I was surprised not once but twice on going through the Tesco car park yesterday.
A Britain’s Got Talent bus had arrived as part of a promotional tour celebrating 30 years of Tesco Clubcard, which sponsors the show. Visitors had a chance to win tickets to the Britain’s Got Talent final and other Clubcard souvenirs.
On the same side of the carpark, recent clearing has revealed drainage ditches, forming what looks like a moat around an island of trees. None of this was visible before.
Marks & Spencer (M&S) will open a foodhall at the Fairacres Retail Park in Abingdon as part of a wider plan to open twelve new stores in former Homebase sites. The Abingdon store is one of the first confirmed locations and will open in late 2025 subject to planning permission.
The other empty unit in the Fairacres Retail Park was filled when Wren Kitchens opened a showroom on 16th May 2025, relocating from the Botley Road in Oxford. The unit was previously Carpetright.
The Abingdon Cycle Festival got off to an fast start early this morning, with cyclists gathering to register for a large number of organised rides.
From around 9 am through to 11 am, groups of riders set off in different directions, exploring routes into the surrounding countryside.
This group was seen heading out along the High Street.
Another group passed under the Abbey Gateway — one of Abingdon’s most recognisable landmarks — as they began their route.
Once all the cyclists had departed, community spirit continued with a Sunday litter pick organised by Lynn of AbiBinit. Most of their events take place on Saturdays, but by request, Lynn arranged this one for Sunday for people who find Saturday difficult.
Sunday, May 25th, 2025 –
Abingdon Cycle Festival – Rides set off from the Market Place at 9:00 AM and continue throughout the morning.
Litter Picking in Abingdon Town Centre (AbiBinit!) – Keep Abingdon Tidy! Equipment provided – including litter pickers for adults and children, high-vis jackets, gloves, and hand sanitizer – or feel free to bring your own.
The 42nd World Poohsticks Championship – Take your chance at becoming a world champion in something you never trained for! Organised by The Rotary Club of Abingdon.
Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 –
Agnostics Anonymous – A chance to explore another faith question – open to all.
Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 –
Abingdon Naturalists Society – talk on ‘Dragons and Damsels of the Abingdon Area: Are They the Ultimate Predator?’
Abingdon Mega Reservoir – a talk about the concerns raised by the proposed reservoir.