There’s lots going on in Oxfordshire this March from theatre, to tap-takeovers, to festivals and new museum exhibitions. Plus, treat Mum this Mother’s Day with some exciting events on Sunday 31st.
Dine at Hawkwell House Hotel with a bespoke three-course Sunday roast Mother’s Day menu for only £29.95pp (and half price for children under 12).
Treat Mum with a visit to Bletchley Park‘s iconic Victorian Mansion for a specially designed vintage afternoon tea, accompanied by a live singer.
Enjoy family time with a vintage bus ride from Oxford Bus Museum, with free entry for Mums (when accompanied by a paying child!) on 31st March.
Explore Batsford Arboretum for a day out on Mothering Sunday. Mums get free entry (when accompanied by a paying child!) to the Arboretum, and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the Garden Terrace Café to make her feel even more special? No need to book, just turn up and enjoy!
Good to Know:
Visit Cotswold Wildlife Park to see a beautiful display of flowering tulips! In particular, look out for 1000 striking bright pink tulips in front of the Manor House, planted in aid of UCARE, an Oxford-based charity of urology cancer research.
Treat the family to a day out this March with discounted tickets to Blenheim Palace. You can order online here, or pop into the Visitor Information Centre on Broad Street, Oxford, to purchase. Marvel at the opulence and splendour of the Palace, before taking a relaxed afternoon walk in the stunning parkland and landscaped gardens.
Brighten a March evening with an Oxford Official Walking Tours Pub Tour! A great way to spend an evening, the new Pub Tour offers you the chance to sample whatever tipple takes your fancy in the company of an expert Blue/Green badge Guide, who can tell you the secrets of some of the oldest pubs in Oxford.
Events Calendar:
Get your pen and calendar ready! Here’s our list of some of the best events in Oxfordshire this March. For more, see our Whats On pages.
1 March
Wallingford Museum Opens for 2019
Wallingford Museum opens for their 2019 season, with an exciting new exhibition! “Once upon a time – the changing face of Wallingford” is an interactive and family-friendly exhibition about connecting with times past by exploring Wallingford’s history. Runs from 1 March to 30 November, adult season ticket £5.
1 – 10 March
Dancin’ Oxford Spring Festival
Dancin’ Oxford’s Spring Festival will feature a spectacular feast of delights featuring dance for all tastes from professional performances to workshops – don’t miss it!
1 March
Turrill Sculpture Garden’s ‘Head First’ Exhibition
Soak up some art in the peaceful setting of Turrill Sculpture Garden, with their new ‘Head First’ exhibition in collaboration with The Lifers Sculpture Group of the Sunningwell School of Art. The art focuses on portraits and the human form. Runs from 1 March to 27 April, free entry.
2 – 30 March
Wondrous Happenings at the Sarah Wiseman Gallery
The Sarah Wiseman Gallery in Summertown is proud to present ‘Wondrous Happenings’, a rare chance to see works by the renowned Icelandic artist Karólína Lárusdóttir. Her wonderfully surreal work is inspired by her childhood and Icelandic myth… not to be missed! Runs from 2 – 30 March, free to attend.
4 – 9 March
Annie at New Theatre Oxford
The smash-hit production of Annie returns to New Theatre Oxford, starring award-winning actress Anita Dobson (Eastenders) as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan! With its Tony award-winning book and score, including It’s The Hard-Knock Life and Tomorrow, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it! Runs from 4-9 March, tickets from £13.
4 – 17 March
Henley Youth Festival
Visit beautiful Henley-on-Thames, indulge your imagination and promote children’s visual arts with the annual Henley Youth Festival. This year’s theme is ‘dreams’.
5 March
Pancake Day Race in Wallingford
Think you’ve got the best balance? Always top at the sports day egg-and-spoon race? Wallingford‘s annual Pancake Race is happening 10am 5th March in Wallingford’s Market Place – great fun to take part in, and a fantastic spectacle! Starts 10am, entrants must register beforehand.
5 March
Pancake Day Offer at Hawkwell House Hotel
Head to Hawkwell House Hotel to experience their special Pancake Day menu and receive 20% off accommodation packages PLUS when you dine at the hotel enjoy pancakes as a dessert for only £5 as a dessert option.
11 March
Last Chance to Catch the Intrepid Women Exhibition at Pitt Rivers
The Pitt Rivers‘ fantastic exhibition of groundbreaking female collectors and their fieldwork carried out between 1910 and the late 1950s ends 11 March. It is a unique opportunity to see objects and photographs resulting from their travels, as well as original archival material and film on display for the first time, so make sure you don’t miss it!
13 March
Cider Launch and Open Tap Takeover at Hook Norton Brewery
Join local family business the Hook Norton Brewery to launch their new ciders and sample their new ales and traditional Hooky beers. You will have the chance to meet the team from Oldfields Cider as well as the brewers of the Hook Norton Brewery! 6pm – 9pm, free entry and free samples of your first three beers.
17 March
St. Patrick’s Day Offer at Hawkwell House Hotel
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Hawkwell House Hotel with 20% off accommodation packages PLUS Guinness & brunch at the hotel for just £17pp.
23 March
Akram Zaatari: The Script, New Exhibition at Modern Art Oxford
Visit Modern Art Oxford to experience a solo exhibition of works by renowned Lebanese artist Akram Zaatari. This thought-provoking show explores Zaatari’s on-going fascination with how people choose to present themselves to the outside world. Runs 23 March – 12 May, free entry.
24 March
Wedding Fayre at Hawkwell House Hotel
Hawkwell House Hotel are happily throwing the doors open for all happy couples waiting to tie the knot! View the facilities and speak to the suppliers they work with and highly recommend. 1pm – 4pm, free entry.
25 – 30 March
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at Oxford Playhouse
Discover why Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has kept people guessing for so long, becoming the longest running show of any kind in the history of theatre. Showing at Oxford Playhouse, the scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? Runs 25 – 30 March, tickets from £10.
26 – 27 March
Don’t Miss the Trick at The North Wall
Direct from London’s Bush Theatre to the North Wall Arts Centre, The Trick is a magic show about the parts of life we don’t talk about – the realities of getting older and coming to terms with loss. Ghosts, goldfish, mediums, and sleight-of-hand collide in this new play, directed by award-winning director Roy Alexander Weise (National Theatre’s Nine Night). Runs 26 – 27 March, tickets from £14.
30 – 31 March
A Day Out With Thomas at Didcot Railway Centre
Enjoy a fun day out with the kids at Didcot Railway Centre. Meet Thomas the Tank Engine, his friends and The Fat Controller, who will be keeping an eye on everything. Enjoy rides all day and as often as you wish. Thomas the Tank Engine is running on his Branch Line and his friends are running on the Main Line! Runs 30 – 31 March, adult ticket £15 and child ticket £11.