Have you ever thought what it would be like to own High Street or St Giles - or perhaps you've dreamed about challenging the Randolph and building five hotels of your own in Beaumont Street, writes James Simpson.

You might soon be able to tick those items off your wish list as Oxford is to star on a special edition of Monopoly due to go on sale in November.

Local organisations such as companies, local landmarks and sporting institutions will be invited to buy a piece of 'real' estate on the board game, marking the square with their corporate logos. London-based games manufacturer Winning Moves International has acquired a special licence from Monopoly owners Hasbro, to produce regional variations of the game.

Yesterday, Tom Liddell, managing director of Winning Moves, was in Oxford to ask people which organisations they would like see on the Oxford Monopoly board.

He said: "Our mission is to listen to the collective voice of Oxford and afterwards to approach those organisations that the Oxford public feel should be represented on the board."

City residents backed the idea of an Oxford Monopoly board.

Catherine Sander, 15, and sister Siobhan, 16, of Jericho, said: "I think it is an interesting idea, especially from a tourist perspective. It would mean that tourists would know something about the place before they arrived. Everyone knows about places in London from the Monopoly board.

"I wouldn't want Queen Street on the Oxford board, but it would be nice to have the High Street, Jericho, St Giles, as well as the University colleges." Jill Grundy, 36, of Bampton, said: "I think it is an excellent idea. I'm sick of everything being about London and its train stations and electricity boards. I'd like to see the University on the board.

"Instead of four stations you could have four parts of the University and Old Court instead of the jail."

The company hopes the game will appear on the shop shelves in early November.

Since Monopoly was invented in the early 1930s it has been reproduced in more than 80 countries. In excess of 160 million copies have been sold worldwide in 23 different languages.

Mr Liddell said: "Monopoly outsells just about every other board game in the world by a huge margin and is certainly one of the most successful stories of all time.

"We are confident this success will continue in Oxford with the new board reflecting the vitality of a city whose residents will now be able to play the world's most famous game and identify with their place of birth, education and work."

The firm also hopes to produce a second special version - featuring Oxford University - planned for release in November 2002.

The only problem Mr Liddell may encounter is finding some Free Parking in Oxford city centre. The city council might well say: 'Go to Old Court. Go directly to Old Court. Do not pass Go. Do not collect £200."