- Daily Info over Christmas
- Christmas trees (getting them, and recycling them)
- Postal info
- Travel at Christmas
- Volunteering at Christmas
- Christmas Food For Everyone!
- Opening hours
- Warming Winter drinks
- Sustainable Christmas (inc recycling and waste collection)
You can track Father Christmas and his team of elves & reindeers at santatracker.google.com or play games with them at www.noradsanta.org
Do you have information about your business at Christmas which you would like us to include on this page? Just let us know: : info@dailyinfo.co.uk
Daily Info over Christmas
Our bumper festive sheet will be going out early December and we will have another sheet out in mid January.
Got something you want to advertise over the Christmas period? Book your ad now online or by email.
We'll be in the office: until Friday 19th December and then again from Monday 5th January - operating normally. From 22nd December - 4th January there'll be staff checking the website, email and answerphone every couple of days, so if you send us messages we'll pick them up as soon as we can.
And of course over Christmas you can continue to place adverts and event listings online via the website as normal. Just click here to place an advert or click here to place an event listing and follow the instructions. You can also email us with requests for box and line adverts - though over the holidays we may not be able to get back to you with our standard rocket-ship immediacy as we'll be operating a skeleton staff. Queries? Email us.
Christmas trees (getting them, and recycling them)
What tree?
The increasingly popular Nordmann has thickish dark green needles, and is non-drop. Blue and White Spruce have very pretty, thick, blunt needles but tend to shed them a little. Scots Pine holds its needles well, and its strong branches can cope with heavy decorations. Lodge Pole Pine is similar to Scots Pine. Small Fraser Firs can be bought potted, rather than cut, meaning they don't shed and have a rather pleasant fruity smell. Norway Spruce, while the most satisfyingly traditional-looking of all, is a dedicated shedder. This helpful guide on the Gardener's World website suggests a multitude of tips for reducing the chance of 95% of your tree's needles ending up in the vacuum cleaner a week before Christmas Day.
Where to buy
Oxford Sea Cadets Christmas Trees, Donnington Bridge,
off Meadow Lane, OX4 4BJ
01865 249158
The Cadet Corps is a national charity providing young people with opportunities for adventure. They've been fundraising through the sale of Christmas trees since 1972. Nordmann Firs (£38-£92) plus wreaths, decorations, stands etc. Delivery / click and collect. Shop open 7 days a week: 9am-7pm Mondays and Wednesdays; 9am-9pm Tuesdays and Fridays; 9am-8pm Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Bunkers Hill Plant Nursery,1-2 Bunkers Hill, Nr. Kidlington Oxon OX5 3BA
01869 331492
3ft to 15ft+ Premium-grade English-grown Nordmann Firs from £42 - £495 (cheaper standard-grade trees available onsite). Pot-grown trees also available. Oxfordshire delivery and click & collect both available, or visit in person for leisurely browsing, free hot chocolate, the annual fundraising Reindeer Hunt and the Bunkers Raffle Bonanza. Open 9am-7pm every day in December up to Christmas Eve, when they will close around 3pm.
Farmer Gow's, Fernham Road, Longcot, nr. Faringdon, SN7
7PR
01793 780555 / enquiries@farmergows.co.uk
Seven different varieties of locally grown, freshly cut and potted trees. £31- £132. Click & collect. Delivery and/or installation available. Open every day 9am-5pm, until December 15th, thereafter 10am-5pm until December 23rd.
The Garden, 99-100 Covered Market, OX1
3DY
01865 240709 / mktgarden@thegardenoxford.co.uk
3ft to 8ft Nordmann Firs & Norway Spruces from £25-£130. Delivery available within the ring road and certain outside areas (see website for details) £6.95 for next day delivery, no deliveries on Sundays. Shop open 8am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm some Sundays.
Appleton Christmas
Barn, Eaton Road, Appleton, OX13 5JJ.
01865 862908
As well as choosing trees, you can say hello to three very special residents: Frankincense, Sami, and Tiny Tim, the real life reindeer.
Fraser Firs, Nordmann Firs, Norway Spruces, Lodgepole Pines and Serbian Spruces. Cut trees and potted living trees. £23-£120. Open every day 10am-6pm. Some extended hours in December. Open until 5pm on Christmas Eve.
The Tree Barn, Greenfield Farm,
Christmas Common, Watlington, OX49 5HG
01491 614206
Small family business selling a wide variety of trees mostly grown on their farm. Cut trees and pot grown trees available. Nordmann Firs, Norway Spruces, Serbian Spruces and blue-needled Lasio Carpas, from 2ft to a giant 32ft! £21 to £1284.
Christmas shop and Tree Barn are open 9am – 5:30pm every day from 21st November, until 12 noon on Christmas Eve. Late opening until 7:30pm on 27th and 28th November, and 4th, 5th, 11th and 12th December.
Tree recycling
Once you've finished with it, Oxford City Council will collect your real, unadorned tree on your green/brown bin collection day from Tuesday 13 January to Friday 13 February 2026. Or you can take it to one of 12 collection points around the city from Boxing Day.
For information about recycling your Christmas Tree, see Oxford City Council's Christmas Recycling page, which also includes information on what to do with extra recyclable goods & food waste, festive recycling tips, changes to bin collection days over the Christmas and New Year period.
Postal information
Royal Mail advises you to allow plenty of time for posting, particularly for International deliveries, to ensure your Christmas letters and parcels reach their destination in good time.
Last Posting Dates Within the UK
2nd Class/2nd Class Signed For: Wed 17th December
Royal Mail Tracked 48: Fri 19th December
1st Class/1st Class Signed For: Sat 20th December
Royal Mail Tracked 24: Sun 21st December
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed: Tue 23rd December
International posting
For last Royal Mail posting dates for sending your Christmas presents abroad, see the
Royal Mail website. And you can refer to their live service updates for the most up-to-date information on their services around the world.
Other parcel companies can be found online who will get things to places outside the UK after the last Royal Mail posting dates.
Post Office Late Opening
Some Post Offices are open later than expected in the run-up to Christmas, and some open at weekends when they'd usually be closed, but there isn't a hard and fast rule. You can search for your local Post Offices using the Royal Mail's Branch Finder and find your nearest branch with extended hours.
Pedal and Post
Pedal and Post offers same day eco delivery within Oxford with a large cargo bike fleet which is fast, reliable, cost effective and will deliver come rain or shine. For their Christmas opening times, head to pedalandpost.co.uk.
Travel at Christmas
Bus & Coach Travel
Coming soon!
Trains
Chiltern Railways: Train services will finish earlier than normal on Christmas Eve, with last train times listed here. No trains will run on Christmas Day. On Boxing day there will be a limited service between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone, stopping at selected stations only.
From 27th December longer trains will be operating on the Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone service (to accommodate extra passengers due to the part closure for major engineering works on the Birmingham New Street to London Euston line), and as there are some stations these longer trains cannot stop at, some smaller stations will be accessed via a replacement bus. Check before you travel.
Great Western Rail: On 23rd and 24th December expect alterations to early morning and late night services due to engineering works. Train services will finish earlier than normal on Christmas Eve (and also New Year’s Eve). No trains on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Some routes will be affected by engineering works for the rest of December. Head to the National Rail website to find suggested alternate routes and replacement bus services.
Cross Country: Services will be finishing earlier on Christmas Eve. There are no services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Engineering works will be taking place throughout the festive period, meaning some services will use replacement buses.
For more details consult the National Rail's 2025/6 Christmas Travel Information.
Opening Hours
Gloucester Green Market
Gloucester Green Market will have extra trading days on 22nd and 23rd December. On Christmas Eve there will be stalls until 2pm, and then the market will be closed from 25th December to 3rd January.
The Covered Market
Christmas Eve: 8am-4pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: CLOSED
New Year's Eve: 8am-4pm
New Year's Day: CLOSED
Westgate
Christmas Eve: 10am-5pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 10am-6pm
New Year's Eve: 10am-5pm
New Year's Day: 10am-5pm
Templars Square
Tuesday 23rd December: 8am – 6pm
Christmas Eve: 8am – 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 10am – 4pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 4pm
Volunteering
Want to give something back this Christmas season? Here are some opportunities if you'd like to give your time.
Oxford Christmas Lunch will once again be feeding 500 people on Christmas Day at the King's Centre in Osney and they need volunteers to help serve the meal! For more details check out their Facebook page here. You can also donate to their crowdfunder here.
OX4 Food Crew is a partnership of 9 grassroots organisations across Oxford looking to fight food inequality; find your nearest mutual aid group and get involved here.
The Gatehouse provides hot meals, showers and support for those sleeping rough in Oxford. Learn more about their volunteering opportunities here.
Asylum Welcome is always seeking volunteers to provide support for vulnerable asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Oxford - whether you want to teach English, deliver food or run the welcome desk! You can also open up your home as a Sanctuary host to provide vital shelter to those in need.
Crisis are seeking handypersons, drivers, nail techs and hairdressers among their volunteer opportunities to provide support, activities and companionship to people experiencing homelessness at Christmas; you can find out more on their Christmas in Oxford page.
Oxford Conservation Volunteers will get you outside maintaining some of the county's best-loved nature reserves, with activities like hedge planting, and scrub removal.
Oxford Mutual Aid has both in-person and remote roles to help them deliver food parcels and meals to over 800 of our Oxford neighbours.
Cherwell Collective help distribute and grow food for the community and repurpose household waste to reduce our community's carbon footprint: find out what you can do to contribute on their volunteer page.
For a variety of good causes, we like OCVA's volunteering lists.
Oxon Volunteers also sports a range of specific vacancies includes trustees and people with specialist knowledge (eg of accounting) to help out charities locally.
And finally, Oxford University's handy list, (aimed at students, but most roles are suitable for all) is certainly worth a peruse.
Christmas Food For Everyone!)
Eating out on Christmas Day
If your Christmas wish is to have someone else do all the menu-planning, ingredients-shopping, cooking, and washing up, then how about going out for lunch on Christmas Day? Booking in advance will be vital, and you'll almost certainly have to pay a deposit (which may not be refundable if your plans have to change). We know of the following eateries serving lunch on the 25th:
Gee's, 61 Banbury Road, OX2 6PE
Christmas lunch in Oxford’s most beautiful restaurant. Small bites and three courses £140.00. Special Children’s Menu £50.00. Served 11.30am to 4.30pm.
Menu
Old Parsonage Hotel, 1 Banbury Road, OX2 6NN
Hotel package available from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. Christmas Day lunch served 11.30am until 5pm. Three courses for £150 + 13.5% service charge (£50 for children).
Menu
Quod Brasserie & Bar, 92-94 High Street, OX1 4BN
£140 for three courses, plus discretionary service charge.
Menu
Browns Oxford, 5-11 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HA
Five course lunch for £100, with Coeliac UK accredited gluten free menu and children’s menu also available.
Menu
Malmaison, Oxford Castle, 3 New Road, OX1 1AY
Four course Christmas Day feast. £135 including a glass of Champagne. £64.5 for children (5-11 years), under 5s free.
Menu
The Trout Inn, 195 Godstow Road, Lower Wolvercote, OX2 8PN
Three course menu for £105 plus 10% service charge. Upgrade for £15 to include a glass of Champagne to start and cocktail to finish. Children eat for £54.95.
Menu
The Folly, 1 Folly Bridge, OX1 4LB
Sittings start between 12 - 3pm. Five course menu £139 per person.
Menu
Head of the River, Folly Bridge, St Aldates, OX1 4LB
Three course menu plus a glass of English fizz and extra nibbly bits, £99 per person.
Menu
The Red Lion (Gloucester Street), 14 Gloucester Street, OX1 2BN
Four courses £94.95 per person, and you can add £15 for champagne to start and cocktail to finish. Children dine for £50.95.
Menu
Outside Oxford city
The Old Post Office, Wallingford, OX10 OAA
£105 per head, three courses. Children under 12, £50.
Menu
The Black Horse, Thame, OX9 2BL
Six courses & Buck’s Fizz for £105.00 per person. £52.50 for children aged 12 or under.
Menu
Help with Christmas Dinner?
For those struggling with money over Christmas, there are free community Christmas dinners as well as free festive hampers delivered by local organisations focused on food security. Check out this list if you are in need of a bit of help, or if you want to donate to these great organisations.
Oxford Christmas Lunch returns to the King's Centre in Osney Mead. This is a free sit-down meal for about 500 diners, from refugees and those experiencing homelessness, to people just looking to connect to the local community. Food is served from 12.30pm till 4pm. It is organised by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (see our Volunteering section if you want to get involved in the preparations). For details head to their facebook page.
And if you want to donate, then here's the crowdfunder.
Botley Bridges are providing free Christmas hampers for lower-income household in West Oxford, Botley, North Hinksey and Cumnor. If you want to request a hamper or donate, head to their website.
Warming Winter Drinks
Our techie's Really Fabulous Mulled Wine
After a few hours staring at a string of code, you need something to take the edge off life.
Take 1 orange, 1 lemon and 1 lime (if you have it) or whatever citrus fruit you have lying about.
Peel large peels of citrus skin with a vegetable peeler (or a knife - a zester will produce thin strands which you may feel compelled to strain out later).
Place in pan, on medium heat. You can put the peel in the pan as it heats up, so long as you're careful not to let it get too hot while you add the next ingredients. A bit of pre-toasting has a nice effect, though.
Add 100 grams of the darkest sugar you can find. Likewise, can be on the heat, if you're careful.
Squeeze the orange into the pan.
Add enough red wine to cover the sugar and the peel.
Make it BOIL. You want to reduce this down to a sticky thick dark syrup.
While you are making it boil (immediately) add 1 cinamon stick, 3 cloves, 1 bay leaf, loads of grated nutmeg, 1 cardamom pod and half a vanilla pod, split down the middle (if you have one).
Continue to make it BOIL, stirring carefully to ensure complete sugary dissolution and lack of sticking and burning.
Before you made it boil, preferably ensure that the sugar is dissolved. Making it boil will help with this in most circumstances.
Once it's thick and sticky (about 5 mins depending on the ferocity of your saucepan and heating), turn the heat down and add 1 star anise (fennel seed works well too, though is a bit bitty in the glass) and add the rest of the bottle of wine.
Heat gently until it's warmed through. Balance the heat of the mull with the amount of alcohol you're willing to lose. Those in fear of having inhaled most of the booze while heating (it's rather nice, and no doubt good for the nostrils), do add brandy or dark rum at this point. (Though that does make the mull a little harsher - the finer balance is to be found in the unadulterated, carefully heated version. YMMV).
Serve in something heat-proof (or be daring) immediately.
Norfolk Punch
A non-alcoholic alternative to your usual seasonal mulled beverage, this bottle is based on a traditional recipe made by Benedictine monks no less and contains all sorts of wild and wonderful herbs and spices. The office tee-totaller gave this 9/10 for its sheer proximity to mulled booze, and others felt similarly until asked to consider its resemblance to warm cola. Available from Holland and Barrett, Uhuru (Cowley Rd), etc.
Hot Toddy
Quick version
Ingredients: half a lemon, tablespoon of honey, shot of whisky per person.
- Squeeze lemon into a cup
- Add boiling water, melt the honey in it
- (Stop here if you don't want the whisky, or) add whisky and drink
Slow, loving version
- Grate some root ginger into a saucepan, about 1tbsp per person
- Add however many cups of water you want, dark brown sugar to taste, an orange (or an apple) stuck with cloves
- Bring to the boil once, then simmer for about 15 minutes
- Drain into cups and add whisky and the juice of half a lemon for each person
A useful tip if you have a disastrous toddy-making enterprise: you can salvage a cup of it for a very cold person by adding a slosh of Rochester's ginger wine (available from Holland and Barrett).
Sustainable Christmas (inc recycling and waste collection)
It might just be the most wasteful time of the year, every year, so back in 2021 we put together a bumper blog full of ideas on how to have a more sustainable Christmas - covering everything from wrapping and gifts to Christmas dinner.
For any festive rubbish that remains, Oxford City Council has a guide to recycling at Christmas.