We are grateful to TORCH Oxford University for working with us to create this souvenir brochure which chart the history of the Painted Room to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016.

Click here for a printable fact sheet on The Painted Room.

Discover Shakespeare's favourite spots in Oxford and get some fresh air by downloading our self-guided Shakespeare trail here.

A more in-depth version of the trail is available to purchase from our shop HERE.

Shakespeare’s Birthday celebrations 2023

Every year we hold a Shakepeare’s Birthday Parade where important people from across town and gown don their finery and parade to the Painted Room on Cornmarket. Traditionally this has been from the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in the Town Hall, but this year's procession took a longer route beginning at the Castle with some stunning performances by students from Oxford Spires Academy before the Shakespeare town crier, and the medieval musicians the Oxford Waits, led the parade including the Pro-Vice Chancellor, the Proctors, Assessor and Bedels from the University; the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the  High Sheriff, and the Lord Mayor through the streets to the Painted Room.

The festivities ended with Shakespearean scholar Dr Robert Stagg raising the birthday toast to the immortal Bard referring to the publication of the First Folio which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year and is currently on display in the Weston Library. Oxford Preservation Trust are delighted to be the custodians of the Painted Room which is all that remains of the 13th century Crown Tavern, where Shakespeare stayed when he travelled between London and Stratford.

To tie in with our in person event we also shared lots of family activities to enjoy. To find out more about these activities and our 2023 celebrations, please click here.