Oxford is a city that holds many attractions for visitors - the beautiful college buildings, the world-renowned museums and art galleries, its bars and restaurants.

And anyone who visits the city will want to take a little something back to remember their time in Oxford, something that will remind them of a good day out in the city of Tolkien, Inspector Morse, Lewis Caroll and Philip Pullman.

The latest idea to tempt tourists is Lewis Mints - inspired by the Lewis TV detective series being filmed after a successful pilot episode.

But what other kind of souvenirs and Oxford-related gifts are on offer to visitors to Oxford, and what makes for good or bad souvenirs?

With £30 in my wallet, I was sent to investigate themed goods on offer for tourists. My mission: to buy five items from the top and bottom of the quality spectrum.

Finding items I was not so keen on proved much easier than spotting anything worth forking out for. First I visited the cluster of souvenir shops in Broad Street. The Oxford Story Gift Shop proved a bit pricey, given the tight budget, even though a miniature stone gargoyle head was tempting at £6.99.

Just down the street, the Varsity Shop and Oxford Campus Store seemed to provide fairly similar wares, so I headed in the Campus Store after a tea towel printed with college crests caught my eye. This I bought for a bargain £3.99, along with two other Oxford University items of fashion wear, a satchel for £4.99 and an child's T-shirt for £3.99.

At the bottom of the range, I was seduced by an Oxford University shotglass for a £1. I also bought, then regretted, a graduation bear. This was by far my tackiest buy at this end of town.

There wasn't even a hint of an Inspector Morse-related item, so searching for some themed souvenirs, I headed off to the Alice in Wonderland Shop in St Aldate's. Here I was confronted with teapots, figurines, thimbles and snowshakers galore. I was struggling at this point to stay within my £30 budget.

On impulse, I parted with £2.99 for a Alice platelet, but my worst purchase was a handkerchief embroidered with a white rabbit. I was quite pleased with an Alice lolly for £1, tasty at least, and a £2.95 Oxford University mug, which was cheaper than elsewhere.

By the end of my shopping trip, it was clear that the market was definitely split into Oxford University and Alice brands, both good and bad in quality.