, the vast selection of shops and design of this mall make this one of the best shopping centres in the south of England. If you are sightseeing, make sure you add Westgate to your long list of places to visit, in addition to the colleges and museums around Oxford.
To find out more about Westgate Oxford:
Directions to Westgate Oxford: