About Oxford
Located in the southeast of England, Oxford has been an established town since the 9th century. With over 200,000 residents, Oxford is classified as one of the smaller cities in England, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a rich history and a thriving attraction scene! Try hitting up the Carfax Tower in the heart of the city to engage in a bird’s-eye view of Oxfordshire. The 99-step spiral staircase holds quite a journey to the top and puts a unique spin on the visit.
Oxford also has many green spaces including parks, meadows, and gardens. Six of these spaces are considered the best globally, such as St. Sepulchre's Cemetery, Hinksey Park, Florence Park, Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park, Bury Knowle Park, and Blackbird Leys Park. These green spaces have Green Flag Award status.
This guide shall help you get some suggestions and ideas in planning your next event in Oxford!
Event Space Options in Oxford
On top of many prestigious schools, tourist sites, and green spaces, Oxford is also home to many vendors to help you as you set up your event space. We’ve put together a small list of aspects to help you along your way.
- Printing Services
If your event includes a company business or a giveaway, having some merchandise for your guests to go home with not only helps get your name out there but is also an excellent way to please your guests. Or perhaps you are holding a seminar and need pamphlets or brochures printed out so the guests can follow along. A printing service business would help out greatly in that matter.
- Snack Catering
Regardless of whether you are throwing a celebrational event or a smaller group get-together, having a service cater some snacks for the day or night is a considerate option for your event, no matter what style it is.
- Furniture Rental
If you’re hiring an outdoor space or a blank space, one thing you will need is furniture. Rental options are available for several furniture companies within Oxford. They can help you out in this department arranging marquees to tables and chairs.
- Electronic Rental
Depending on the type of event you’re hosting, you may need some electronic equipment such as a microphone, speakers, and some simple lighting to illuminate the event. These aspects can go unnoticed when planning an event, but they are very important for things to go smoothly!
Event Space Companies in Oxford
- Oxford Green Print
Oxford Green Print is a workers' co-op group that’s been together for 24 years, offering ecofriendly printing services such as Risograph printing. Oxford Green Print uses 100% customer-recycled paper and nontoxic veg-oil ink and delivers their packages by bicycle. Can you say green?
- Ann’s Munchies
Ann’s Munchies has been a family-run business since 1999. This business specializes in every event type including corporate, marquee, social functions, and more. Ann’s Munchies takes pride in working with their clients to create the perfect menu for their event, offering BBQs, finger foods, buffets, and more—plus they can work with dietary restrictions, too.
- City Audio Visual
For over 25 years, City Audio Visual has worked with many Oxford businesses providing high-end equipment every time. City Audio Visual offers professional feedback about the visual and technological design of your event and gives innovative bespoke solutions.
Pros and Cons of Event Spaces in Oxford
Pros
- Smaller city
Since Oxford is a smaller city, you may feel more comfortable planning your event here. It’s straightforward to get around, especially on foot, and has less crowded areas within the streets.
- Weather
Holding an event in Oxford inside or outside is a safer bet than in rainier cities such as Manchester. Oxford is located in a drier part of the country and does not see as much rain.
- Education
Oxford is the city of the most prestigious schools in England. If you’re also in the market to get learning, Oxford is a fantastic place to do so.
- Architecture
From Victorian to Gothic buildings and schools, the Oxford skyline is one for the books. Oxford is known as the place of the “Dreaming Spires”, from a poem by Matthew Arnold. The poem is about the Oxford schools' iconic skylines.
Cons
- High cost of living
Although the city of Oxford has a smaller population, the cost of living is relatively high here. On top of the cost of living, the paid salary in Oxford is higher as well than most cities in England. This means you can expect to pay more for services required to run your event while here.
- Students
One-third of the population of Oxford is, in fact, comprised of students. With the popularity of the universities and colleges here, the greatest tourist attraction in Oxford is its education sector. This aspect puts a dimming on the number of vendors that could be of help while searching for your event space, as compared with other cities that boast of their business or economic sector.
- Not car-friendly
Unlike Cardiff, Wales, which is also a non-car friendly city because of its smaller roads, Oxford is not car-friendly in a different way. The streets are fine here, but the parking spaces are almost non-existent.
Famous Event Spaces in Oxford
Conference Oxford
This event space can hold up to 720 guests and is located in Oxford University. Staffing is included at booking, and catering is also available from the university's own kitchen. Conference Oxford can handle any event, offering everything from smaller oak-panelled meeting rooms to large lecture theatres.
The King's Centre
The King's Centre is Oxford's most significant multipurpose event space. It boasts 9000m² across 12 rooms, each one unique from the other. All profits from The King's Centre are reinvested back into the centre for their trustees' local community projects.
Magnificent Kennington Room in Oxford
This Kennington Room offers views across the famous River Thames and has lots of natural light, perfect for small group work. This space can hold up to 100 guests and, as a bonus, comes with a separate coffee bar.