Oxford’s Weston Library is a free space for everyone this summer, whether you are cooling off with a browse of the exhibitions, treating the little ones to a play in The Toddleian, or booking one of the award winning tours that take you behind doors otherwise closed to the public. Here is our guide to making the most of a summer visit.
Exhibitions worth cooling down for
Meet the iconic Muses who usually stand atop the Clarendon Building. Removed for conservation in 2023, several have since been conserved or newly cast in lead, and three now stand at eye level in Blackwell Hall as part of The Muddle of the Muses: Clio, representing History, in her original lead form, Calliope, representing Epic Poetry, as a lead reproduction, and Polyhymnia, representing Rhetoric, in her original statue form. It is a rare chance to see these familiar rooftop figures up close and to learn the story behind their restoration.
Full details: The Muddle of the Muses
Humans have been living alongside animals for over ten thousand years, and Pets & their People asks why we still want tame wolves in our homes and wild cats on our laps. Drawing on the Bodleian’s stories, imagery and poetry, the exhibition traces one of the earliest known depictions of an assistance dog through to a rare copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that has never before been shown in the UK. It is a thoughtful look at what our bond with pets says about who we really are.
Full details: Pets & their People
Inspired by The Book of Birds by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane, Wonder of Birds celebrates the beauty of the birds around us while acknowledging just how sharply their numbers have fallen in recent decades. Structured around the seven wonders of birds, nest, egg, beak, song, feather, flight and migration, the exhibition brings together Oxford ornithological research with Bodleian treasures including John Gould’s Birds of Great Britain, John James Audubon’s Birds of America, and previously unseen glass plate negatives by naturalist Emma Louisa Turner. A specially commissioned soundscape and a collaboration with artists Daniel & Clara round out the experience.
Full details: Wonder of Birds
Talks, tours and family days
Alongside the Wonder of Birds exhibition, the Weston is hosting a series of related talks plus six family fun days exploring our relationship with birds through art, stories and creative writing, suitable for all ages. Alice’s Day returns on 4 July with storytelling, crafts and the library’s famous flamingo croquet, and with 2026 marking 150 years since the publication of The Snark, there will also be a run of Nonsense Poetry talks from the Lewis Carroll Society and a screening of Simon DaVison’s 2023 film The Hunting of the Snark.
See the full events calendar: Events & Exhibitions
For a look inside the working library itself, guided tours run from thirty minutes up to ninety, taking in the Old Library, Duke Humfrey’s Library, the Divinity School and, on selected tours, the Radcliffe Camera. As these remain working libraries, a guided tour is the only way in for visitors. City walking tours are also available for those keen to uncover the wider story of the university and its landmarks, and an outdoor audio trail delivered via smartphone is on offer for anyone who prefers to explore at their own pace.
Browse and book: Tours
Something for every family member
Children of all ages can join the Divinity School visit and the city of Oxford walking tours, with discounted family tickets and free entry for under fives. Children aged eleven and up are welcome on the library guided tours, and during school holidays the Bodleian runs children’s literature tours around Oxford for book loving children aged seven and up, alongside their parents.
Somewhere to pause
The Space for Reading is a literary pit stop stacked with books for adults and children alike. Its current theme, Neurodiversity and Reading, is the result of a six month partnership between the Bodleian Libraries and Iffley Academy.
Tucked behind the Bodleian Café, on the left as you enter the Weston Library, The Toddleian offers a soft mat, low table and seating, plus books and toys for babies, toddlers and their grown ups to enjoy together.
The Bodleian Café itself is a welcoming spot to break up a day of sightseeing, serving snacks, drinks and hot and cold food in Blackwell Hall or out on the colonnade on Broad Street. It was among the first cafés to be awarded the Family Café Standard by Kids in Museums, recognising family friendly spaces, choice of food, affordability, sustainability and staff training.
Take a piece of the Bodleian home
The Bodleian Shop is well worth a browse for exclusive exhibition ranges, the latest titles from Bodleian Publishing, and official University of Oxford merchandise, from tees and caps to the popular Moleskine x University of Oxford collection, available only through the Bodleian Shop.
Shop online: Bodleian Libraries Shop
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Looking for more days out this summer?
Read our guide to 20 Free Things To Do In Oxford
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The Bodleian Café holds the Kids in Museums Family Café Standard
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