Ashmolean Exhibition: In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World
Until August 16
A richly layered exhibition tracing the global stories behind the flowers we think we know – from botanical exploration to trade, obsession and empire. Trot along to Elias Ashmole's extraordinary repository of treasures and you will be rewarded with paintings, rare objects and a fascinating look at how plants shaped our culture itself.
Book it.
Image: Verelst - Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Easter at Blenheim Palace
3 – 6 April
Where better to glory in the landscape as it blossoms into life than at Blenheim Palace and its Capability Brown–imagined grounds? For four days, they'll be given over to Easter festivities – which is to say, a giant wicker egg trail (with prizes), circus shows, a vintage fairground and encounters with some rather charming egg-laying creatures.
Book it.
Daffodil Season at Waterperry Gardens
Until 30 April
Is there any flower more cheerful than a daffodil? For proof of such, head forthwith to the exquisite Waterperry Gardens, where 10,000 blooms – planted last autumn – are now in full, golden flourish. The result: some of the most uplifting spring walks you'll find anywhere in the county.
Foraging Course at Harcourt Arboretum
26 April
Book in for a day spent learning what's growing under your feet led by pro bushcraft instructor Manse Ahmad in the beautiful setting of the Harcourt Arboretum. It promises to be a gentle introduction to wild food and medicinal plants, alongside practical tips on safe foraging and identification. Bring a packed lunch, a curious mind – and do look out for the collection of peacocks that strut free-range across the landscape.
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Model Making Session with Models for Heroes
14 April
We love the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, which we always feel hides its light under a bushel somewhat, rarely trumpeting its understated brilliance. Which leaves us to do it for them – we urge to you to pop along for this brilliant drop-in, where veterans and volunteers come together to talk and make models. Bring your own project or simply turn up, try your hand, meet new people and then go exploring the rest of the museum, which is very fine indeed.
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Weeds From The Yard Supper Club at Worton Kitchen Garden
24 April
A wonderfully eccentric four-course supper celebrating the overlooked: edible 'weeds' reimagined into something both wholesome and delicious, with a side of gastrophysics insight that comes courtesy of Professor Charles Spence. Communal tables amid exquisitely rustic surrounds and seasonal produce: in short, the best of all things.
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Florence Foster Jenkins At The Playhouse, Oxford
14 – 18 April
The extraordinary true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the New York heiress who became infamous for her spectacularly off-key opera performances, arrives in Oxford in this affectionate, sharply observed comedy. Absurd yet moving, it's a reminder that passion can sometimes trump talent.
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Spring at Cogges Manor Farm, Witney
Until 12 April
A reliably charming option for families. April brings lambing season, kitchen garden activity, an Alice In Wonderland Mad Hatter's tea party, seasonal crafts and Easter trails through the orchards. It's low-key, hands-on and exactly the thing for busy small ones.
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Lambing Tour, Daylesford, Kingham
11 April
Want to bear witness to new life arriving on the most chichi farmstead in the land? Hot foot it forthwith to Daylesford for an hour-long lambing tour. And should you get the taste for this most fancy of farms, you can always book in for the From The Market Garden: Spring Supper on 23 April.
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Pets & Their People, Weston Library, Oxford
Until 27 September
We love the Weston Library, both for its sleek Wilkinson Eyre–designed interiors and its regular roster of free exhibitions – bijou, thoughtful and consistently well done. Pets & Their People is a case in point, exploring our long-standing fascination with domesticating animals, and the many ways they've been depicted across art and literature.
Children's Literature Tour Of Oxford
15 April
Few cities are as steeped in literary history as Oxford – but even by its own standards, its links to classic children's literature feel particularly rich. This guided walking tour brings those stories to life, tracing the real-life settings behind some of the most beloved tales, from Alice to the world of Narnia, and even a certain boy wizard whose on-screen story found its way here.
Designed for children aged seven to thirteen (and their accompanying adults), it's an engaging, well-paced way to spend an afternoon among the dreaming spires.
Book it.
Sara Wheeler on Jan Morris, Blackwell's, Oxford
April 15
Blackwell's does a good game when it comes to author talks, offering up a rich roster of writers and subjects ripe for debate. This month, we'll be bagging a spot as Sara Wheeler discusses her biography, Jan Morris: A Life, which delves into the travel writer's intrepid antics, from joining the 1953 Everest expedition to interviewing Che Guevara.
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FAQs: April In Oxfordshire
What's on in Oxfordshire in April 2026?
April brings a mix of Easter events, exhibitions, countryside activities and cultural talks – from Blenheim's Easter trail to literary tours, lambing events and museum shows.
Are there family-friendly events in Oxfordshire this April?
Yes – highlights include Cogges Manor Farm's Easter programme, the Children's Literature Tour in Oxford, and seasonal activities at places like Blenheim Palace and Milletts Farm.
What are the best outdoor activities in Oxfordshire in spring?
Spring is ideal for garden visits, foraging courses and countryside walks. Waterperry Gardens and Harcourt Arboretum are particularly good this time of year.
Do I need to book April events in advance?
For popular events – especially supper clubs, theatre performances and guided tours – booking ahead is strongly recommended, particularly over the Easter period.
What exhibitions are on in Oxford this spring?
Standouts include the Ashmolean's In Bloom exhibition and the Weston Library's Pets & Their People, alongside a rolling programme of smaller cultural shows across the city.
