VALE & DOWNLAND

At the Vale & Downland, you’ll discover so much more than a museum! From fossils to a Formula One, we have objects and stories to fascinate all ages.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

Our vibrant and frequently changing programme of exhibitions and events ensures there is always something new to see and do for families and schools.

COFFEE SHOP & GIFT SHOP

Enjoy delicious home-made cakes and light lunch served in the Coffee Shop. Our shop also stocks a range of books, gifts, toys and souvenirs.

VALE & DOWNLAND

At the Vale & Downland, you’ll discover so much more than a museum! From fossils to a Formula One, we have objects and stories to fascinate all ages.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

Our vibrant and frequently changing programme of exhibitions and events ensures there is always something new to see and do for families and schools.

COFFEE SHOP & GIFT SHOP

Enjoy delicious home-made cakes and light lunch served in the Coffee Shop. Our shop also stocks a range of books, gifts, toys and souvenirs.

Welcome to the Vale & Downland Museum

We are open Monday to Saturday 9.30am • Last admission to the Galleries is 3.30pm • Admission is free.

The Vale and Downland Museum is located in the busy market town of Wantage in Oxfordshire, UK.

The museum has been nationally acclaimed as an outstanding example of community partnership.

The range of services is very broad ranging, from galleries interpreting the cultural heritage of the Vale of White Horse region, to a Coffee Shop with a delightful terrace and garden.

It also acts as a springboard for residents and visitors to enjoy and appreciate the countryside around Wantage.

Admission to the museum galleries is free but we welcome donations. (suggested donation of £5)

We have lots of exciting events taking place at the museum throughout the year.

See below for our upcoming and current events. For a calendar of events, check out our ‘What’s On’ page!

Week of Aug 3rd

  • - LEGO® Club and 1 other event
    LEGO® Club

    LEGO® Club

    –
    3rd August 2026

    LEGO® Club is back for summer 2026!

    These sessions are perfect for any LEGO® loving child. Each session is an hour of building fun with our vast collection of LEGO®.

    Sessions run throughout the summer on the following dates:

    Monday 20th, & 27th July, and 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th August

    Wednesday 22nd, & 29th July, and 5th, 12th, 26th August

    Thursday 20th August

    Each day has two sessions: 10am - 11am and 11.30am - 12.30pm.

    £4 per child, per session.

    Book in advance to avoid disappointment as we can not guarantee there will be walk-in spaces available.

    Book online here or at the museum.

    Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not need to stay in the room with the children.

     

    LEGO® Club

    LEGO® Club

    –
    3rd August 2026

    LEGO® Club is back for summer 2026!

    These sessions are perfect for any LEGO® loving child. Each session is an hour of building fun with our vast collection of LEGO®.

    Sessions run throughout the summer on the following dates:

    Monday 20th, & 27th July, and 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th August

    Wednesday 22nd, & 29th July, and 5th, 12th, 26th August

    Thursday 20th August

    Each day has two sessions: 10am - 11am and 11.30am - 12.30pm.

    £4 per child, per session.

    Book in advance to avoid disappointment as we can not guarantee there will be walk-in spaces available.

    Book online here or at the museum.

    Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not need to stay in the room with the children.

     

  • - Science Family Day and 1 other event
    Science Family Day

    Science Family Day

    –
    4th August 2026

    Join us at the Vale & Downland Museum for another fantastic science day with the team from Rutherford Appleton Laboratories and UWE Bristol. It is going to be a day filled with amazing science activities, including:

    • make colour changing bead worms
    • hold fossils and see them under a microscope
    • Science Hunters with the UWE Bristol team - using minecraft
    • make origami models of the James Webb Space Telescope
    • make a bracelet with your name in binary
    • create an animation of a Flexipede Zoetrope
    • program Bee-Bot robots

    Tuesday 4th August. 10am - 12pm OR 1 - 3pm

    £6.50 per child per session

    These family days are always very popular and space is limited, so booking in advance is essential.
    Children must be accompanied by an adult but adults do not need to book a ticket.

    Science Family Day

    Science Family Day

    –
    4th August 2026

    Join us at the Vale & Downland Museum for another fantastic science day with the team from Rutherford Appleton Laboratories and UWE Bristol. It is going to be a day filled with amazing science activities, including:

    • make colour changing bead worms
    • hold fossils and see them under a microscope
    • Science Hunters with the UWE Bristol team - using minecraft
    • make origami models of the James Webb Space Telescope
    • make a bracelet with your name in binary
    • create an animation of a Flexipede Zoetrope
    • program Bee-Bot robots

    Tuesday 4th August. 10am - 12pm OR 1 - 3pm

    £6.50 per child per session

    These family days are always very popular and space is limited, so booking in advance is essential.
    Children must be accompanied by an adult but adults do not need to book a ticket.

  • - LEGO® Club and 1 other event
    LEGO® Club

    LEGO® Club

    –
    5th August 2026

    LEGO® Club is back for summer 2026!

    These sessions are perfect for any LEGO® loving child. Each session is an hour of building fun with our vast collection of LEGO®.

    Sessions run throughout the summer on the following dates:

    Monday 20th, & 27th July, and 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th August

    Wednesday 22nd, & 29th July, and 5th, 12th, 26th August

    Thursday 20th August

    Each day has two sessions: 10am - 11am and 11.30am - 12.30pm.

    £4 per child, per session.

    Book in advance to avoid disappointment as we can not guarantee there will be walk-in spaces available.

    Book online here or at the museum.

    Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not need to stay in the room with the children.

     

    LEGO® Club

    LEGO® Club

    –
    5th August 2026

    LEGO® Club is back for summer 2026!

    These sessions are perfect for any LEGO® loving child. Each session is an hour of building fun with our vast collection of LEGO®.

    Sessions run throughout the summer on the following dates:

    Monday 20th, & 27th July, and 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th August

    Wednesday 22nd, & 29th July, and 5th, 12th, 26th August

    Thursday 20th August

    Each day has two sessions: 10am - 11am and 11.30am - 12.30pm.

    £4 per child, per session.

    Book in advance to avoid disappointment as we can not guarantee there will be walk-in spaces available.

    Book online here or at the museum.

    Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not need to stay in the room with the children.

     

  • - Children's Art Workshop
    Children's Art Workshop

    Children's Art Workshop

    –
    6th August 2026

    Get creative at our art workshop for children ages 7+.
    A hands-on workshop full of creativity, making, and fun to take home and enjoy.

    Thursday 6th August - We'll be decorating ceramic photo frames using permanent markers and a variety of embellishments.

    £10 per child, per workshop

    Book online here

    This workshop is strictly for children aged 7 years and upwards. Any bookings for children aged below 7 years will be cancelled.

    This is a taught workshop, so please arrive promptly.
    Our Learning Officer is a fully qualified teacher and DBS checked.
    Parents/guardians please drop off your children at the beginning of the session and then return to the museum to collect your child(ren) at the end of the session. You will not be able to stay in the room with the children because there is limited space available. You are welcome to stay in the museum/café or go home, but please make sure you are here to collect your child at the end of the session. A contact telephone number for the adult that will be dropping off/collecting the child is required.

Hannah

-

“Lovely local museum. Interesting galleries, yummy cafe and good craft activities for all the family.”

Lucy

-

“What a great museum we have in Wantage. It’s the best. Today was a Science exhibition and was totally amazing. Well done. Keep up the great work.”

Sean

-

“A nice Museum for a nice little town and the staff is always happy to help. I recommend all friends and family should visit the museum it’s well worth it.”