Join us for a playful exploration of Oxford's public spaces through street detectorism. Become a street detectorist and get involved in mapping your experiences and noticing what really matters in the places we share.
Drop in to the Oxford Gloucester Green Market on 6th, 14th, or 22nd August between 11am and 3pm to take part. Whether you stay for 10 minutes or an hour, you’ll be part of a collective experiment in seeing the city differently.
Developed by CoLab Dudley, street detectorism invites you to slow down, tune in, and explore your surroundings from different perspectives and with all your senses.
Choose a more-than-human companion and get curious. Gather information about how people use space: where they linger, what draws them in, what’s missing, and what stories the street holds. And imagine the experience of your companion, whether that’s an earthworm sensing light and vibrations or a bat using echolocation to navigate.
What will I be doing?
- Walking around the market and surrounding areas
- Writing or doodling your impressions of the street
- Mapping your experiences
- Returning to base to share your insights and ideas
Why take part?
It’s a fun way to see Oxford from new perspectives and gives you permission to slow down and just notice your surroundings for a while. Beyond that, it’s part of our Common Futures event programme, which aims to build community around and shape the future direction of our new civic space on George Street (opening 2027).
Who’s it for?
Absolutely everyone. Kids, adults, workers on lunchbreaks, market traders, artists, people interested in social justice, and anyone just passing by. We’d love to learn what you see, hear, feel, and imagine.
