Economic/demographic information -  commercial areas

Commercial  Areas

The majority of Oxford's major  employers are based in the city centre, on industrial estates or on one of  Oxford's most prestigious business locations: the Oxford Business Park and the  Oxford Science Park:

The City  Centre

The focus for retail and  tourism activity in Oxfordshire and the sub-region, as well as the base for the  University of Oxford and its colleges, local authority functions and employers  such as Oxford University Press, Blackwell, Helicon and Rebellion.

The City Centre comprises a diverse range of businesses  located around its main streets (Cornmarket Street, Queen Street, Broad Street,  George Street, High Street) or in one of the shopping centres - the Westgate  Centre and the Clarendon Centre. Retailers range from national retailers such as  Allders, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Sainsburys to smaller independent  retailers, many of which are based in the historic Covered Market (owned and managed by the City Council). The management and promotion of  the city centre is co-ordinated by the City Centre Management Team, based within the City Council.

Oxford Business Park

Comprising 88 acres, the Oxford Business Park provides sites and premises for a range of key Oxford businesses.  Developed by Arlington, it is well  located on the south-eastern edge of the city, adjacent to the Oxford ring road  with fast links to London, Heathrow and the Midlands via the M40. Businesses on  the Park include Electrocomponents, The  Post Office, Vodafone,Regus. BT  andHarley Davidson will shortly be  locating on the Park.

Oxford Science  Park

Developed as a joint venture  between Magdalen College, Oxford and Prudential Assurance, the Oxford  Science Park is home to over 40 businesses.  Developed as a true Science Park it provides an attractive environment for  science and technology companie. Current occupiers include Sharp  Laboratories of Europe, PowderJect Technologies plc, Rand and Oxford BioMedica.

Horspath Industrial  Estate

Located to the east of the  city, adjacent to the ring road.

Osney  Mead

An estate developed in the  1960's, located close to the city centre. Occupiers include Newsquest (Oxfordshire) Ltd, Symm  & Co, Thames Business Advice  Centre.

Jordan  Hill

Located on the northern edge of  the city, includes businesses such as Butterworth-Heinemann.

Garstington Road / Watlington  Road

This industrial area around  the south-east of the city includes major  employers sych as BMW, Unipart and British Biotech