Things to do in Oxfordshire this August bank holiday weekend
Need some inspiration for what to do with yourself in Oxfordshire this August bank holiday weekend?
Okay, so we can’t promise the weekend will be entirely sunny and dry, but we can help you find some brilliant things to do in Oxfordshire this August bank holiday weekend – you know, the kind of things worth making time for.
Embrace the long weekend with a slew of excellent events and cultural happenings in and around the county this weekend. This is also a great time of the year to explore Oxfordshire without the summer holiday crowds.
For museum nerds, peruse the permanent displays and longer-term exhibitions at Oxford’s iconic museums – The Ashmolean, the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum. And for bookworms, squirrel yourself away in one of independent bookshops in Oxfordshire, where you’re sure to find more than meets the eye.
Still got gaps in your diary? Embrace the warmer days by heading out for a meal at one of 50+ restaurants in Oxford and beyond for alfresco dining this summer, or perhaps for an indulgent Country House Afternoon Tea – perfect for whiling away those tedious hours between brunch and supper.
We hope there’s enough here to pique your interest, but if you still have gaps in your diary, visit the What’s on section for more events, and be sure to check out our guide to What’s on in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this June.
EMSP Showcase 2025
EMSP Showcase 2025 is a showcase of young musicians from across the UK, of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Its 2025 Showcase at The Mill celebrates five years and will feature young singers and pianists performing solos, duets, ensembles, and original compositions in Matinee and Evening performances.
Family Activity Corner
Families are invited to enjoy free, drop-in activities at the Pitt Rivers Museum, taking place on the Clore Balcony (First Floor) and led by the museum’s friendly volunteers. Visitors can pick up a trail to guide them through the collections, get creative with hands-on crafts, or discover new stories with a selection of books and activities designed to inspire curiosity.
Peace Fest 2025
This August Bank Holiday, Nuneham Courtenay’s Global Retreat Centre hosts Peace Fest: Where Stillness Meets Joy – a free weekend of meditation, live sitar music, reflective spaces, soul talks, and mindful activities. The festival concludes with The Light Show, blending wisdom, music, theatre, and stillness for a rejuvenating, uplifting experience.
Oxford Coffee Concerts: Adderbury Ensemble Piano Trio
Oxford Coffee Concerts, held since 1986 at the historic Holywell Music Room, offer superb Sunday morning chamber music. This week features Mozart’s Piano Trio in B‑flat major, K.502, and Beethoven’s Piano Trio No.1, E‑flat major, Op.1 No.1, with pre-concert coffee nearby.
Reading Festival 2026
Reading Festival, one of the UK’s most iconic music events, returns in 2026 with an electrifying lineup across multiple stages. Known for showcasing the best in rock, indie, hip-hop, and dance, the festival promises an unforgettable weekend of live music, vibrant energy, and festival culture. Join thousands of music lovers and make Reading Festival 2026 your highlight of the summer!
Festival lineup includes: Travis Scott / Chappell Roan / Bring Me The Horizon / Hozier / Becky Hill / AJ Tracey / Sammy Virji / Shikari / Conan Gray / Lola Young / Amyl and the Sniffers / Wunderhorse / Lancey Foux / Royel Otis / Wallows
Found Festival
Found Festival is a micro festival blend live music, wellness, creativity, comedy and dance together for a weekend of pure joy. . Relax and let the music, dance, art & craft wash over you or jump in with both feet and experience a creative process through performances, workshops, informal gatherings and masterclasses.
Festival lineup includes: TBC
The Big Feastival 2026
The Big Feastival will be back on Alex James’ beautiful Cotswolds farm this August Bank Holiday. This family-friendly music and food festival promises to be one truly unforgettable weekend. Expect a top-drawer selection of live music acts, some of the country’s top chefs, and plenty of hands-on activities for both big and little ones. The Big Feastival is for everyone, big and small.
Festival lineup includes: TBC
Foodies Festival Oxford 2026
Foodies Festival Oxford is a celebration of food, drink, and live entertainment. Across the festival, visitors can watch top chefs and bakers create mouth-watering dishes, sample fine wines, cocktails, and craft beers, and enjoy immersive cookery workshops.
Complementing the culinary delights, live music fills the festival, creating a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. Whether tasting new flavours, learning kitchen skills, or dancing to the music, the festival offers a full sensory experience for all ages.
Music lineup includes: Boyzlife / Gareth Gates / B*Witched
Chef lineup includes: Radhika Howarth / Joe Wadsack / Andrew Carr / Mark Peregrine / Tom Surgey / Gary & Jay
Ashmolean Adventure
Ashmolean Adventure is a fun interactive digital guide, offering an interactive exploration of some of the Museum’s most intriguing objects through a variety of multimedia activities. Play games and quizzes, enjoy sounds and stories, and try out your design and drawing skills
Treasured
Treasured is an exhibition showcasing some of the renowned items from Bodleian collections – the Romance of Alexander, the Gutenberg Bible, manuscripts of Jane Austen, JRR Tolkien, and the Herculaneum scroll – alongside objects from around the world. Explore the meaning of value itself through some of the world’s most remarkable books and manuscripts.
Cheung Yee and his 1960s Hong Kong contemporaries
This exhibition showcases newly-acquired works for the Ashmolean by the Hong Kong artist Cheung Yee (1936–2019) alongside those by Lui Shou-Kwan (1919–75), Wucius Wong (b.1936), Liu Kuo-sung (b.1932) and others from the avant-garde Circle Art Group. It will be the first substantial display of Cheung Yee’s work outside Hong Kong.
