Opening times

Events in April 2026

Opening times

Events in April 2026

Usual Opening Times

Special Opening Times

Usual Opening Times

Special Opening Times

NEWSLETTER

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10:00 am: LEGO® Club

11:30 am: LEGO® Club

10:00 am: Children's Art Workshop

10:00 am: LEGO® Club

11:30 am: LEGO® Club

1:30 pm: The Wantage Tramway Talk

10:30 am: Drop-in Easter Crafts

Closed: Bank Holiday

Closed: Bank Holiday

10:00 am: Splendid Spring - Family Craft Day

1:00 pm: Splendid Spring - Family Craft Day

10:00 am: LEGO® Club

11:30 am: LEGO® Club

10:00 am: Toddler Tunes

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

12:30 pm: Live Music - Greengage

10:30 am: Age UK Information Drop-in

Vale & Downland Museum

Events

Vale & Downland Museum

Events

Awards

The Museum is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 3.45pm (closed on Sunday & Bank Holidays)

Last admission to the museum and galleries at 3.30pm.

Coffee Shop opening hours

The Coffee Shop is open Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 3.30pm (closed on Sunday & Bank Holidays)

Last orders are at 3pm.

The museum and cafe will be closing early at 1:30pm on 2nd July 2026 for a private event, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

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

1 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.

2 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.

3 Closed: Bank Holiday Closed 3rd April 2026 The Museum and Coffee Shop are closed for Good Friday

6 Closed: Bank Holiday Closed 6th April 2026 The Museum and Coffee Shop are closed today for Easter Monday

8 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

9 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.

13 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

16 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.

24 12:30 pm: Live Music - Greengage 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm 24th April 2026 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.