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 29 August: The Royal Berkshire Archives (RBA) in Reading hosts its latest exhibition Our River Thames. The display focuses 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. Find out more 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 2 July, 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 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.
Saturday 12 July, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: Shakespeare and Oxford with Elizabeth Sandis.
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.
Wednesday 16 July, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: The Lost Streets of St Ebbe’s with Maurice East.
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.
Wednesday 23 July, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: River, Meadow and Ford with Mark Davies.
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.
Wednesday 30 July, 2pm: one of the Museum of Oxford’s popular series of city walks led by local historians: Rash or Rational? Victorian Leisure and Entertainment with Liz Woolley.
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.
Tuesday 2 September, 10.30am: Historian Dick Richards will give a tour of the Commonwealth War Graves at Botley Cemetery in west Oxford. There are 740 war graves (from both world wars) at Botley; in this fascinating tour you will learn the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and about the actions and sacrifice of some of the casualties buried here. Tours are free (though a donation to CWGC is appreciated); book your tickets here.
Saturday 13 September, 10.30am: Historian Dick Richards will give a tour of the Commonwealth War Graves at Botley Cemetery in west Oxford. There are 740 war graves (from both world wars) at Botley; in this fascinating tour you will learn the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and about the actions and sacrifice of some of the casualties buried here. Tours are free (though a donation to CWGC is appreciated); book your tickets here.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, 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.
Thursday 2 October, 10.30am: Historian Dick Richards will give a tour of the Commonwealth War Graves at Botley Cemetery in west Oxford. There are 740 war graves (from both world wars) at Botley; in this fascinating tour you will learn the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and about the actions and sacrifice of some of the casualties buried here. Tours are free (though a donation to CWGC is appreciated); book your tickets here.
Thursday 6 November, 10.30am: Historian Dick Richards will give a tour of the Commonwealth War Graves at Botley Cemetery in west Oxford. There are 740 war graves (from both world wars) at Botley; in this fascinating tour you will learn the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and about the actions and sacrifice of some of the casualties buried here. Tours are free (though a donation to CWGC is appreciated); book your tickets 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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