Sunday 1 to Monday 30 November: In the Second World War, more than 40 men from Grandpont, New Hinksey, and Cold Harbour in South Oxford died whilst serving their country. They are remembered on war memorials in the churches of St Matthew’s, St John’s, and St Luke’s, and across the wider city. As part of the 42 Men of South Oxford, 1939-45 project, volunteers have researched these men’s backgrounds, their lives in Oxford, and their deaths at war. From 1 to 30 November there will be a poppy trail around South Oxford, giving information about each man on a poster outside the house that he lived in. People can choose to visit all the addresses, or just read one or two of the posters as they pass by. Find out more about the project and download a trail map here.
Wednesday 4 to Saturday 14 November, 12- 6pm: An exhibition of work by artists from Oxford and one of its twin cities, Leiden, alongside a display of Oxford-Leiden photographs taken over the years, at the Kendrew Barn Gallery (part of St John’s College), St Giles. Established in 1946, following the Second World War, Oxford’s friendship with Leiden is one of the longest active town twinning relationships in the country. So far, 10,000 people from Oxford and Leiden have taken part in joint cultural, sporting, and social activities, deepening understanding of each other’s cultures and traditions. Free and open to all; no need to book. The photographs will be on display at the Oxford Westgate Library throughout December.
Thursday 5 November: History writer and magazine editor Andrew Chapman will explore the past and present of Osney Island and how it might be a microcosm of the wider history of Oxford and even the whole country, as part of the Oxfordshire Otherwise arts event at Fusion Arts, 15 Park End Street, Oxford. The evening will include talks, music, film and visual art, all relating to, or created in, Oxfordshire, in slightly unusual ways. Further information and booking here.
Saturday 7 November (2-5pm) and Sunday 8 November (12-4pm): The Steeple Aston Village Archive (SAVA) will host an exhibition on Steeple Aston Clubs and Societies at the Village Hall, Fir Lane. SAVA holds records of over forty clubs and societies which have been a feature of village life since the early 1800s (including those very much still active today). The exhibition will use photographs, anecdotes, newspaper articles, trophies and record books to explore the social circumstances which led to these groups forming and, in some cases, closing. Entry is free and open to all (donations welcomed on the day).
Saturday 7 November, 10:30am: Botley Cemetery in Oxford contains 156 burials from the First World War and 516 from the Second World War. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) offers excellent free tours. Dick Richards, a knowledgeable guide who has done extensive research on the cemetery and on those buried there, will explain the history of the site, outline the work of the CWGC, and reveal the stories of some of the servicemen for whom Botley is the final resting place. Further information and booking here.
Friday 13 November: St John’s College, Oxford will host a day of talks and events commemorating the St Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002. On 13 November 1002, King Æthelred II of England ordered the massacre of Danes living in England, fearing that they meant to kill him and his advisers and take over the kingdom. In Oxford, Danes sought sanctuary in St Frideswide’s Church, which was set upon and burnt down by their pursuers. The remains of at least 35 men and boys who were probably killed during the massacre were discovered in 2008, when St John’s was preparing to build its new Kendrew Quadrangle. Since then, the college has marked St Brice’s Day with talks and events reflecting on the Oxford massacre and 11th-century England and Europe. The day is free to attend (and includes free lunch and refreshments) but booking is essential.
Friday 20 November, 7pm: Local historian Mark Davies will give a talk entitled Binsey and Medley: Miraculous treacle and Indian /Irish cheesecake on , in Dean Court Community Centre, Botley, Oxford. In essence unaltered for centuries, these two neighbouring island hamlets were once popular boating destinations. Binsey nurtures the legend of Oxford patron saint Frideswide and has associations with Alice in Wonderland. Medley, famous for its ‘Custard, Cyder, Cakes, and Ale’, was once owned by the speaker’s Irish/Indian ancestors. Book your ticket here; all funds raised go to Against Breast Cancer Abingdon.
Thursday 26 November, 6pm: Local historian Mark Davies, Chair of the Jericho Living Heritage Trust (JLHT), will give a talk entitled Jericho: celebrating 200 years in the FitzHugh Auditorium, Exeter College, Walton Street, Oxford (the former Ruskin College building). The talk will examine important moments in the evolution of “dangerously hospitable” Jericho, covering its transformation from lush meadowland to a vibrant residential neighbourhood, and its role in inspiring artistic and literary endeavour. JLHT’s two recent books, A Jericho Scrapbook and Jericho – a Celebration, will be available directly from the authors. Entry to the talk is free, but donations to JLHT will be welcome.
Friday 27 November, 7:30pm: A special screening of the first episode of the 1983 documentary Making Cars, at Florence Park Community Centre, Oxford. This ground breaking five-part TV series, one of the first made by Channel 4, tells the history of the Morris Motors and Pressed Steel factories at Cowley through the voices of the men and women who worked there, some of them in the 1920s. The episodes were hugely popular, but despite its appeal, the series faded into history. Now, thanks to local researchers, a copy has been found and digitised for screening. There will be an introduction, Q&A and discussion led by local historian Maurice East. Book your free ticket here.
Ongoing until 30 November: As part of the Into the Woods: The Slade Camp Story project, Cowley Library in Oxford is hosting a display on the history of Slade Camp and Slade Park, featuring historic photographs, documents and memories of people whose families were housed in this former army camp after the war. You can also visit the Slade Camp site itself, which is now part of Shotover Country Park, and free to explore all year round. A new history trail leads you along the original army-laid tarmac roads to six key structures uncovered by project volunteers, with panels explaining each one’s history and use. Find out more about the project here, and download a trail map here.
Ongoing until Saturday 19 December: Thame Museum’s current special exhibition No Place Like Home. The display focuses on how and why Thame grew from 156 dwellings in 1662, to over 5,000 in 2021. Victorian improvements in sanitation, the coming of the railway bringing new employment, two world wars, and a move away from multi-generational living, have all played a part. Discover how our homes, both inside and out, have continued to change over time. Free and open to all during normal museum opening times.
Throughout the summer and autumn 2026: Oxford Preservation trust (OPT) is running monthly tours of the Elizabethan Painted Room in Oxford. Further information, dates and booking here.
Throughout 2026: The year-long Warneford 200 – Mental Health Through the Ages project, marking 200 years of mental health care at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford, launched in January. The Warneford, which opened in July 1826, is the oldest psychiatric hospital still in clinical use in the UK. The Warneford 200 projects reflects 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 include a short film, a travelling exhibition (currently at the Museum of Oxford until Saturday 21 March), an on-line exhibition, a theatre production, workshops, public lectures, and a garden installation, and a new trail around the hospital grounds, the Warneford Walk, which explores the history, buildings and stories of the site. Read more on the project website.
Ongoing until March 2027: The new special exhibition opened at the Museum of Oxford in July 2026, Sounds of the City. From indie rock to electronica, folk to reggae, and classical to punk, Oxford was home to a vibrant grassroots music scene in the 1990s. The spirit of this multi-genre scene has had an enduring impact on both local and worldwide stages. Marking 30 years since Oxford was crowned BBC Radio 1 Sound City in 1997, the exhibition highlights iconic bands, gigs, venues, festivals, and record labels that all energetically shaped Oxford’s unique sound. A programme of events will run alongside the exhibition throughout the summer and autumn of 2026 and into 2027, with live music performances, lunchtime talks, walking tours, film screenings, and museum lates. Find out more here.
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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