Be a tourist on your own doorstep...
Save the date for 2025: 13 and 14 September.
A firm favourite in the Oxford calendar, Oxford Preservation Trust has run Oxford Open Doors since 2007. Every September, we dedicate a weekend to opening historic buildings, community spaces and all kinds of places that are not usually accessible to the public, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the city’s rich heritage and culture for free.
Oxford Open Doors 2024
Undeterred by a week of hailstorms, approximately 30,000 visitors took advantage of the returning sunshine to explore the range of experiences and events on offer at over 140 participating venues. A huge thank you is due to our brilliant volunteers and event coordinators, who provided a warm welcome across the city. The Castleyard was full of creativity, from professional stone carvers demonstrating their craft to a hands-on screen printing workshop. Beyond the city centre, at the foot of Shotover Hill, tours of Slade Camp by local historians were very popular.
We were thrilled by how many colleges and university buildings invited the public in this year, with many offering free exhibitions, talks and tours, and we’re grateful for the support of the many community groups and local organisations that contributed by showcasing the work they do and their place in the city’s history. We hope that you enjoyed discovering Oxford Preservation Trust’s own sites, such as the Painted Room, LMS Railway Swing Bridge and North Hinksey Conduit House and, if you didn’t get the chance to visit, you can find out more about our work here.