Brilliant things to do in Oxfordshire this early May bank holiday

The Enormous Crocodile is brought to life on stage in a lively musical packed with puppetry, humour and toe-tapping songs, offering a fun-filled family adventure as jungle creatures outwit a greedy crocodile.

Medieval jousting returns to Stonor Park this May Bank Holiday, with knights, archery, falconry and family activities at Tumblestone Hollow. Visitors can enjoy a full day of entertainment, plus access to the adventure playground, house and gardens.

Founded in 2006, The Henley Arts Trail is celebrating its 20th year. The trail was set up to showcase the amazing talent in the area. It’s gone from strength to strength and now shows the work of over 300 creatives in 36 venues in and around Henley-on-Thames. Discover the inspiration behind the work of the creatives, the techniques used and buy direct from the makers. From paintings, prints and photography to sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles and everything in between.

The Knights of Middle England are ready to take you back to the exciting and colourful era of the Middle Ages with their action-packed, high-octane Jousting and Stunt Show. Visitors will be transported back in time to a medieval tournament complete with authentic tiltyard, royal box, falconry, archery and hand-to-hand combat. Expect thrills – and maybe spills! – in an action-packed day of discovery.

Oxfordshire Artweeks is the UK’s oldest and biggest artist open studios and pop-up exhibition event, showcasing the remarkable visual arts, craft, and creative talent of hundreds of local artists, makers and designers over a three-week period.

As always, you can feast your eyes on a huge range of creative activities by hundreds of artists, makers and designers in artists’ studios, pop-up galleries, glorious gardens, ancient churches, medieval tithe barns and other amazing venues in Oxford and across Oxfordshire.

Discover more: Exhibitions

Metropolitan Opera presents Eugene Onegin, starring Asmik Grigorian in a powerful production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s romantic masterpiece.

The Furrow Collective brings traditional folk songs to life through storytelling, music and visual art, blending historic ballads with contemporary creativity in performances inspired by their evolving Cantastoria project.

Oasiz brings the sound of Oasis to the stage, recreating iconic hits and celebrating the legacy of the legendary Knebworth shows with an authentic live tribute experience.

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical takes you on a hilarious, heart-warming ride, exploring identity, diversity, and self-acceptance. This sparkling musical extravaganza is packed with jaw-dropping dance routines, eye-popping costumes, and an iconic soundtrack full of your favourite 80s and 90s disco and dance anthems, including; Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Finally and many more

Out of the Deep is a family-friendly specimen handling and exploration of the underwater world of marine reptiles.

Join Family-Friendly Sundays for free sessions including nature-themed activities, creative crafts, family-friendly trails and more, all provided by the museum’s volunteers.

Science Oxford Centre Family Days offer hands-on science experiences for all ages, with interactive indoor exhibits, outdoor nature exploration, and sensory-friendly sessions designed to support accessibility and inclusion.

Join Science Saturdays to investigate real natural history specimens including insects, fossils, skeletons and microscopes with scientists.

The Midnight Moon Halloween Adventure at High Lodge Farm invites families to explore a spooky woodland trail, solve a magical mystery, pick pumpkins, enjoy crafts and games, ride the ghost train and discover plenty of autumn fun.

Rectory Farm is delighted to bring back The Pumpkin Patch for 2026. Families can wander through the pumpkin field to pick their own farm-grown pumpkins and squashes in a rainbow of colours, perfect for Halloween. Tickets are priced at £8.50 per person. Children under 2 go free and require no ticket for entry.

Explore On Paradise, an exhibition by Oxford artist Saad Qureshi featuring sculptural works inspired by hope, memory and visions of paradise, describing what paradise represents or looks like, and translating hopes and dreams into sculptural mindscapes. 

The Bodleian Libraries’ Wonder of Birds exhibition explores art, science and culture through the lens of avian life. Featuring rare archives, manuscripts and immersive sound, it invites visitors to reflect on both the beauty of birds and their decline.

Discover a major new exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum that invites you to step into the world of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire – later worshipped by the Romans as Venus, featuring more than 200 remarkable objects – from sculpture and bronzes to gems and terracottas from Cyprus, Greece, and Italy, dating from 1400 BCE to the 21st century.

This major new exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History examines the 34 raw materials considered essential to the UK’s future, revealing the global supply chains, ethical challenges and scientific innovations behind the minerals that underpin everyday technology — from smartphones and batteries to medical equipment and jet engines.