Oxford, the county town of Oxfordshire, England, is a cathedral city with a rich history dating back to the 8th century. Achieving city status in 1542, Oxford is situated at the meeting point of the rivers Thames and Cherwell. As of 2022, its population reached 163,257. Located 56 miles northwest of London, 64 miles southeast of Birmingham, and 61 miles northeast of Bristol, Oxford is strategically positioned within England. The city is renowned as the home of the University of Oxford, the oldest English-speaking university globally, boasting a diverse range of architectural styles from late Anglo-Saxon onwards. Key industries in Oxford include motor manufacturing, education, publishing, science, and information technologies.
1906: New Railway Route to London Paddington
A new, shorter railway route between High Wycombe and London Paddington via Denham opened in 1906, reducing travel time for Oxford passengers.
1910: Establishment of Morris Motors in Oxford
In 1910, Morris Motors was established in Oxford, marking the city's emergence as an important center for motor manufacturing. This laid the foundation for Oxford's automotive industry.
1921: Formation of Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
The Oxford University Ice Hockey Club was officially established in 1921.
1926: Acquisition of Hall's Brewery by Samuel Allsopp & Sons
In 1926, Hall's Brewery in Oxford was acquired by Samuel Allsopp & Sons, ceasing its brewing operations in the city.
1931: Birth of Ken Messer
Ken Messer, a watercolourist and draughtsman dubbed "The Oxford Artist" for his depictions of Oxford's architecture, was born in 1931.
1939: Oxford Cheetahs and Greyhound Racing Begin
Both Oxford Cheetahs motorcycle speedway and greyhound racing started at Oxford Stadium in 1939.
1951: Closure of Rewley Road Station
In 1951, Oxford's Rewley Road railway station, which served the Bletchley route, was closed.
1959: Éire Óg Oxford Founded
Éire Óg Oxford, originally a hurling club, was founded by Irish immigrants in 1959. Today, it is Oxford's local Gaelic Football team.
1962: Closure of Witney and Fairford Line
The railway line connecting Oxford to Witney and Fairford closed in 1962.
January 1963: Coldest month on record in Oxford
January 1963 was the coldest month on record in Oxford, with an average temperature of −3.0 °C (27 °F). This record is part of the comprehensive meteorological data collected in the city.
1964: Daily Information First Published
Daily Information, a local news sheet for events and advertising in Oxford, began publication in 1964.
1966: Completion of Oxford Ring Road
The Oxford Ring Road, designed to manage traffic flow around the city center, was completed in 1966.
July 1968: Greatest one-day rainfall in Oxford
The greatest one-day rainfall in Oxford occurred on 10 July 1968, with a total of 87.9 mm (3.46 in). This extreme weather event is part of Oxford's detailed meteorological records.
1974: Oxford's change in local government status
In 1974, the city of Oxford transitioned from being a county borough, independent from the county council, to being part of the local government structure under Oxfordshire County Council.
1974: M40 Reaches Waterstock
The M40 motorway reached Waterstock, near Oxford, in 1974, with the A40 continuing into the city.
1982: Last Morris-badged car produced in Oxford
The last Morris-badged car was produced in Oxford in 1982, indicating the end of an era for the Morris brand at the Cowley plant.
July 1983: Warmest month on record in Oxford
July 1983 was the warmest month on record in Oxford, with an average temperature of 21.1 °C (70 °F). This is part of a long series of weather records maintained in the city since 1815.
1983: Founding of Oxford Saints
The Oxford Saints, one of the UK's longest-running American football clubs, was founded in 1983.
1984: End of Morris brand production in Oxford
In 1984, the production of cars under the Morris brand ceased in Oxford, although the site continued to produce cars under Austin and Rover brands.
1985: Oxford Cheetahs Become British League Champions
The Oxford Cheetahs won the British League Championship in 1985.
1986: Oxford Cheetahs Win British League Championship Again
The Oxford Cheetahs secured their second consecutive British League Championship title in 1986.
1987: Establishment of Isis Innovation by University of Oxford
In 1987, the University of Oxford established Isis Innovation to promote technology transfer, fostering the growth of science and technology-based businesses in the city.
1989: Oxford Cheetahs' Third British League Championship
In 1989, the Oxford Cheetahs won their third British League Championship.
1990: Establishment of Oxford Science Park
The Oxford Science Park was established in 1990, creating a hub for science and technology businesses and contributing to Oxford's reputation for digital innovation.
January 1991: M40 Extension Completed
The M40 motorway extension to Birmingham was finished in January 1991, diverting traffic away from the original route to Oxford and creating a spur.
1991: Nightshift Magazine Starts
Nightshift, a monthly magazine dedicated to the Oxford music scene, began publication in 1991.
1996: Formation of Oxford Cavaliers
The Oxford Cavaliers rugby league team was formed in 1996.
1997: Radio 1's Sound City in Oxford
In 1997, Oxford hosted Radio 1's Sound City, featuring acts like Travis, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Embrace, Spiritualized, and DJ Shadow at various venues.
1998: Closure of Morrell's Brewery in Oxford
Morrell's Brewery, founded in 1743, was closed in 1998 following a family dispute. The beer brand names were taken over by another brewery, and the pubs were sold to new owners.
1999: Oxford University Boat Club Boathouse Fire
The original boathouse of the Oxford University Boat Club burnt down in 1999.
2000: BMW ownership of Mini plant in Oxford
In 2000, BMW took ownership of the principal production site for Mini cars in Cowley, Oxford. This marked a significant continuation of the city's legacy in automotive manufacturing.
2001: Oxford United Relocates to Kassam Stadium
In 2001, Oxford United moved to the Kassam Stadium from the Manor Ground.
2002: Conversion of Lion Brewery into luxury apartments
In 2002, the Lion Brewery in Oxford was converted into luxury apartments, marking a shift in the use of the historic brewery site.
May 2005: Oxide Radio Launches on FM
Oxide: Oxford Student Radio started broadcasting on terrestrial radio at 87.7 MHz FM in late May 2005.
2007: Oxford University Boat Club New Training Facility
In 2007, the Oxford University Boat Club established a new training facility and boathouse in Wallingford.
2007: Oxford Cheetahs Cease Competing
Oxford Cheetahs stopped competing in the Elite and Conference Leagues in 2007.
2008: Tourism in Oxford in 2008
In 2008, Oxford attracted 9.1 million tourists, drawn to its historic attractions, university buildings, and cultural offerings such as the Covered Market and punting on the rivers.
April 2009: Six TV: The Oxford Channel Closes
Six TV: The Oxford Channel, a local television station, ceased broadcasting in April 2009.
2009: Tourism in Oxford in 2009
In 2009, Oxford continued to attract a similar number of tourists as the previous year, showcasing its enduring appeal as a destination rich in history and culture.
2009: Ashmolean Museum Reopening
In 2009, the Ashmolean Museum, the world's first university museum and the oldest museum in the UK, reopened after a major redevelopment.
2010: Introduction of hybrid buses in Oxford
In 2010, hybrid buses began operating in Oxford, marking a significant step towards more sustainable public transportation in the city.
2011: Merger of City of Oxford HC and Rover Oxford HC
The Oxford Hockey Club was formed in 2011 through a merger of City of Oxford HC and Rover Oxford HC.
2012: Greyhound Racing Ends at Oxford Stadium
Greyhound racing concluded at Oxford Stadium in 2012, and the venue has remained unused since then.
2012: London Welsh RFC Moves to Kassam Stadium
London Welsh RFC relocated to the Kassam Stadium in Oxford in 2012 to meet Premiership entry requirements.
2012: Wettest year on record in Oxford
2012 was the wettest year on record in Oxford, with 979.5 mm (38.56 in) of rainfall. This record is part of the city's long-standing meteorological data.
2013: Oxford Rugby League Joins Championship 1
In 2013, Oxford Rugby League entered the semi-professional Championship 1.
2014: Warmest year on record in Oxford
2014 was the warmest year on record in Oxford, with an average temperature of 11.8 °C (53 °F). This record is included in Oxford's extensive meteorological history.
2014: Chiltern Railways Track Extension
Chiltern Railways sponsored the construction of new track between Bicester Village and the Chiltern Main Line in 2014, creating a new route to London Marylebone.
2014: Introduction of flywheel energy storage buses by Oxford Bus
In 2014, Oxford Bus introduced a fleet of buses with flywheel energy storage, enhancing the efficiency of services operated under contract for Oxford Brookes University.
2014: Oxford-Bicester Line Upgrade Begins
The Oxford-Bicester railway line underwent an 18-month closure starting in 2014 for upgrades to allow 100 mph (161 km/h) running. This upgrade was part of the planned East West Rail link.
2015: Oxford-Bicester Line Upgrade Completed
In 2015, the Oxford to Bicester line upgrade concluded, enabling faster train travel as part of the ongoing East West Rail project.
2015: That's Oxford Launches
A local television service, originally called That's Oxford and later That's Oxfordshire, started broadcasting in 2015, taking over after the closure of Six TV.
2015: London Welsh RFC Leaves Oxford
After being relegated, London Welsh RFC departed from Oxford in 2015.
September 2016: Oxford University Ranked Number One
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked the University of Oxford as the world's best university in September 2016.
October 2017: Completion of Westgate Centre redevelopment
In October 2017, the major redevelopment and expansion of the Westgate Centre in Oxford was completed, adding a new John Lewis department store and numerous new homes.
2017: Establishment of Oxford Artisan Distillery
Oxford's first legal distillery, the Oxford Artisan Distillery, was established in 2017 in historic farm buildings at South Park, contributing to the city's brewing and distilling heritage.
2018: Death of Ken Messer and Publication of The Oxford Art Book
In 2018, Ken Messer passed away. The same year, "The Oxford Art Book," featuring contemporary local artists and their depictions of Oxford, was published.
May 2020: Sunniest month on record in Oxford
May 2020 was the sunniest month ever recorded in Oxford, with a total of 331.7 hours of sunshine. This record contributes to Oxford's extensive climatic data records.
2020: Closure of Boswell's department store in Oxford
In 2020, Boswell's, one of Oxford's longest established independent retailers, closed after being founded in 1738. The store was located on Cornmarket Street in the heart of the city.
February 2022: Zero-Emission Pilot Area Launched
Oxford city centre launched a zero-emission pilot area in February 2022, charging fees for petrol and diesel vehicles entering the zone during specific hours.
July 2022: Record high temperature in Oxford
On 19 July 2022, Oxford recorded its highest temperature at 38.1 °C (101 °F). This temperature was part of a series of weather records maintained at the Radcliffe Meteorological Station, which has the longest continuous record of temperature and rainfall in Britain.
October 2022: Consultation on Traffic Filters Ends
A consultation regarding the implementation of traffic filters in Oxford concluded in October 2022.
November 2022: Traffic Filters Trial Approved
Following the consultation, in November 2022, Oxfordshire County Council approved a trial period for the traffic filters in Oxford. A legal challenge has been launched by businesses and community groups.
2022: Population of Oxford and its industries in 2022
In 2022, Oxford had a population of 163,257. The city, home to the University of Oxford, was noted for its industries, including motor manufacturing, education, publishing, science, and information technologies.
2023: Oxford United Promotion
During the 2023-24 season, Oxford United was promoted to the EFL Championship.
October 2024: Expected Start of Traffic Filters Trial
The trial for the traffic filters is expected to start by October 2024, after completion of improvements at the Oxford train station.