Vale & Downland Museum
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Vale & Downland Museum
  • Visit Us
    • Where to find us
    • Opening times
    • Families
    • Accessibility
    • Group Tours and Talks
    • Coffee Shop
    • Shop
    • Free Digital Guide
    • About Us
      • Mission
      • History
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Policies
      • Contact us
    • Contact us
  • What’s On
    • What’s On
  • Explore
    • Galleries
    • Floorplan
    • Research Library
    • Exhibitions
    • Free Digital Guide
  • Learn
    • Primary Schools
    • Secondary Schools
    • Families
    • Student Opportunities
    • Lifelong Learning
    • Resources
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Trusts and Foundations
    • Legacy Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Join the Friends
  • Friends
    • About the Friends
    • Join the Friends
    • Photo Gallery
  • Local Info
    • Community Links
    • Tourist Info
  • 50 Appeal
    • Corporate
    • Become a Patron
    • 100 Club

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NEWSLETTER

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Vale & Downland Museum

The museum has been nationally acclaimed & offers a very broad range of services, from galleries interpreting the cultural heritage of the Vale of White Horse, to a café with a delightful terrace & garden.

Tel: 01235 771 447

Email: info@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk

Events

Events in April 2026

MMonday TTuesday WWednesday TThursday FFriday SSaturday SSunday

10:00 am: LEGO® Club

10:00 am – 11:00 am
30th March 2026

LEGO® Club is back by popular demand!

Fun sessions for LEGO® loving children.

Children can spend an hour building to their hearts content and their creations will go on display in the museum café for the week.

£4 per child. Spaces are very limited so must be booked in advance.

Monday 30th March, Wednesday 1st April, and Thursday 9th April

10am - 11am OR 11.30am - 12.30pm

How to book:

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

Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years.
Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not have to stay in the room with the children.
There will be a DBS checked member of the museum team in the room at all times.

11:30 am: LEGO® Club

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
30th March 2026

LEGO® Club is back by popular demand!

Fun sessions for LEGO® loving children.

Children can spend an hour building to their hearts content and their creations will go on display in the museum café for the week.

£4 per child. Spaces are very limited so must be booked in advance.

Monday 30th March, Wednesday 1st April, and Thursday 9th April

10am - 11am OR 11.30am - 12.30pm

How to book:

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

Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years.
Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not have to stay in the room with the children.
There will be a DBS checked member of the museum team in the room at all times.

10:00 am: Children's Art Workshop

10:00 am – 11:30 am
31st March 2026

Get creative and transform a tote bag into something unique! In this hands-on workshop with our Learning Officer, children will decorate tote bags using colourful fabrics, pens, and a variety of embellishments. A perfect chance for young artists to explore their creativity and take home their own one-of-a-kind bag!

£10 per child

How to book:

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

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.

*Bookings made online or by phone will incur booking fees

10:00 am: LEGO® Club

10:00 am – 11:00 am
1st April 2026

LEGO® Club is back by popular demand!

Fun sessions for LEGO® loving children.

Children can spend an hour building to their hearts content and their creations will go on display in the museum café for the week.

£4 per child. Spaces are very limited so must be booked in advance.

Monday 30th March, Wednesday 1st April, and Thursday 9th April

10am - 11am OR 11.30am - 12.30pm

How to book:

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

Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years.
Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not have to stay in the room with the children.
There will be a DBS checked member of the museum team in the room at all times.

11:30 am: LEGO® Club

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
1st April 2026

LEGO® Club is back by popular demand!

Fun sessions for LEGO® loving children.

Children can spend an hour building to their hearts content and their creations will go on display in the museum café for the week.

£4 per child. Spaces are very limited so must be booked in advance.

Monday 30th March, Wednesday 1st April, and Thursday 9th April

10am - 11am OR 11.30am - 12.30pm

How to book:

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

Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years.
Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not have to stay in the room with the children.
There will be a DBS checked member of the museum team in the room at all times.

1:30 pm: The Wantage Tramway Talk

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
1st April 2026

This new history of the Wantage Tramway, based upon the company archives, once thought lost, explores hoe the company was formed, tells the stories of some of the people who worked for the tramway. It also reveals for the first time the true reasons for its closure in 1946.

By Dr Richard Marks

Wednesday 1st April  1.30pm

£7.50 per person

Please book in advance online here or in person at the museum

Suitable for people aged 16+

This talk is part of our Adults Gallery Talks Programme for Autumn 2025 - Summer 2026.

The Museum Coffee Shop will be open with refreshments available to purchase before and after this talk. Last orders at 3pm. Please note food and drink are not permitted in the Museum galleries, so please allow enough time to visit the Coffee Shop.

10:30 am: Drop-in Easter Crafts

10:30 am – 11:30 am
2nd April 2026

We know pre-booking isn't for everyone so we have you covered this Easter with the Drop-in Easter Crafts.

Come along and enjoy creating a pop-up Easter card

Thursday 2nd April, 10.30 - 11.30am.

£2.50 per child

No need to book, just come along, pay at reception and have fun!

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Closed: Bank Holiday

Closed
3rd April 2026

The Museum and Coffee Shop are closed for Good Friday
44th April 2026
55th April 2026

Closed: Bank Holiday

Closed
6th April 2026

The Museum and Coffee Shop are closed today for Easter Monday
77th April 2026

10:00 am: Splendid Spring - Family Craft Day

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
8th April 2026

Celebrate the season with us at the Vale & Downland Museum ​with a cheerful morning or afternoon ​full of creativity, stories and springtime fun! Children will enjoy a range of hands-on spring crafts, listen to delightful stories and look out for a special hop-by visit from the Easter Bunny.

£6.50 per child.
Must be booked in advance.

Wednesday 8th April
10am - 12pm OR 1 - 3pm

How to book:

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

There are two sessions on this day so please make sure you book and attend the correct session.

This event is aimed at primary aged children but younger and older children are welcome. Younger children will require more assistance from their accompanying adult.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

* online and telephone bookings incur booking fees

1:00 pm: Splendid Spring - Family Craft Day

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
8th April 2026

Celebrate the season with us at the Vale & Downland Museum ​with a cheerful morning or afternoon ​full of creativity, stories and springtime fun! Children will enjoy a range of hands-on spring crafts, listen to delightful stories and look out for a special hop-by visit from the Easter Bunny.

£6.50 per child.
Must be booked in advance.

Wednesday 8th April
10am - 12pm OR 1 - 3pm

How to book:

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

There are two sessions on this day so please make sure you book and attend the correct session.

This event is aimed at primary aged children but younger and older children are welcome. Younger children will require more assistance from their accompanying adult.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

* online and telephone bookings incur booking fees

10:00 am: LEGO® Club

10:00 am – 11:00 am
9th April 2026

LEGO® Club is back by popular demand!

Fun sessions for LEGO® loving children.

Children can spend an hour building to their hearts content and their creations will go on display in the museum café for the week.

£4 per child. Spaces are very limited so must be booked in advance.

Monday 30th March, Wednesday 1st April, and Thursday 9th April

10am - 11am OR 11.30am - 12.30pm

How to book:

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

Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years.
Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not have to stay in the room with the children.
There will be a DBS checked member of the museum team in the room at all times.

11:30 am: LEGO® Club

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
9th April 2026

LEGO® Club is back by popular demand!

Fun sessions for LEGO® loving children.

Children can spend an hour building to their hearts content and their creations will go on display in the museum café for the week.

£4 per child. Spaces are very limited so must be booked in advance.

Monday 30th March, Wednesday 1st April, and Thursday 9th April

10am - 11am OR 11.30am - 12.30pm

How to book:

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

Suitable for children aged 4 - 10 years.
Parents/guardians must stay on site but do not have to stay in the room with the children.
There will be a DBS checked member of the museum team in the room at all times.
1010th April 2026
1111th April 2026
1212th April 2026

10:00 am: Toddler Tunes

10:00 am – 10:30 am
13th April 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

 

 
1414th April 2026
1515th April 2026

7:30 pm: Friends of VDM Talk - The Bodleian Library

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
16th April 2026

Join the Friends of the Vale & Downland Museum and speaker Helen O'Neill for another fascinating talk

An illustrated talk about the Bodleian Library. - the central library of The University of Oxford.  The Bodleian is one of the oldest libraries in Europe  and, in Britain,  second in size only to The British Library.  The talk will cover history,  statistics,  stories and more!
Helen O’Neill is a part-time Visitor Host at the Bodleian Library

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

Book online here  or pop into the museum

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
1717th April 2026
1818th April 2026
1919th April 2026
2020th April 2026
2121st April 2026
2222nd April 2026
2323rd April 2026

12:30 pm: Live Music - Greengage

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
24th April 2026

Live Music - Greengage

Wantage folk band Greengage will be in the museum cafe for a lunchtime performance.

Enjoy lunch from the cafe with some lovely live music.

Free admission but donations to the museum welcome.

Please support the coffee shop.

 
2525th April 2026
2626th April 2026
2727th April 2026
2828th April 2026
2929th April 2026
3030th April 2026

10:30 am: Age UK Information Drop-in

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
1st May 2026

Community Links worker Sam from Community Links Oxfordshire (Age UK) will be in the Museum Coffee Shop to share information and give advice on a wide-range of activities, services and organisations.

Friday 1st May

10.30 am - 12 noon

Free admission but please support the Coffee Shop

 
22nd May 2026
33rd May 2026
Awards

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