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 May 11th

  • - Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape and 1 other event
    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    11th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

    Toddler Tunes

    Toddler Tunes

    –
    11th May 2026

    A fun and friendly music session of traditional songs and rhymes played on a variety of instruments.
    Monday 13 April, 11th May, and 8th June.
    10am - 10.30am.
    £2 per child, adults go free but must book an adult ticket.
    Book tickets online here

     

     

  • - Friends of VDM - Trip to Weald and Downland Museum and 1 other event
    Friends of VDM - Trip to Weald and Downland Museum

    Friends of VDM - Trip to Weald and Downland Museum

    –
    12th May 2026

    Join the Friends of the Vale & Downland Museum for day trip to the wonderful Weald & Downland Museum.

    The Weald & Downland Museum is an open-air museum with over 50 rescued historic and working buildings, travelling through 1,000 years of rural life, learning the human and material stories that each has to tell.

    Tuesday 12th May

    The coach will depart from Seesen Way, Wantage at 9am and return to Wantage by 5pm.

    Tickets:
    Members*: Under 60s £38, Over 60s £36
    Non-members: Under 60s £42, Over 60s £40

    How to book:

    • Online via Ticketsource**
    • Phone 0333 666 3366**
    • In person at the museum

    When booking tickets you are required to provide the following;a mobile telephone

    1. mobile number that organisers can contact you on the day
    2. name and contact telephone number for an emergency contact for each person attending

    Failure to provide these details may result in your booking being cancelled.

    *A password is required ​to purchase tickets at members prices. Members should have received the password from the Friends Committee.

    **Bookings made online or by telephone will incur booking fees.

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    12th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

  • - Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape
    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    13th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

  • - Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape and 1 other event
    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    14th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

    Friends of VDM Talk - Oxford Z - A

    Friends of VDM Talk - Oxford Z - A

    –
    14th May 2026

    Join the Friends of the Vale & Downland Museum and speaker Richard O. Smith for another fascinating talk

    Richard O. Smith is a comedy writer who contributes material to Radio 4's The Now Show, The News Quiz and BBC 2's Dara O'Briain's Science Club.
    The talk is funny, entertaining yet historically accurate ride through the quirky and eccentric characters, customs and stories of Oxford - a city that hums with history. Revel in true tales of Oxford’s oddballs, pranksters, poets, murderers, explorers, scientists, actors, criminals and politicians (there may be some crossover here).

    Tickets:
    Members of the Friends £5 each (requires a password)
    Visitors £7 each

    How to book:

    • Online via Ticketsource*
    • Phone 0333 666 3366*
    • In person at the museum

    Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

    *bookings made online or by phone incur booking fees

  • - Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape
    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    15th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

  • - Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape
    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    16th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

  • - Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape
    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    Artweeks Exhibition - Light and Landscape

    –
    17th May 2026

    Light and Landscape

    Local artists Jill Smith and Patsy Jones are returning to the museum for Oxfordshire Artweeks 2026 with their latest exhibition Light and Landscape.

    Tuesday 5th - Saturday 23rd May

    This exhibition will showcase beautiful vibrant paintings, linocuts, prints, and cards featuring Oxfordshire landscapes, coastal scenes, and more!

    Open during normal museum opening times: Monday* - Saturday 9.30am - 3.45pm. Last admission 3.30pm.

    Free admission but please consider donating to the museum and supporting the Museum Coffee Shop during your visit.

    *Please note the museum is closed on Bank Holidays

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a little sneak peek of some the artworks you will see:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Artweeks venues 39 and 40

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.”