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.
Ongoing until 1 June: a special exhibition at The Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock Michael Black: Chisel, Wood, Stone explores the life and work of one of Oxford’s most talented sculptors. Michael Black, who carved the Emperors’ Heads outside the Sheldonian Theatre in Broad Street, lived and worked in Oxford throughout his career. He restored the stonework of churches, colleges and other buildings across the city, received other notable public commissions, and exhibited artwork at prestigious galleries. Free and open to all; further information here.
Ongoing until 31 October: The Burford Tolsey Museum has two exhibitions open throughout the summer, Burford during World War II, commemorating 80 years since the end of the War, and Helen Bryce: an artist’s lasting contribution to Burford. Entry to the museum and the exhibitions is free, seven days a week, 2pm-5pm.
Ongoing until 18 November: From Conflict to Peace: Celebrating VE & VJ Day at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOFO) in Woodstock. The exhibition explores what happened as the Second World War ended in Europe and the Pacific, from stories of Oxfordshire people and county regiments serving in the final stages of the conflict, to celebrations in the county itself. For more information and to share a story with the museum, click here.
Ongoing until January 2026: 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.
Wednesday 4 June, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: Oxford’s Queer History with Hannah Field.
Thursday 5 June, 11am-4pm: The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOFO) in Woodstock will hold a Volunteer Open Day. If you think you might be interested in getting involved with SOFO, drop in and enjoy a cup of tea, a slice of cake, and a chat with members of the museum team about the kinds of things you could do as a volunteer, from helping catalogue the collections to welcoming visitors. This is a free drop-in event; no need to book.
Friday 6 June, between 2pm and 4pm: free tours of the North Hinksey Conduit House with Oxford Preservation Trust. The conduit house was built in 1617 on a hill overlooking Oxford. It enclosed and protected a 20,000-gallon lead cistern; clean drinking water from the springs at North Hinksey flowed from here down to the Carfax Conduit, an extravagant fountain in the centre of the city. Free and no need to book; further information here.
Wednesday 11 June, 1pm: The Museum of Oxford’s popular Lunchtime Talks continue with landscape historian Deborah Hayter speaking on How Enclosure Shaped Oxfordshire’s Landscape: From common right to private property. We live in a very ancient landscape, but of course it has not always looked the way it does now. In most of Oxfordshire the pattern of fields, hedges and roads was re-drawn as Parliamentary enclosure wiped out the medieval system of communally-worked open fields. In this talk Deborah Hayter will explain how the long drawn- out process of enclosure gave us the hedged landscape of fields that we see today. Advance booking highly recommended; tickets here.
Wednesday 11 June: The Royal Berkshire Archives (RBA) in Reading will open its latest exhibition Our River Thames. The display will focus on those who have lived, worked, and played on the Thames throughout its history, including lock keepers, artists, river workers, millers, authors and swimmers. Free and open to all until 29 August. Find out more here.
Saturday 14 June: This year’s Oxfordshire Past will be in Faringdon. This popular annual event, organised by the Oxfordshire Architectural & Historical Society (OAHS), is a day of short talks with display stands about the history, architecture and archaeology of the county. It is a great opportunity for like-minded people to get together and hear about new and ongoing local history research. Find out more and book your place here.
Saturday 14 June, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: Beer, Sausages and Marmalade with Liz Woolley.
Wednesday 18 June, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: Pre-Raphaelite Adventures in Oxford with Mark Davies.
Thursday 19 June, 11am: a free 45-minute guided tour of the treasure trove that is the Oxfordshire Museums Resources Centre (at Standlake). Visitors will learn about some of the thousands of objects stored here, which represent almost every aspect of the county’s history, archaeology, agriculture, crafts and arts. Free, but advance booking essential; further information and tickets here.
Friday 20 June, 7:30pm for 8:00pm: Watlington Library is hosting a special talk by author Christina Hardyment, Alyce Chaucer of Ewelme: Fact and Fiction. Hardyment will discuss how she has gone about researching and creating a series of history mysteries inspired by the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer. Further information here; tickets (£8) available from Watlington Library.
Saturday 21 June, 2:30pm: Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) tour of 26 and 26A East St Helen Street, the oldest house in Abingdon. This merchant’s house dates from c.1430 and contains 16th-century wall paintings, a gallery lit by a timber-framed window with its original intricate gothic tracery, and a child’s doublet found hidden in the smoke-blackened roof timbers.
Find out more about this extraordinary building here and book your tour here. (Repeated on 19 July.)
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villa open days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. Find out more here.
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June: The Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote of the Sealed Knot society will take over Oxford Castle & Prison, with costumed re-enactors occupying St George’s Tower where Parliamentarian prisoners of war were kept during the Civil War. Ticketed workshops for children will teach them 17th-century military drill and how to be a Parliamentarian spy, and there will be free displays of 17th-century arms, including musket firing. Find out more here.
Tuesday 24 June, 6:00–7:30pm: The Wytham Estate, three miles north-west of Oxford, is one of Oxfordshire’s greatest treasures but much of its past has long remained unexplored. You are invited to an evening uncovering its fascinating history Hill End & The Wytham Estate: Histories and Communities at the Hill End Education Centre. Free, but advance booking essential; further information and tickets here.
Saturday 28 June, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: Oxford’s Rebels and Radicals with Jess Worth.
Sunday 29 June, 11am: As part of the Oxford Festival of the Arts, local historian and author Mark Davies will give a guided walk Canal, Castle, and Chapel. A waterside stroll to uncover the relationship between Oxford’s Castle Gaol, the canal, and some nearby streams, plus some innovative railway and religious constructions. Find out more and book your tickets here. (Repeated on 13 July.)
Sunday 29 June, 2pm: As part of the Oxford Festival of the Arts, local historian and author Mark Davies will give a guided walk Blue Plaques, Blue Stockings, and Blue Sky. A tour of Oxford city centre locations associated with individuals who have made contributions to architecture, art, education, feminism, gastronomy, horticulture, literature, philanthropy, music, and science.
Find out more and book your tickets here. (Repeated on 13 July.)
Sunday 6 July, 11am and again at 2pm: In association with the annual Alice’s Day in Oxford, local historian and author Mark Davies will give two guided walks. These will be leisurely strolls around Christ Church Meadow to reveal the many real-life Oxford people, places, and events that inspired and informed aspects of the two Alice in Wonderland books. Find out more and book your tickets here and here.
Sunday 13 July, 11am: As part of the Oxford Festival of the Arts, local historian and author Mark Davies will give a guided walk Blue Plaques, Blue Stockings, and Blue Sky. A tour of Oxford city centre locations associated with individuals who have made contributions to architecture, art, education, feminism, gastronomy, horticulture, literature, philanthropy, music, and science.
Find out more and book your tickets here.
Sunday 13 July, 2pm: As part of the Oxford Festival of the Arts, local historian and author Mark Davies will give a guided walk Canal, Castle, and Chapel. A waterside stroll to uncover the relationship between Oxford’s Castle Gaol, the canal, and some nearby streams, plus some innovative railway and religious constructions. Find out more and book your tickets here.
Saturday 19 July, 2:30pm: Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) tour of 26 and 26A East St Helen Street, the oldest house in Abingdon. This merchant’s house dates from c.1430 and contains 16th-century wall paintings, a gallery lit by a timber-framed window with its original intricate gothic tracery, and a child’s doublet found hidden in the smoke-blackened roof timbers.
Find out more about this extraordinary building here and book your tour here.
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villa open days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. Find out more here.
Friday 25 July, between 2pm and 4pm: free tours of the North Hinksey Conduit House with Oxford Preservation Trust. The conduit house was built in 1617 on a hill overlooking Oxford. It enclosed and protected a 20,000-gallon lead cistern; clean drinking water from the springs at North Hinksey flowed from here down to the Carfax Conduit, an extravagant fountain in the centre of the city. Free and no need to book; further information here.
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villa open days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. Find out more here.
Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villa open days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. Find out more here.
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villa open days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. Find out more here.
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villa open days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. Find out more here.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, 11am-5pm: North Leigh Roman Villaopen days. See precious mosaic floor (one of the finest in the country) and find out about the villa’s history from the team of knowledgeable volunteers. 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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