Saturday 10 January 2026: opening of a new exhibition, Warneford 200 – Mental Health Through the Ages at the Museum of Oxford. The exhibition is part of a project marking 200 years of mental health care at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford. The Warneford, which opened in July 1826, is the oldest psychiatric hospital still in clinical use in the UK. The Warneford 200 project will reflect on its long and complex history, recognising the experiences of patients, families, and staff whose stories have shaped the evolution of mental health care. Events running throughout 2026 will include a travelling exhibition, workshops, public lectures, oral histories, a garden installation and more, at locations all over Oxfordshire. Read more on the project website.
Wednesday 14 January 2026, 12:30pm: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) tour of the Painted Room on Cornmarket in Oxford. This is one of the city’s hidden gems, with remarkable Elizabethan wall paintings and connections to William Shakespeare and John Betjeman. Booking here.
Saturday 24 January, 2:30pm: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) tour of the Medieval Merchant’s House on East St Helen Street in Abingdon. This is the oldest house in the town, with a restored gallery window dating from c. 1430. Booking here.
Ongoing until 31 January: The latest free exhibition at the Vale & Downland Museum is Wantage Tramway – The Story of a Bucolic Roadside Steam Tramway. The display tells the remarkable story of the a roadside line that began as an ambitious local dream in the 1870s, became the world’s first steam-powered tramway, and served the community for over seventy years, carrying goods including coal and flour, wartime supplies, and market-day passengers. Further information here.
Wednesday 11 February, 12:30pm: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) tour of the Painted Room on Cornmarket in Oxford. This is one of the city’s hidden gems, with remarkable Elizabethan wall paintings and connections to William Shakespeare and John Betjeman. Booking here.
Saturday 21 February, 2:30pm: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) tour of the Medieval Merchant’s House on East St Helen Street in Abingdon. This is the oldest house in the town, with a restored gallery window dating from c. 1430. Booking here.
Wednesday 4 March, 12:30pm: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) tour of the Painted Room on Cornmarket in Oxford. This is one of the city’s hidden gems, with remarkable Elizabethan wall paintings and connections to William Shakespeare and John Betjeman. Booking here.
Thursday 12 to Monday 30 March: 24 Men of Grandpont and Cold Harbour 1939-45, an exhibition to commemorate the men from South Oxford who died in the Second World War at the Westgate Library, Oxford. Gives a fascinating insight into the war and how it affected one small suburban community. Visitors can learn about what Oxford – and South Oxford – were like in this period, about women’s roles, and about wartime evacuees, and discover the stories of the local men who went to fight, their families and neighbours. Free and no need to book; further information here.
Saturday 14 March, 2:30pm: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) tour of the Medieval Merchant’s House on East St Helen Street in Abingdon. This is the oldest house in the town, with a restored gallery window dating from c. 1430. Booking here.
Ongoing until 26 March: The Museum of Oxford celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025 with an exhibition entitled Our Oxford, 50 years, 50 stories. The display brings together fifty new stories about the heritage of the city, from a wide range of individuals and communities. Free entry.
Ongoing until 29 April 2026: The spirit of the place, an exhibition focusing on the lives of the staff and servants at Magdalen College, Oxford, from its foundation to the present day. On display in the Old Library every Wednesday from 2pm to 4:30pm (except for during the Christmas closure period). Private group visits at other times can be arranged by contacting the college librarians.
Ongoing: The Museum of Oxford continues its popular series of free gallery tours, Stories of Oxford, led by knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers. From football to fairgrounds, marmalade to Morris Motors, patron saints to pubs, barges, bones, and all types of quirky customs, there’s something to interest everyone. Further information and booking here.
Saturdays, ongoing: tours of Oxford’s magnificent Town Hall take place twice a month on Saturdays at 11am. These are a great opportunity to see behind the scenes and to learn about the building’s fascinating history. Find out more here.
If you know of any relevant events which could be advertised on this page, please send details to: membership@olha.org.uk
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