Oxford Castle – Unlocked presents Oxford’s hidden history daily on its guided tours of the 1000-year-old former prison, nestled in the city centre. Throughout May, the Castle will be spreading its hidden history a little further by planting 12 geocaches across Oxfordshire with vintage keys concealed inside that the lucky discoverers can exchange for free entry to the visitor attraction. As the weather gets warmer and the population gets out and about, geocaching is the perfect activity for family and friends of all ages to enjoy together. As a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game, players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online at www.geocaching.com. Traditional Geocaching rules dictate that the keys concealed inside the Oxford Castle – Unlocked geocache can only be taken if an item is left in its place, thus carrying on the geocaching chain.

Oxford Castle - Unlocked is open daily from 10.00am to 5.30pm (last tour 4.20pm).
Visitors can book on 01865 260 666 or at www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk

Do you have a story to tell? Sparkoxford is an event that takes place in The Living Room on the last Monday of each month. It consists of people telling true stories of approximately five minutes, without a script to an audience. Anyone is invited to join in, making this a fantastic opportunity for story tellers and audiences from all walks of life to get a chance to meet, mingle and make new friends before and after the show.

The bar is open throughout the evening, and the restaurant is open beforehand.

www.thelivingroom.co.uk/location/oxford

Oxford Castle – Unlocked visitor attraction will be celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with a jam-packed weekend of activity in Castle Yard under the title Best of Britain Weekend. Castle Yard will ring with cheer as it welcomes in the National Town Criers Competition on Saturday 2nd June, The Big Lunch tea-party on Sunday 3rd June, the opportunity to Meet the Falconer and his Birds of Prey on Monday 4th June, and enjoy the fun and frolics of Morris dancing on Tuesday 5th June – presenting a weekend that really does welcome the Best of Britain!

Getting all dressed up for the occasion Sunday 3rd June will also see Castle Gardens play host to a Vintage Village whilst also being busy bustling under the weight of wonderful stalls showing off all things contemporary craft by designer/makers at the first, of what we hope will be many, Handmade Makers Market from 10am to 5pm!  

www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk / handmademakersmarket.wordpress.com

Prompting us to re-evaluate relationships with the city and to explore and stretch the notions of how or what it is to 'don' Oxford Donning Oxford this exhibition presents so much more than straight-forward jewellery.
 
The exhibition’s curators Tamsin Leighton-Boyce, Natalie Smith and Fliss Quick have selected artists for this exhibition on the grounds of their broad approach to jewellery making and the exhibition promises interpretations and responses to this theme in varied and surprising ways.
 
Often described as ‘studio’ or ‘art’ jewellers, the artists exhibiting in Donning Oxford encompass a wide range of methodologies from conceptual to material exploration. These artists use ‘jewellery’ as a medium or subject within their practice to question assumptions about jewellery itself and to raise questions and communicate thoughts about the world around us.

www.o3gallery.co.uk

Step through the looking glass and make like a Mad Hatter at a tea party strictly for grownups in the Living Room's stylish Study.  Come in Alice in Wonderland fancy dress and enjoy the Alice-inspired cocktail and canapé menu whilst enjoying glimpses of Alice-inspired film screenings... “Curiouser and curiouser!” 
Tickets are required for this event, however, it is free to attend. Call The Living Room on 01865 260210.

www.thelivingroom.co.uk/location/oxford / www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

Malmaison mixologists have been concocting, and to mark the 150th anniversary of very first telling of Alice in Wonderland (on 4 July 1862) they have unleashed the unknown, embraced mind-boggling creative combinations and devised a selection of new and exciting Alice in Wonderland inspired cocktails that will be available from the bar in the Visitor’s Room from noon on Saturday 7th July. Go on, we dare you!
 
*weather permitting
www.malmaison.com/hotels/oxford/oxford-mal.aspx / www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

Venture inside Oxford Castle – Unlocked and take a tour up, down, round, and round this historic building until you land in Unlocked’s gallery where you will be invited to get crafty taking inspiration from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and make Rabbit Ears like the ones the Alice’s Day Volunteers wear, or perhaps decorate cups and saucers for your very own Tea Party!?

Oxford Castle was formerly owned by Christ Church where Lewis Carroll (or Charles Dodgson as he was then known) studied mathematics from 1851. He spent the rest of his life as a student and teacher at Christ Church, and it was there that he was given the writing name "Lewis Carroll" by his editor, and there that he met the real Alice.

www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk / www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

Explore a captivating group exhibition of mixed media works demonstrating the wide-ranging ways in which artists' have responded to, and taken inspiration from, Lewis Carroll's famous books, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass in the wondrous O3 Gallery in Castle Street Square. O3 Gallery is working in collaboration with the Lewis Carroll Society who encourage research into the life and works of Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). 

www.o3gallery.co.uk  / www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

Celebrating the significance of this being the 150th anniversary of very first telling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (on 4 July 1862) local actress and storyteller Lucy Walters will immerse her audience into Chapter 7 of the fantastical tale bringing Lewis Carroll’s story to life through intimate, animated 20 to 30minute long storytelling sessions that aim to inspire a love for this frabjous literature. Please gather in O3 Gallery, *storytelling will take place in Castle Gardens, weather permitting, otherwise inside O3 Gallery where space is limited, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

This event is suitable for children of 4 years and over
www.oxfordcastle.com / www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

A short illustrated talk by local historian Mark Davies, author of Alice in Waterland, who will outline the importance of Oxford's waterways as the inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and explain the relevance of this year's 150th anniversary – with reference to locations both upstream and downstream of Oxford, and to the Castle Prison itself.

p.s. Malmaison mixologists have been concocting, and to mark the very first telling of Alice in Wonderland (on 4 July 1862) they have devised a selection of new and exciting Alice in Wonderland inspired cocktails that will be available from the bar in the Visitor’s Room from noon on Saturday 7th July.

www.malmaison.com/hotels/oxford/oxford-mal.aspx / www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

O3 Gallery welcomes back celebrated sculptor Chris Townsend in an exhibition of contemporary sculpture inspired by the natural world. Interested in line, form and balance in both life and art Townsend works mainly with mild steel, stainless steel, found metal objects, stone and wood. Tai chi and kick boxing helps Townsend with the understanding of balance of the human form, and aiding his concentration whilst enabling him to work with vigour in a physical sense.

www.o3gallery.co.uk.

Keeping It Local is a celebration of the richness of local producers, purveyors and performers and is due to take place in mid-September each year. Inspired by the wealth of local talent and quality produce that has passed though events such as the Summer Night Concerts, the Food & Wine Festival, and the Flower & Gardening Festival in Oxford Castle Quarter over the past few years a decision has been made to roll all of these events into one, celebrate community spirit, the riches that are on our door-step, and to give the region a weekend to really shout about and be proud of.

Keeping It Local will be working with the Music Editor at the Oxford Mail to put on a gig, Live and Unlocked, within the atmospherically charged walls of Oxford Castle – Unlocked on the evening of Saturday 15th September showcasing the best local musical talent.

Please visit the Keeping It Local web page for further information HERE.

Dishing up the best that Oxfordshire has to offer join in the celebration of all things tasty at The Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards. Categories include: Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year, Public Vote, British, Rest of the World, Asian, Pub or Bar, Rest of Europe, Express.
Click here to download an application form, or call 01865 742 211 to reserve a seat/table at the awards.

More Information coming soon...