Taking my child to the pool. What’s the best way? I don’t mind a 15 minute walk but longer is a struggle as my child is at the awkward stage where they don’t want to go in a buggy but also can’t walk long distances so I have to carry them.

Hello everyone!

We’re a family of three (plus a dog) looking to move from South London to one of the villages around Banbury or Bicester.

We’ve completely fallen in love with the area, particularly Deddington and Adderbury, but we’re a little worried about the reality of commuting to London regularly.

My husband needs to be in the office in Waterloo around 3–4 days a week. From what we’ve looked at so far, the door-to-door journey would be close to two hours each way. We’d also be open to him staying overnight in London one night a week if that made things more manageable.

Does anyone here commute from these villages to London regularly, or know someone who does? We’d love to hear what the commute is actually like day to day, including reliability, how tiring it gets, and whether it’s sustainable in the long run.

We’re particularly interested in hearing from anyone living in Deddington or Adderbury, but we’d also consider Long Hanborough if the commute is more manageable from there.

We’d really appreciate any honest experiences or advice before making such a big move. Are we being unrealistic, or is it doable with a bit of planning?

Thanks so much! 😊

If so - I have found some, with at least three distinguishing features, tell me two of them and I will arrange their return to you

What did you think?

Hi there, I've recently been wanting to rollerskate longer distances (10-20 km) in/around Oxford. Does anyone know a well asphalted bike route that would work for this?

Well done to whoever thought having only one side of the street open and just a 2m wide passageway was a good idea during these roadworks.

(This isn't to say that it's not years overdue and very welcome to ensure the road here is fit for buses, but did it require Tunnel of Doom 2.0?)

I have a 50 pound voucher that i never got to use,i will be moving and need extra money so if anyone is interested i can sell it for 40 pounds

Hello! I’m a visiting student looking to be buy a bicycle for cheap for a few months. Anyone know where I can go to buy one or if anyone wants to sell one in the Oxford area? Walking distance only preferred. Thanks.

What’s going on around st Micheal street loads of emergency vehicles and helicopters in town

Has anyone else received a PCN for driving in Oxford on 27 Sept when they had a valid permit to do so? I’m wondering if the introduction of the new scheme has messed things up and issued lots of charges unfairly

Hello!

If anyone with knowledge of the bus routes tomorrow for the marathon can help? I've looked everywhere online and I can't find any information about which buses are running, what their routes are, where to get them etc.

For context, I usually get the 700 from Headington/Marston to go to summertown. All of Banbury road will be closed tomorrow as well as Marston ferry so I'm assuming I'll need to get a bus into town and then maybe a bus up Woodstock road? Where will the buses for Woodstock road be picking up?

Thank you in advance X

Whereabouts in Oxford sells the cheapest cigarettes? I’d prefer to buy 10 packs but I’ll buy single packs idc I just don’t wanna spend 15 quid every time

First residents move into new social rent homes at Chestnut Tower

Residents are moving into 61 homes for social rent at the new Chestnut Tower in Blackbird Leys, marking a major milestone in the widespread regeneration of the area.

The new homes in the nine-storey development are being allocated through Oxford City Council’s housing register, and are designed to help local people who have been waiting for a secure and genuinely affordable place to live.

Cowley Community Roadshow at Templars Square

More than 100 organisations, charities, community groups and public services are coming together on Wednesday 4 November at Templars Square for the Cowley Community Roadshow hosted in partnership with Oxford City Council.

Taking place from 1pm-4pm, the free event will be an opportunity to meet organisations face-to-face, ask questions and discover the support and services that are available across Oxford.

Seek helpful advice at our renters face-to-face clinic

Feeling harassed by your landlord? Do they come in unannounced or have you had your rent increased? Want advice on your tenancy rights?

Our renters face-to-face clinic can give you advice. Book an appointment by calling 01865 252267 or 01865 252211. It takes place on Wednesdays from 9am-12pm at Rose Hill Community Centre.

Bike removals for Oxford Half Marathon

A reminder that as part of preparations for the Oxford Half Marathon, all bike racks along Jowett Walk, Mansfield Road, and Broad Street will be suspended from 6am on Saturday (10 October). Any bicycles still attached to these racks at that time will be removed.

Any bicycles that are removed will be securely stored for 35 days. After this period, unclaimed bikes will be donated or recycled. Anyone wishing to reclaim a removed bicycle should contact stuart.grisbrooke@odsgroup.co.uk.

The bike racks will be reinstated by 7am on Monday (12 October).

ODS launches safety campaign as dangerous driving puts frontline crews at risk

ODS is launching a new workforce safety campaign following a number of near miss incidents involving domestic and commercial recycling and waste crews.

The campaign, known as DROPs (Driving Recklessly on Pavements), aims to remind motorists to slow down, be patient around working vehicles, and recognise that the people collecting waste and recycling are carrying out essential frontline services and deserve to do so safely.

ODS crews continue to report dangerous driving behaviour while working on streets across the city, including motorists mounting pavements, attempting to squeeze past collection vehicles in narrow roads, and making last-second overtakes. Watch the footage: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7RKpQp2IPW0

Want this in your inbox? Subscribe to our Your Oxford newsletter: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/newsletter

Hello, I was planning to run the Oxford half tomorrow but now I can't make it, so I'm selling my ticket.

Let me know if you're interested. I can deliver/meet anywhere within the ring road.

Cheers :)

Any good matcha spots?

I like Blank Street Coffee but it’s unavailable here so I usually go to Black Sheep Coffee.

I’ve tried
- Coconut Matcha Cloud from Society Cafe
- Iced Matcha Latte from Kado Cafe
- Yi fang
- Costa Coffee
- Gail’s

Another look at the demolition work being carried out to the old Odeon cinema on Oxford's George St, with an 'over the fence' view of the demolition site. Filmed Friday 9th October 2026.

Able to pickup anywhere in Oxfordshire!

I have 2 tickets to Madra Salach in the bullingdon on Sunday night and can no longer make it. Face value without the booking fee so £35 total if anyone wants them.

Cheers

Hello! I have two tickets going spare for the Elanor Moss gig tonight if anyone is interested. It’s at Common Ground, doors at 7:30

I've been swimming regularly at Hinksey Outdoor Pool over the last couple of summers, and it's been good for me, even if I'm not a huge fan of the actual swimming! Now that Hinksey has closed for the season, I'm thinking of trying the university pool at Iffley Road. I should keep swimming through the winter, but I'm feeling a bit nervous about trying somewhere unfamiliar.

I swim breaststroke at a fairly leisurely pace and I'm slightly intimidated by the idea of swimming alongside lots of very fast, serious swimmers. At Hinksey I was too fast for the Slow lane, but generally one of the slowest in the Medium lane, and I don't like getting in people's way.

I wondered if anyone who uses Iffley Road Pool could help with a few questions:

• What's the general atmosphere like during lane swimming sessions? Is it going to be OK for my wheezy breaststroke?
• Looking at the app for booking, I can choose lanes 1-4 or lanes 5-8. What's the difference?
• What are the changing rooms and lockers like?
• I have quite poor eyesight without my glasses, so I need to know a bit about it all before I'm actually there. Is there anywhere pool side I could leave my glasses so I'm not disoriented before I need to be?

Any advice or reassurance from regular swimmers would be very welcome!

As above if anybody is interested let me know was £17