Dubbed the ‘city of dreaming spires’, Oxford’s skyline gives visitors a subtle taste of the city’s rich academic flavour. Playing host to the world-famous Oxford University since 1096, the city has developed around iconic landmarks, such as the Radcliffe Camera and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
In addition to being a world leader in higher education, Oxford is a crucial player in the UK motor manufacturing business, with both Mini and BMW using the city as a headquarters. Meanwhile, the covered market and museum help to attract over seven million visitors every year, generating almost £800 million for the local economy.
‘There’s a real mix of people in Oxford as we get students, university teaching staff, tourists and general shoppers,’ Helen Hallett of Eyesite Opticians says.
Hallett has been with the company for more than 20 years and has spent time working in both Oxford and Reading. The DO describes how the Oxford team experienced a dramatic start to life. ‘We were open next door for about two years, but there was a fire and we lost part of the building. We reopened next door as it was a slightly bigger premises,’ Hallett says.
Hallett, along with optometrist Cindy Walker, offers a full range of services including fundus, Optomap and OCT imaging. In addition, the Oxford branch also has diabetic screening. ‘The key for us is offering fantastic customer service and also having all the lovely products for people to choose from,’ she says.
Unlike most practices in the city, iGlasses Oxford (pictured below) does not perform NHS eye tests. ‘We’re in a bit of a unique situation as we’re a completely independent practice. We have quite a distinctive business model,’ says Gina Robinson, practice owner.
Robinson opened in September last year and believes that offering patients time and attention justifies the £125 fee she charges for an exam. ‘Our test is a full hour. It takes almost 25 minutes to do a full pre-screening, so we do warn people to allow enough time,’ she says.
Stocking designs from Face a Face and Rodenstock, Robinson admits her practice sees a much higher average dispensing value than others on the high-street. However, one brand does particularly well for her, she says: ‘The most popular by streets is the Lindberg. It’s absolutely flying out the door with Porsche Design in close second.’
Who’s in town
Total: 8
Independents: 2
Multiples: 6
Average costs
The price of an eye exam in Oxford ranges from £20 to £125, at an average of £39.75
Population - see pie chart
Oxford population 161,291 (ONS 2017)
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Oxfordshire Local Optical Committee has secured a contract for Oxfordshire CCG in Glaucoma Repeat Readings, Glaucoma Referral Refinement and Minor Eye Conditions Service.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Oxford is £511,332 (Zoopla) compared with a UK average of £223,257 (Land Registry, 2017)
- Oxford has an average salary of £29,097 compared with a UK average of £27,271 (PayScale, 2018)
- In 2015, there were 3,150 people living with diabetic retinopathy in Oxford (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool 2015)
- There were an estimated 1,010 people living with late stage age-related macular degeneration in 2016 (RNIB)
- It is estimated that, by 2025, there will be 1,260 people living with cataract in Oxford (RNIB)
Fact file
- Women were not allowed to study at Oxford University until 1817. It was a further 42 years before female students were awarded degrees. The last all-male colleges closed in 1974.
- Many scenes from the Harry Potter films were filmed in and around Oxford. Both the Christ Church College Hall (Hogwarts Dining Hall) and the Bodleian Library (Hogwarts Library) feature in the movies.
- Oxford became the home of Morris Motors in 1919. One of the first cars to be produced at the Oxford factory was the Morris Oxford Bullnose.
- In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister completed the four-minute mile. He was studying medicine at Oxford University at the time.
Do you want to work in Oxford? Find out about job opportunities in the area here.