The Oxford Magazine

Wonder of Birds Exhibition
2026-05-02 00:00 - 2027-01-03 23:59 (Europe/London) | Bodleian Library – Old Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG, United Kingdom
Wonder of Birds Exhibition

About Wonder of Birds Exhibition

A major new exhibition at the Bodleian Libraries invites visitors to step into the remarkable world of birds, exploring their beauty, symbolism and fragility through art, literature and science.

Wonder of Birds draws inspiration from The Book of Birds, created by artist Jackie Morris and writer Robert Macfarlane. Both the exhibition and the book reflect on the decline of bird populations while celebrating their cultural and natural significance.

Curated by Antonia Harrison, the exhibition unfolds through seven themed sections – from nest and egg to feather, flight and migration – combining original artwork and writing with treasures from the Bodleian’s extensive collections.

Visitors can explore rare and historic material, including previously unseen glass plate negatives by pioneering wildlife photographer Emma Louisa Turner, alongside early nature photography from Richard Kearton and his brother Cherry.

Also on display are striking life-size illustrations from Birds of America by John James Audubon, as well as a rare Great Auk egg on loan from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

The exhibition also highlights birds’ enduring influence on culture, featuring works such as Maya Angelou’s ‘Caged Bird’ and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s handwritten notes on ‘To a Skylark’. Global perspectives include imagery from The Book of the Fixed Stars and the poetic journey of The Conference of the Birds.

Enhancing the experience, a specially commissioned soundscape by sound artist Jason Singh immerses visitors in birdsong and natural environments, while artist duo Daniel & Clara present an interactive ‘Rewilding Imagination field guide’.

Wonder of Birds poster

Tickets

Please see important booking information below.

Booking information

Ticket prices:

Free admission, no ticket required

Dates & times:

Saturday 02 May 2026 to Sunday 03 January 2027

Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pmSaturday from 10.00am to 5.00pmSunday from 11.00am to 4.00pm

Location:

The Treasury, Weston Library

34: The critical raw materials shaping our future
2026-06-17 00:00 - 2027-04-13 23:59 | Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire
34: The critical raw materials shaping our future

About Breaking Ground

34: The Critical Raw Materials Shaping Our Future is a major new exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History explores the hidden materials that power modern life — from smartphones and batteries to medical equipment and jet engines.

The exhibition 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.

Developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of Oxford’s Oxford EARTH Programme and departments across the physical, life and social sciences, the exhibition explores how increasing demand for green energy and digital technology is transforming the global race for critical materials.

Visitors can discover why substances such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements are so important to modern society, why supply chains are becoming increasingly fragile, and how scientists and industry are searching for more sustainable and ethical ways to source, use and recycle these materials.

Through interactive displays, scientific research, historic objects and contemporary technologies, the exhibition examines the future of extraction, sustainability and resource security, while highlighting the environmental and geopolitical challenges linked to critical raw materials.

Designed for audiences of all ages, the exhibition is accompanied by a programme of talks, workshops, tours and family activities exploring the science, ethics and global impact of the materials shaping our future.

What are critical raw materials?

Critical raw materials are those essential to key technologies but their supply may be limited, unsustainable or unethical. Critical raw materials tend to have unique chemical properties which make them difficult to replace in technology. The UK government includes 34 raw materials on its designated critical list, but lists vary from country to country.

aluminium

antimony

bismuth

borates

cobalt

gallium

germanium

hafnium

helium

indium

iridium

iron

lithium

magnesite

magnesium

manganese

natural graphite

nickel

niobium

phosphorus

platinum

rare earth elements (REEs)

rhenium

rhodium

ruthenium

silicon

sodium

tantalum

tellurium

tin

titanium

tungsten

vanadium

zinc

Tickets

Please see important booking information below.

Booking information

Prices:

Entry to the Museum is FREE and not ticketed.

No booking required.

Booking is required for organisations/groups of more than ten people visiting on the same day.

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday from 10.00am to 5.00pm

Last entry at 4.45pm

Closed on 24, 25, & 26 December

Accessibility:

Please contact the friendly team at the museum by telephone (01865 272 950) or email (foh@oum.ox.ac.uk)

Gallery

Click images to expand

Battery Ores

Bismuth

Cobalt

Dysprosium

Halite

REEs

Image credit: Sarah Bell

Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess
2026-10-08 00:00 - 2027-04-11 23:59 | Ashmolean Museum, 35 Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2PH
Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess exhibition at Ashmolean Museum

About Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess

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.

Tracing her origins on the island of Cyprus, where she was revered as an all-powerful goddess over 3,000 years ago, the exhibition follows her journey through the Greek and Roman worlds.

Explore how Aphrodite evolved into one of history’s most iconic figures, inspiring art, literature, and imagination from antiquity to the present day.

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 – the exhibition reveals the making of a goddess whose legacy continues to shape modern ideas of love and beauty.

Tickets

Booking information

Tickets for this major exhibition will be available to book in 2026.

Member can visit for free.

Cinderella in the Palace
2026-11-13 00:00 - 2027-01-03 23:59 | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Blenheim Park, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP
Cinderella in the Palace

About Cinderella in the Palace

Entering The Great Hall you’ll be welcomed by a towering Christmas Tree that marks the start of the timeless tale of Cinderella, while each State Room tells a different chapter of the much-loved family favourite.

As midnight strikes, a glass slipper leads Prince Charming to a fairytale Christmas wedding, and of course don’t miss the pumpkin carriage, it’s the ultimate selfie spot!When you buy a ticket to Cinderella in the Palace, it opens the door to a whole year of palace moments, with your ticket becoming an Annual Pass at no extra cost.

Watch the trailer

Tickets

Please see important booking information below.

Booking information

Ticket prices:

Adult Donated – £43.00

Child (3-16 Years) Donated – £26.00

Infant (0-2 Years) Donated – £2.00

Good to know:

This is an externally organised event and tickets need to be pre-booked through the link above.

Current Annual Pass Holders do not get free entry into the Palace on the following dates: Saturday 05 December, Sunday 06 December, Saturday 12 December, Sunday 13 December and Saturday 19 December.

Annual Pass Holders obtain free entry (Subject to booking fee and donation T&Cs) into the Palace on all other dates before 4.00pm, subject to availability.

Parking for this event is chargeable and should be pre-booked through the link above. This applies to all visitors and Annual Pass Holders.

No dogs are allowed in the Palace or on Illuminated Light Trail, but dogs are allowed in the Great Court for the Market.

Discover more: Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace Illuminated Christmas Lights Trail 2026
2026-11-13 00:00 - 2027-01-03 23:59 | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Blenheim Park, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP
Blenheim Palace Illuminated Christmas Lights Trail 2026

About Blenheim Palace Illuminated Christmas Lights Trail 2026

Marvel at the Magic of the ‘Must See’ Illuminated Trail

Boasting more than a million lights, our enchanting Illuminated Trail winds through gardens and grounds, past glistening treetops and shimmering waterfalls.

The Illuminated Trail has become a firm date in many families’ festive calendars, and The Telegraph agrees that it’s one of the best light trails in the country, and better still, you’ll get to meet Father Christmas on the way around!

Warm up with festive food and drink in the East Courtyard, where independent street food vendors serve up indulgent seasonal treats. End your evening with a hot chocolate, spiced winter warmer, or toasted marshmallow, and share in the joy of Christmas under the stars.

Tickets

Good to know

The Blenheim Palace Illuminated Christmas Lights Trail takes up to 1 hour 30 minutes to complete.

Prices for the Illuminated Light Trail depends on whether you visit during a peak time or an off-peak time.

Please note that if you are purchasing Annual Pass Holder tickets, you must have a pass that is valid at the time of your Christmas visit, not just valid at the time of booking.

You’ll need to reserve your car parking space if you intend to visit the grounds before Christmas at Blenheim Palace opens at 10.00am.

No dogs allowed in the Palace or on Trail but dogs are allowed in the Great Court for the Market.

Discover more: Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Fairground Rides at Blenheim Palace
2026-11-13 00:00 - 2027-01-03 23:59 | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Blenheim Park, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP
Fairground Rides at Blenheim Palace

About Fairground Rides at Blenheim Palace

Add a touch of extra excitement to your visit with the fairground rides at Christmas at Blenheim Palace. Families can enjoy traditional festive fun with a selection of classic rides, from the twinkling carousel to the thrilling helter-skelter and vintage swings.

Ride tokens can be purchased on-site from dedicated token booths located near the fairground area. Each ride requires a set number of tokens, allowing guests to choose their favourites and enjoy the attractions at their own pace.

Whether you’re watching little ones whirl with joy or taking a spin yourself, the fairground adds a nostalgic charm to the experience, perfectly complementing the dazzling lights and festive atmosphere of Blenheim Palace’s magical Christmas celebration.

The following fairground rides will be at Christmas at Blenheim Palace:

Large Carousel

Helter Skelter

Swing Boats

Children’s Toyset

Observation Wheel

Good to know

Vouchers can be redeemed for tokens on site and each ride requires one token per person. All riders must pay.

Please note some height restrictions apply and children under the specified height must be accompanied by a paying adult.
