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| Kidlington's mystery tourist influx continues to baffle locals | Kidlington's mystery tourist influx continues to baffle locals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mistaken identity and a covert social experiment are among reasons suggested for the sudden appearance of tourists in an Oxfordshire village. | Mistaken identity and a covert social experiment are among reasons suggested for the sudden appearance of tourists in an Oxfordshire village. |
| "Coach loads" of sightseers in Kidlington have been seen posing for photos in front gardens and against parked cars. | "Coach loads" of sightseers in Kidlington have been seen posing for photos in front gardens and against parked cars. |
| Locals have no idea why the quiet suburb, about five miles north of Oxford, has become a tourist magnet. | Locals have no idea why the quiet suburb, about five miles north of Oxford, has become a tourist magnet. |
| Many people have taken to social media to put forward theories. | Many people have taken to social media to put forward theories. |
| Meanwhile, local residents have reported some of the new visitors have been making themselves at home. | |
| One said tourists had knocked on their door asking to use their toilets, while another found visitors sat on benches in their garden eating packed lunches. | |
| The tourists, who have been showing up for three weeks, were first identified in Benmead Road and the Moors, the Spotted: Kidlington Facebook page revealed. | The tourists, who have been showing up for three weeks, were first identified in Benmead Road and the Moors, the Spotted: Kidlington Facebook page revealed. |
| They are a short walk from thatched cottages and an old church, but prefer taking photos of themselves outside modern houses. | They are a short walk from thatched cottages and an old church, but prefer taking photos of themselves outside modern houses. |
| It has been suggested that sightseeing tours could be mistaking Kidlington for Kirtlington, which is nearby and describes itself as "a quintessential English village". | It has been suggested that sightseeing tours could be mistaking Kidlington for Kirtlington, which is nearby and describes itself as "a quintessential English village". |
| Another theory centres on the Japanese title for an Inspector Morse novel, which translates as: "Disappeared from Kidlington." | Another theory centres on the Japanese title for an Inspector Morse novel, which translates as: "Disappeared from Kidlington." |
| Kevin Grealey said he thought it was "some kind of social study done on the quiet by students of Oxford University". | Kevin Grealey said he thought it was "some kind of social study done on the quiet by students of Oxford University". |
| Andrew Huddart said it could be a "folksy cultural stop" between the popular tourist destinations Bicester Village shopping centre and Oxford University. | Andrew Huddart said it could be a "folksy cultural stop" between the popular tourist destinations Bicester Village shopping centre and Oxford University. |
| And Andrew MacLachlan said: "They are time travellers, something terrible must happen to your village when we finally exit the EU, they just want to see Kidlington before the event." | And Andrew MacLachlan said: "They are time travellers, something terrible must happen to your village when we finally exit the EU, they just want to see Kidlington before the event." |
| Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Love Island and Harry Potter are also among the causes suggested for the tourists' interest. | Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Love Island and Harry Potter are also among the causes suggested for the tourists' interest. |
| People pointed out billionaire Sir Richard Branson and Emma-Jane Woodham from ITV's Love Island had connections to the Kidlington area. | People pointed out billionaire Sir Richard Branson and Emma-Jane Woodham from ITV's Love Island had connections to the Kidlington area. |
| Others wondered whether the groups were judging Kidlington in Bloom. | Others wondered whether the groups were judging Kidlington in Bloom. |
| Emma Layden suggested: "Perhaps it's because Kidlington is claimed to be England's biggest village?" | Emma Layden suggested: "Perhaps it's because Kidlington is claimed to be England's biggest village?" |