We are located next to several pedestrian only streets and can be walked within minutes of other public transport. We are also in walking distance of the many famous colleges and buildings making up the University of Oxford.
We are within a couple of minutes walk of all the central Oxford bus stops on The High St, St Aldates, George St or Magdalen St.
We are a 11 minute walk from Oxford Train Station see route below.
For the sweet pancake we've gone full traditional with a slice of lemon and little bowl of sugar for you to get it just how you like. Butter can be provided as well if you like to inclde it. This is only £1.20.
We've got some truly mouth-watering delights in our deli where we are now selling not only the items that we use in our 1738 Tea Room but some new delicious fresh cheeses and meats too. Located within our 1738 Tea Room on our 1st floor.
We had such a good tine on October 4th that we are at it again! This time our free wine tasting starts at 5pm and ends when the store closes at 6.30pm. So come along for a tipple after work or study.
Love Wine are an independant company who have traded in Woodstock for many a year and now have their first Oxford store in our Tea Room. You can buy and takeaway, but you can also buy to have at your table for a small corkage fee.
Why would you want to use Bela Dolci? Well take a look at the these beauties. Making a special day that bit more special!
We are known in Oxford for stocking a far wider range of goods than many of our chain-store competitors. Our fully trading website displays most, but not all of the goods available in our store due to the speed of stock turnover, but we are always adding more. If we don’t have what you are looking for online
We are a small company with big ideals. All of us at Boswells know that you are our greatest asset and we will do our best to please you with a smile. Our aim is to offer you a good selection of quality products at the best prices in Oxford. We try very hard to provide the best service in Oxford and we intend to do the same with our online business.
We are located in the heart of Oxford’s shopping streets, but still near many of Oxford’s famous landmarks, including St Michael’s Saxon tower the oldest building Oxford practically next door.
Originally Francis Boswell started selling travel goods at 50 Cornmarket Street in 1738 and it is rumoured that Captain Cook took Boswell suitcases on his voyages of discovery. By the mid 1800s several members of the Boswell's family were using separate but nearby premises for related businesses to do with cabinet making (Henry), leather working & travel products (Francis) , Coopers & Turners (Carol/Charlotte).
The business remained in the Boswell family until the line of direct succession ended in 1890. Following this the business was passed to Arthur Pearson, the then owner of the Oxford Drug Company a friendly neighbour of the Boswells store on Cornmarket St. Boswells and the Oxford Drug Company are still owned by the Pearson family, and have therefore been under the same ownership since 1890. This is also the cause of the integral pharmacy business within Boswells.
The current Pearson family members are the Managing Director and Company Secretary and are involved in the business every day.
Boswells moved into Boswell House on Broad St in 1929 the time that the drawing on the right was created. Here they were soon recognised as “Hardware merchants” and later as “Hardware & kitchen equipment, refrigeration engineers, leather & travel goods, cutlery, silverware & fancy jewellery & household linens. In truth pretty much everything has been sold at Boswells at one time in our history reflecting changing trends and local competition. Despite this 60 year financial connection it was only in 1958 that the 2 buildings containing the Oxford Drug company on Cornmarket and Boswell House on Broad St were physically connected. Creating the current united buildings today. Indeed we surround the Waterstones bookstore on the corner, which leads some to assume we own this illustrious company too, sadly no.
Being such a long standing business Boswells has seen massive amounts of change, good times and bad times in the world and in business. Our staff have met and married whilst employes here and sometimes generations have worked alongside each other. The same is of course true for our customers many of whom move from excited youngsters keen to get to the first floor toys department, to young men & women buying presents and suitcases to travel the world, to parents stocking their home from our cook and homewares departments and trying to handle their children who are keen to get to the Toys department and the cycle goes on. On one memorable occasion a customer even gave birth in store! Which may be taking the customer lifecycle a bit far. We look foward to continue serving the people of Oxford and around and via this website the rest of the UK and overseas.
