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From the Middle Ages, Oxford has been a centre of trade and commerce. However, where cattle and crops once changed hands, the city has moved on - nowadays we shop purely for pleasure. Herds of cows and sheaves of corn have made way for emporiums of every description: whether you are looking for food, toiletries, clothes, shoes, books, CDs or the latest DVD player, you will find it here.

Oxford is a hugely varied place, thanks to the cultural mixture of townies (local residents), and both national and international students. This is reflected in the enormously diverse collection of shops, department stores, delis, chain stores and outlets found throughout the city. If it is up-to-the-minute fashions you are after, look no further than the centre of town, where everything from baseball caps to ball gowns can be bought.

Want to snap up an antique, local vegetables, or fresh-cut flowers? Head for the reassuringly traditional Covered Market, which has sustained the true heart of Oxford's shopping life - small businesses, quaint shops, and exquisite quality in all its goods. That is the beauty of Oxford - you can find all the usual big-town stores for the goods you need, but look over your shoulder and you are bound to find a smaller shop that will spark your interest.