Dive into summer: What's on across GLAM
This summer, Oxford University’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums offer vibrant events for all ages and interests. Here we offer highlights from across our diverse institutions.
Ashmolean
Festival of Archaeology - 11am-4pm, 19 July
This summer's Festival of Archaeology at the Ashmolean explores being Really Roman, and celebrates the opening of our re-displayed Rome Galleries. It's a free, drop-in event for all the family and you're invited to take part in exciting activities and tours across the Museum. Enjoy a huge variety arts and crafts, demonstrations, and storytelling celebrating a Roman theme. Make your own Roman mosaics, meet Roman traders, explore and examine our Rome collections throughout the Museum.
This Is What You Get: Stanley Donwood, Radiohead, Thom Yorke - opens 6 August
This major exhibition will explore the visual art of Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke and the iconic images of Radiohead. More than 180 objects will be on display from the artists’ 30-year collaboration, including original paintings for album covers, digital compositions, etchings, unpublished drawings, and lyrics in their sketchbooks. Free to Members. Visitor ticket prices and concessions vary. Timed tickets for entry. Booking strongly recommended for both Members and Visitors.
Ashmolean Adventure – an interactive, digital guide
Share a family adventure as you explore some of the Ashmolean’s most intriguing objects. Featuring 11 objects and paintings, this fun, digital guide for families offers an interactive exploration of some of the Museum's most intriguing objects through a variety of multimedia activities. Play games and quizzes, enjoy sounds and stories, try out your design and drawing skills – each activity is different because each object is different. Booking required.
New Family Audio Tour: Myths and Reality
Step into a world of epic stories, ancient heroes, and powerful gods with Myths and Reality - a brand-new audio tour narrated by historian and broadcaster Professor Janina Ramirez, designed by the Ashmolean and Smartify for curious kids (aged 8+) and their grown-ups. Bring your own smartphone, link up to the Museum Wi-Fi, download the tour and pick up a free printed map at the front desk to help guide your quest and uncover legendary objects across the Museum. The download costs £3.60.
Download one of the Ashmolean free family trails in advance, or pick one up for free during your visit.
The Ashmolean Café on the lower ground floor is an accredited 'Kids in Museums' Family Café awarded to family-friendly museum cafés based on the quality of their space and facilities, choice of food, affordability and staff. The Café will be offering a free Babyccino with an adult drink purchase throughout the summer holidays.
Harcourt Arboretum
Arboretum Activity Backpack – 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm), daily
Pick up a backpack filled with activities. Enjoy games, things to make, spot, and discover on your adventure around the Arboretum. Activity backpacks are ideal for children aged 3-8. Pay on arrival: £2 per pack, accompanying adults pay standard entry.
Jurassic Plants Family Day – 11am-3pm, 27 August
Harcourt Arboretum hosts a day of fun activities about the trees and plants that grew alongside the dinosaurs. Learn about paleobotany, ancient plants and their fossils from the Museum of Natural History’s Earth Collections. Have a go at dino-themed arts and crafts. Pay on arrival: £3 per child, under 2s free, adults pay standard entry.
History of Science Museum
Autism-friendly Opening – 10.45-11.45am, 26 July
A relaxed morning to enjoy the Museum displays and collections in a quiet environment for families with members on the autism spectrum. Free, booking required via email.
How Does It Work? – 12-4pm 26, 27 July and 30 Aug, plus 2-4pm 31 Aug
Grab a Light and Space backpack and join our volunteers for an afternoon getting hands-on with some of our collections — and see our amazing objects in action. Free, drop-in.
Museum of Natural History
Breaking Ground – 10am-5pm, until 29 September
The 19th century transformed our understanding of the history of earth. Discover how William and Mary Buckland, the couple at the heart of this exhibition, helped to establish and illustrate new scientific methods and ideas which led to fascinating discoveries in palaeontology - including the first ever dinosaur to be named to science. A Breaking Ground Family Trail accompanies this free exhibition. On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, there’s a chance to explore stories and themes from the exhibition through touchable objects and museum specimens - 1.30-3.30pm, free, drop-in.
Family-Friendly Sundays – 2-4pm
Join in on Sunday afternoons of nature-themed activity backpacks, crafts, family-friendly trails, and more led by Museum volunteers. Free, drop-in.
Out of the Deep – 11am-1pm, Saturdays
Specimen handling. Join us for family-friendly specimen handling and explore the underwater world of marine reptiles. Free; drop-in.
Autism-friendly Openings – 9-10am, 19 July and 19 August
Designed for families with members on the Autism Spectrum to explore the Museum collections in a quiet environment. These are joint events with next door’s Pitt Rivers Museum. Free; booking essential via email.
Meet the Scientists: Try Out Research! - 10.30am-3.30pm 19, 28 and 30 July
Join the Oxford University Experimental Psychology team to take part in real research. Try a VR headset, listen to a story, or have a go at drawing different facial expressions. Taking part in these activities will help scientists discover more about children’s behaviour and how their brains work. Free; drop-in.
Bags of Fun – 1.30pm-3.30pm 28 July and 4, 11 and 18 August
Borrow a fun family activity backpacks to explore the Museum collections. Free, drop-in.
We are Nature – 10.30am-12.30pm 15 and 22 August
Pop along to our summer holiday activity stand led by summer placement students to learn about how we are connected to nature. Free, drop-in.
Pitt Rivers Museum
Family Activity Corner – 12-3pm 12, 19 and 26 July
Join us for family-friendly activities on the first floor. Pick up a trail, get creative with a craft, and explore.
Summer Art Challenge – 12-3pm Wednesdays and Thursdays, 23 July - 28 August
Show your creative side and see the Museum in new ways. Collect your mystery Art Challenge from the 'Inspiration Station' on the first floor. Use the provided drawing materials, or bring your own. Suitable for all ages. Free; drop-in.
Free Family Trails
Download one of the Pitt Rivers' free family trails in advance, or pick one up for free during your visit.
Weston Library, Bodleian
Treasured – until 26 October
What makes a treasure? Is it age, rarity, beauty – or something else? Treasured shines a light on the human stories behind some of the world’s most remarkable books and manuscripts from Bodleian collections which have shaped our intellectual heritage, and the hearts and minds of those who cherish them. The exhibition ranges from illuminated medieval texts to modern photography, including works by Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and JRR Tolkien. Free.
Summer Family Fun: Treasured 11am-3pm 25, 31 July and 8, 15, 22 and 28 August
What do you treasure most? Discover precious and unexpected treasures of the Bodleian and enjoy exhibition trails, stories, crafts, and keepsake printing. Free; drop in.
