Purple Flag Places -
OXFORD

Oxford is internationally recognised as a world centre for learning. It is famous as ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’, an ancient and historic location, sitting at the heart of a beautiful rural county, but it is also a modern city. It is cosmopolitan and ethnically diverse and in addition to its world famous universities and teaching hospitals, it is home to the BMW Mini car plant.

Oxford city centre caters for much of the shopping, cultural and entertainment needs of this diverse resident population and its significant tourism population.

A key feature of its evening and night-time economy is the quality and range of offer and the dynamic mix of age and type of customer. There is an exciting and eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, clubs museums, cinemas theatres and much more.

Oxford long and proud history of transport innovation has left a legacy of excellent park and ride services and night buses for the late night visitor.

A strong sense of wellbeing is maintained by active street management and policing in the context of the successful ‘Nightsafe’ initiative.

The Assessors and Panel were impressed by specific actions, including:

• The Licensing and Street Trading policies, with particular reference to the Special Saturation Policy.
• The Micro-Policing Team which provided on-the-ground coverage ensuring a visible police presence from early evening, throughout the night and into the early hours.
• The zero tolerance attitude and approach towards littering and anti-social behaviour.
• The Transform Oxford partnership and notably the “Cleaner, Greener” Campaign, which displayed Oxford’s commitment to a clean public realm.

 

“I am delighted that Oxford has been recognised as a place that welcomes people in the evening. There is a wealth of things to do in the city centre, like visiting the theatre, or going to the cinema as well as enjoying a meal from the hundreds of different restaurants.

The Purple Flag will mean that we are highlighted nationally as a place to visit and enjoy. I hope it will encourage more tourists and residents to visit the city centre at night.”

Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council

Contact
Gordon Reid
Oxford City Centre Manager
T: 01865 252164   
E: greid@oxford.gov.uk    

Information Files:

Oxford Case Study
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