Brilliant things to do in Oxfordshire this Spring bank holiday

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

William Street is a bold new play blending intimate family drama with political tension, offering a powerful and unmissable theatrical experience.

Ulster American is a black satire that will make you laugh, gasp, question why you’re laughing, and laugh some more. This is a conversation you were never supposed to hear. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Our House is a joyful musical blending sharp storytelling with irresistible music and movement, and a live, dancing band on stage. With hits including House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, My Girl, It Must Be Love, Night Boat to Cairo and Our House, this lively, nostalgic show is packed with energy, fun and heart.

Join the First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte Sanctuary Choir for a spirited lunchtime concert of gospels and American choral highlights by Anton Copland, Elaine Hagenberg, Hoses Hogan, Stephen Paulus and others.

Ministry of Science Live returns from London’s West End with an explosive, interactive show exploring how science shapes everyday life. Featuring live demonstrations, humour and audience participation, the team celebrates scientists and inventors while inspiring audiences to change the world for the better.

Ella Al-Shamahi explores the story of Homo sapiens in a compelling talk blending science, storytelling and humour. Drawing on evolution, exploration and human history, she reveals how our species survived, thrived and reshaped the world.

The Comedy Store Players bring their legendary improvised show to the stage, featuring stars of ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’. Expect fast-paced comedy, audience-led games and spontaneous songs in a night of world-class improvisation.

An Orchestral Tribute to Tim Burton & Dark Fantasy by Moonlight – An enchanting live performance of whimsical and otherworldly dark fantasy film music, brought to life by the Illuminated Orchestra, beneath the glow of a giant moon.

Tenor Santiago Sanchez and pianist Christopher Glynn perform Schumann’s Dichterliebe alongside songs by Albéniz, Guastavino, Ginastera and Turina in a programme of love, longing and loss.

Join Seven Drunken Nights as The Story of the Dubliners celebrates its incredible 10th Anniversary with a night of great Irish music. The show is packed full of classics like Whiskey in the Jar, The Irish Rover, and Rocky Road to Dublin – guaranteed to get your toes tapping as they bring the joy of this much-loved Irish folk band back to the stage.

Hamza Yassin brings his first theatre tour to the stage, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, breathtaking footage and personal reflections from his global wildlife adventures in a show celebrating nature, storytelling and exploration.

Blenheim Palace Food Festival is back with a food festival for everyone. Expect three days of culinary thrills with a fantastic line-up of celebrity chefs and experts, amazing food and drink from a huge selection of artisanal producers and street food vendors, interactive masterclasses and tastings and plenty of fun for all the family.

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.