Daily Info's irreverent romantic Lucy suggests ways to celebrate - without a fluffy teddy in sight.
As someone whose approach to Valentine’s Day used to echo Mr Scrooge’s seasonal sentiments – bah heart-shaped humbug – I feel uniquely placed to write about Valentine’s in
So, think of this as an alternative guide to a lovely Oxford Valentine’s Day. If you’d simply like some restaurant recommendations, that’s great – we have a jam-packed guide on where to eat in Oxford – but I’m going to skip that option here. I’ll also leave aside Will and Lyra’s bench, though it is a gorgeous spot.
Instead, here are five non-traditional ways to enjoy Valentine’s in
Buy A Plant, Instead Of Flowers
Flowers fade, but plants grow – providing an unlifting metaphor for love, whether that be for a partner or as a reminder to nurture yourself. The ground is still a bit too cold and hard for planting out, but you could head to a garden centre and bag yourself a hardy specimen that does well in a sheltered container. Bunker’s Hill Garden Shop’s New In and Looking Good sections are a helpful places to look. Houseplants are a brilliant option – our cheapo Boston fern (Valentine’s Day 2019) is currently looking abundant and lush – and if you’re in the city centre a trip to The Garden of Oxford (in the Covered Market) is a good place to look.
Share Open Chips On A Winter Walk
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Become Tourists
Sometimes seeing the familiar in a new light is just what is needed – and that applies to places as well as people. Thinking like a tourist means tuning into your curiosity and putting all your everyday concerns aside – two excellent qualities for a date or some solo time. Imagine you’re here on city break – where would you explore first? What experiences do you want to have? How about a distillery tour at TOAD (The Oxford Artisan Distillery), an Alice in Waterland walk, a classic sightseeing bus tour, panoramic views of the city from the top of St George’s tower (Oxford Castle & Prison) or the Saxon Tower at St Michael’s at the North Gate? Of course, if you actually are here on a city break, these are all lovely things to do!
Go For A Leisurely Bike Ride
Unlike many UK cities, here in Oxford we have tendency to treat our bikes as workhorses that get us from A to B, and forget that there’s this lovely thing called ‘leisure cycling’ – going off on a bike ride for no other reason than the enjoyment of it. There’s a good network of routes to explore – including the short’n’ sweet Sustrans route down to Sandford (where you can pop into riverside pub The King’s Arms for a hot chocolate or a tasty feast) – part of the longer
Change The Season
It’s winter, and we’ve experienced two years of a global pandemic. Yes, you do need a holiday. But we can’t help with that. What we can do is recommend ways to capture a bit of summer here in
Image credits: plant - Huy Phan on Unsplash; chips - Flickr creative commons, gazzat; TOAD tasting tour; bike ride - Everton Vila on Unsplash; spa - Alan Caishan on Unsplash