O perfil de Bluebell

Sami’s is an Abingdon institution; both the shop on Ock Street and the kebab van which is parked up most evenings in the Market Square.

The shop sells really good, fresh kebabs. Not just the traditional sliced lamb doner, but you can also go for excellent grilled cuts of lamb or chicken to fill your pitta! There is also a big selection of other items on offer; chips, burgers etc. The staff are always so friendly and helpful, we’ve found they’ll stick anything in the kebab for you without laughing (chips, cheese and doner meat for one of my kids - not the healthiest meal!)

There’s a small indoor seating area which is clean and simple.

A funny little shop - but I always come out with something. Yesterday it was a very kitsch address book with 3D picture of Jesus with lambs! Sells cheap tat mainly, cosmetics, toys, kitchen ware etc. Good for picture frames though - and had a nice selection of photograph frames I noticed. Also does watch repairs.

The Millet's Maize Maze is a very popular local day out (in fact always too crowded for my liking). But the maze itself is so huge you can still get lost and it's great fun for kids. There are other activities near the entrance like giant noughts and crosses etc and a little tractor ride.

I was shocked by prices thought - not much change from £20 for family of four! Still, free ice-pop if you make it to the centre of the maze!

Owned by Oxford University, Harcourt Arboretum is about five or six miles south of Oxford and is a collection of trees and shrubs open to the public. Some of the collection is very old - massive old trees dating back to mid 19th century.

The layout is very informal with lovely open glades and grassy areas between the specimen trees. There are peacocks and bluebells in spring - it can be quite magical. Especially worth a trip to see the rhodedendrons in Spring which are spectacular.

Great place for all ages - kids love to run about (in safety). It's free, apart from parking fee which is £3

Branca has a smart interior; big tree at the back, candles in red holders on the tables and old Italian advertising posters and mirrors. It's always busy so the atmosphere is always buzzing. I've been many times and the food is always faultless; love the good quality bread with oil to start. I always have pasta which is perfectly cooked and husband always has pizza which is also faultless (in fact they were recommended in the Sunday Times as one of the best places to get pizza in UK).

Once or twice service has been a bit slow - actually very, very slow once - we had to scoff our main course and run to pick up one of the kids from a party leaving no time for desserts so not somewhere to go if you're in a rush.

This is always an interesting little shop to visit if you need a gift. So many unusual things; jewellery, ornaments, artworks etc etc. Also has a really good range of quality and unusual birthday cards. Good place to get special, commemorative type gift (eg. for christening or golden wedding anniversary).

Upstairs has art - including some original watercolours from local artists.

We are big fans of the "all you can eat buffet" on Sundays. The selection is amazing - just about every lovely Chinese starter you can think of; piles of salt and pepper prawns, ribs, wan tons etc etc. Also help yourself to crispy duck pancakes with all the trimmings. Then there's a good selection of all the favourite main courses with rice and noodles. You can go up as many times as you want and really pig out! Then, if you've room, there's also a nice range of desserts including their amazing toffee banana and apple.

This is a great place to bring kids, even fussy eaters as there's always something they'll like (even if it's just a pile of ribs followed by jelly!)

Smart, contemporary style chain restaurant. The same menu as in all the other Pizza Express's so you know what you're getting. Very good authentic stone baked pizzas and good selection of pasta dishes. I'm always disappointed by the small portions though - good idea to have some of their dough balls or garlic bread too (carb overload!) The Soho pizza with piles of fresh rocket on top is very good, not so good the one with anchovies - you only get four anchovies.

Conveniently situated on Stert Street in the centre of town - near to car parks at the rear. Has a nice outdoor area for eating.

Noodles aren't just for students! This is a great place for familes - so cheap. I have four teenage sons and feeding them is pretty much a full time occupation so to go somewhere that serves portions big enough to defeat them, and so cheaply, them is very rare.

I always go for the spicy vegetarian noodles which are excellent. Sadly we usually drink tap water too (looking around I noticed this is quite common) so it really does make for a cheap meal. The other items apart from noodles (eg. ribs, satay etc) are also top quality and, of course, the service is super fast and friendly.

I agree with previous reviews - the Pitt Rivers is a real hidden gem, an absolute treasure trove and every time you go you can find something new to marvel at. It’s so atmospheric in the gloom - my kids have all loved it.

Highlights for us have to be of course the shrunken heads (I read a while back that they were considering removing them - this would be a tragedy!) Another favourite is the Witch’s Bottle which carries an ancient curse and apparently contains the spirit of a witch so no-one has dared open it!

My kids love to open all the drawers full of weird stuff in the ancient cabinets. I’m always surprised by how quiet it is in there - perhaps I’ve just been lucky, it certainly adds to the spooky feeling of the place.