Things to do in and around Oxford this weekend (01 to 03 May)
As the first weekend of May arrives, Oxford settles into the height of spring, with longer days and soft golden evening light giving the city a calm, luminous feel. The honey-coloured colleges glow warmly, brightening quiet streets, courtyards and green spaces. Blossom still lingers, while trees and gardens are now in full leaf, adding fresh colour across the city and along the riverside. The air feels lighter, drawing people outdoors to enjoy a slower pace. With daylight stretching further, a gentle warmth is building — though a cool breeze still lingers, hinting at the shift towards early summer.
With the year now finding its rhythm, the city invites slower moments — gentle riverside walks, warming pauses in welcoming cafés, and thoughtful conversations that unfold at an unhurried pace, as winter’s stillness offers space to pause, reset and look ahead.
Across the city and countryside, the pace turns calmer – from festive events and family gatherings to scenic strolls and warm, unhurried afternoons. Oxford and Oxfordshire offer countless ways to welcome the new month with charm, colour, and comfort.
Art aficionados can peruse the permanent displays and longer-term exhibitions at the city’s world-class museums – The Ashmolean, the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum.
Otherwise, squirrel yourself away in one of the city’s intimate arts and cultural venues like the North Wall Arts Centre and Modern Art Oxford, which often put up a bold and ambitious programme of contemporary art.
Curious and adventurers? Explore Oxford with purpose. Whether you’re a local, new in town, or just passing through, we’ve got some rather useful insider’s guides to Oxford to help you get the best out of your time discovering Oxford – because we’re good like that!
If you’d rather head out of town, enjoy the Jousting tournament at Blenheim Palace, where visitors can step into a medieval spectacle as knights clash in thrilling displays of skill and horsemanship, alongside family-friendly activities and a lively, immersive atmosphere.
Or explore the Oxfordshire Artweeks Festival, a vibrant county-wide celebration showcasing local artists and makers, where visitors can discover open studios, exhibitions and creative events filled with colour, inspiration and community spirit.
Otherwise, you could always visit one of our diverse independent bookshops (where friendly and helpful staff are on hand to help you find your next best read), or, check out some of Oxfordshire’s coolest restaurants and places to eat.
And if you’re celebrating a special occasion with a loved one or just looking to while away some tiresome hours between brunch and supper, there’s nothing as self-indulgent as enjoying a county house afternoon tea with prime views of the Oxfordshire countryside.
We hope there’s plenty here to inspire you. And if you’re still looking to fill a few gaps in your diary, do explore the Events sectionfor more things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire.
Now, consider this your definitive guide to what’s on in Oxford this weekend.
Helena Clews: From Seascape to Landscape
Helena Clews: From Seascape to Landscape showcases vibrant paintings inspired by the sea, light and natural beauty of Devon and Oxfordshire, celebrating colour, texture and a return to the roots of her artistic journey.
Party Season
Party Season is a new comedy from the creators of Education, Education, Education and The Last of the Pelican Daughters, exploring class tension, parenting and social expectations across one chaotic weekend.
Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift
Murder comes to the countryside in the stage premiere of Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift. Join DCI Barnaby and Sergeant Troy as they unravel secrets and rivalries in a gripping new theatrical whodunnit packed with twists, suspense, and charm.
Ballet Black at 25
Ballet Black returns to Oxford Playhouse with a 25th anniversary programme featuring award-winning choreography and a new commission celebrating innovation, storytelling and the company’s lasting impact on British ballet.
May Morning 2026
May Morning 2026 will be celebrated on Friday 1 May in Oxford, continuing a tradition that stretches back over 500 years. Festivities begin at dawn with the Magdalen College Choir singing from the iconic 144ft tower, followed by bells, a procession along the High Street.
Traditional Morris and Highland dancing, impromptu performances, and communal celebrations bring students, residents and visitors together for one of Oxford’s most enduring and beloved annual events. Expect hours of dancing and music throughout the city.
Wonder of Birds Exhibition
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.
Museum of Oxford Walks: Shakespeare and Oxford
Join Museum of Oxford Walks: Shakespeare and Oxford, and experience Shakespeare’s journey in Oxford during his lifetime. This is an opportunity to pause and look carefully at Oxford city centre, noticing Elizabethan and Jacobean details you might pass by every day. The tour includes a unique Tudor bedroom above Cornmarket Street, the famous Painted Room, which will be opened specially by Oxford Preservation Trust.
The Furrow Collective
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.
Out of the Deep
Out of the Deep is a family-friendly specimen handling and exploration of the underwater world of marine reptiles.
Pat Suet-Bik Hui & the Three Perfections
Pat Suet-Bik Hui & the Three Perfections showcases the Hong Kong-born artist’s mastery of painting, calligraphy, and poetry, presented alongside works by her teacher Lui Shou-Kwan and other historical examples. The exhibition highlights Hui’s contemporary approach, blending abstract ink and colour washes with poetic inscriptions exploring love, loss, and life’s quiet joys.
In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World
In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World at the Ashmolean Museum uncovers the hidden histories behind Britain’s most beloved blooms. Explore over 100 artworks and objects that reveal how plant exploration and trade shaped landscapes, cultures, and economies – from roses and tulips to camellias and peonies.
