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8 (or so) brilliant things to do in Oxfordshire this August bank holiday

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Things to do this bank holiday weekend: Boundary Encounters installation, 2023. Copyright Modern Art Oxford.
Things to do in Oxford and across Oxfordshire this bank holiday weekend: Boundary Encounters Installation at Modern Art Oxford. Image copyright: Modern Art Oxford.

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?

Look no further because we’ve done the work and pulled together some brilliant things for you to do in Oxfordshire this August bank holiday weekend – you know, the kind of things worth making time for.

Embrace the rather wet days in style 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 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. 

Green-fingered? We’ve a good selection of garden centres across Oxfordshire – perfect for finding ideas and inspiration, and for whiling away those tedious hours between brunch and supper. Otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy an indulgent Country House Afternoon Tea.

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 September.


  • The Big Feastival 2024

    The Big Feastival 2024

    When: 23 to 25 August
    Where: Alex James’ Farm, Kingham

    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.

    2024 festival lineup (TBC)

    Buy tickets View event: The Big Feastival 2024

  • Joana Vasconcelos: Wedding Cake tours

    Joana Vasconcelos: Wedding Cake tours

    When: Until 26 October
    Where: Waddesdon Manor

    Opening this summer, Wedding Cake is a 12-metre-tall ceramic sculptural pavilion in the form of a three-tiered cake. This major new Rothschild Foundation commission from celebrated Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos will stand within a grove of trees at Waddesdon beside the 19th-century Dairy.

    Book tickets View event: Joana Vasconcelos: Wedding Cake tours

  • Boundary Encounters

    Boundary Encounters

    When: Until 29 October
    Where: Modern Art Oxford

    Boundary Encounters is a summer show of residencies, projects and live events at Modern Art Oxford, including new work from artists Valerie Asiimwe Amani, Julie Freeman and Harold Offeh. The exhibition features an interactive display of projects and events collaboratively selected from Modern Art Oxford’s archives, celebrating social learning experiences with creative communities living in Oxfordshire and beyond.

    Discover more: Modern Art Oxford

    Event website View event: Boundary Encounters

  • Gifts and Books

    Gifts and Books

    When: Until 29 October
    Where: Weston Library

    The giving and receiving of gifts is fundamental to human societies.
    Drawing on material from ancient Sumerian writing tablets to contemporary fiction for children, Gifts and Books explores the importance of gift-giving through books and across time and how this apparently simple act reveals wider interactions, relationships and belief systems.

    Discover more: Weston Library

    View event: Gifts and Books

  • Ashmolean NOW: Flora Yukhnovich x Daniel Crews-Chubb

    Ashmolean NOW: Flora Yukhnovich x Daniel Crews-Chubb

    When: Until 14 January
    Where: Ashmolean Museum

    Ashmolean NOW is a new exhibition series of contemporary art, which invites contemporary artists to create new work inspired by the Ashmolean’s historical collections. The first exhibition is dedicated to contemporary painting. It juxtaposes the work of two London-based painters, Flora Yukhnovich and Daniel Crews-Chubb.

    Event website View event: Ashmolean NOW: Flora Yukhnovich x Daniel Crews-Chubb



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