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Open every day, 10am–5pm (last entry 4.45pm)

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IN BLOOM

How Plants Changed Our World

Exhibition open 19 Mar – 16 Aug 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ – The Guardian
★ ★ ★ ★ – The Times

BOOK TICKETS

MEMBERS GET MORE

Membership gives you unlimited access to exhibitions, with no need to book, members-only previews and curator-led talks and tours, a members’ magazine sent to your door, plus shop, restaurant and café discounts.

Every Membership supports the Museum.

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SHOP

SHOP THE EXHIBITION

Discover our range of botanical-themed homewares, stationery, clothing and accessories inspired by In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World.

BOOK

ENJOY AFTERNOON TEA

Treat yourself and a loved one to a delicious In Bloom inspired afternoon tea in the Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant.

GALLERY ACTIVITY

POETRY IN THE GALLERIES MAY 2026

A free event. Poets from Oxfordshire will explore the Mediterranean World Gallery (gallery 30).

Sat 2 May 2026, 2–3pm

At the Museum

MEMBERS ONLY

WILLIAM KENT AND THE GRAND TOUR

Discover original engravings by painter, architect and garden designer William Kent and gain insights into his...

Discover original engravings by painter, architect and garden designer William Kent and gain insights into his life, mind and design process.

Thu 7 May 2026, 10:15am-11:15am OR 11:30am-12:30pm

At the Museum

MEMBERS ONLY

VISIT TO ROUSHAM HOUSE AND GARDENS

Rare opportunity for guided tour of Rousham House, with historic interiors and landscape gardens by William Ke...

Rare opportunity for guided tour of Rousham House, with historic interiors and landscape gardens by William Kent.

Thu 7 May 2026, 2-4.45pm

Off-site visit

FULLY BOOKED

SPRING SHOWERS PASTEL WORKSHOP

Spend two days with award winning pastel artist Sandra Orme exploring how to use pastels to create dramatic spring...

Spend two days with award winning pastel artist Sandra Orme exploring how to use pastels to create dramatic spring weather skies

Fri 8 May – Sat 9 May 2026, 10.30am–4pm

At the Museum

WORKSHOP

STORYTELLING IN NATURE WORKSHOP

This unique and practical two day course will provide participants with a far reaching exploration of how to plan...

This unique and practical two day course will provide participants with a far reaching exploration of how to plan and deliver inspirational storytelling relating to natural places....

This unique and practical two day course will provide participants with a far reaching exploration of how to plan and deliver inspirational storytelling relating to natural places.

Sat 9 May and Sun 10 May 2026, 10.30am–4pm

At the Museum

FULLY BOOKED

MAY MORRIS EMBROIDERY DESIGNS: PRINT ROOM VISIT

Join textile historian and author Dr Lynn Hulse to explore a lovely selection of May Morris works on paper from...

Join textile historian and author Dr Lynn Hulse to explore a lovely selection of May Morris works on paper from the Ashmolean collection.

Tue 12 May 2026, 11:30am–12:30pm & 2:00pm–3:00pm

At the Museum

TALK

THE FORBIDDEN GARDEN OF LENINGRAD BOOK TALK

Discover the story of the people who defended the world's first seedbank during the siege of Leningrad which...

Discover the story of the people who defended the world's first seedbank during the siege of Leningrad which began in 1941 and lasted for 872 days.

Thu 14 May 2026, 2-3pm

At the Museum and Online

FULLY BOOKED

JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY MAY 2026

Learn about the art of tea in Japan, enjoy a bowl of green tea and watch a demonstration in the Ashmolean’s authentic...

Learn about the art of tea in Japan, enjoy a bowl of green tea and watch a demonstration in the Ashmolean’s authentic Japanese tea house.

Fri 15 May 2026, 1pm & 3pm

At the Museum

FULLY BOOKED

PLANT POWER PRINTING WORKSHOP

A one-day creative printmaking workshop exploring humanity’s evolving relationship with plants through relief,...

A one-day creative printmaking workshop exploring humanity’s evolving relationship with plants through relief, stamp, and monoprint techniques.

Tue 19 May 2026, 10.30am–4pm

At the Museum

MEMBERS ONLY

FROM ANCIENT ROOTS TO MODERN REMEDIES

Join us for this talk by Susan Burge and learn about the history of healing with plants

Wed 20 May 2026, 3–4pm

At the Museum and Online

MEMBERS ONLY

AFTER HOURS IN BLOOM EXHIBITION CURATOR TOUR

Join curator Shailendra Bhandare for a private after-hours tour of our major new exhibition, In Bloom: How Plants...

Join curator Shailendra Bhandare for a private after-hours tour of our major new exhibition, In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World.

Wed 20 May 2026, 5–6:00pm

At the Museum

PRINT ROOM DISPLAY

PRINT ROOM POP-UP EXHIBITION: WOMEN ARTISTS

Explore a unique pop-up exhibition of drawings, watercolours, and prints by women artists.

Thu 21 May 2026, 10:30-11:10am or 11:30am-12:10pm or 2:30-3.10pm

At the Museum

TRAILS & ACTIVITIES

Look out for gallery trails, stickers and more activities at the Welcome desk on your visit to the Museum.

ASHMOLEAN GALLERY ADVENTURE

Take a fun, interactive family adventure through the Museum. Book ahead or pick up the digital devices when you visit at weekends.

HANDS-ON COIN SESSIONS

Handle coins from all over the world with our volunteers in the Money Gallery 7. Usually every Saturday 11am-3.30pm. Free to drop in.

SHAPED BY NATURE SEASON

A special season of events and more for spring 2026.

CHECK WHAT'S ON

SOMA SUROVI JANNAT: CLIMATE, CULTURE, CARE

The next exhibition in our Ashmolean NOW series presents drawings and paintings from Bangladeshi artist Soma Surovi Jannat, who draws inspiration from the largest mangrove forest in the world and addresses the climate crisis. Gallery 8, lower ground floor. Open until 1 Nov.

COLONIAL VIEWS OF INDIA

This new display features previously unseen photographs and negatives of India taken by Colonel Eugene Clutterbuck Impey. Gallery 29, first floor. Open until 13 Dec.

PAT SUET-BIK HUI & THE THREE PERFECTIONS

Hong Kong artist Pat Suet-Bik Hui, now based in the US, brings together the three art forms of poetry, calligraphy, and painting in her colourful artworks. Chinese Paintings Gallery 11, ground floor. Open until 28 Jun.

CELEBRATING SPRING & MAY DAY WEEKEND

As the cherry blossom and daffodils give over to wisterias, tulips and lilacs, we share our May parade of artworks and objects in our spring stories article

STEP INTO MAY

Membership Card with logos and depictions of birds

JOIN ONLINE

GIFT MEMBERSHIP

Support the Museum and treat someone to free, unlimited access to a year of exhibitions, plus exclusive events and discounts.

BROWSE THE PRINT SHOP

PRINTS & CANVASES

Browse our collection of fine art prints from current exhibition imagery to highlights from across our collection.

Browse the floors of the Museum

Use our interactive floor guide to browse the galleries of the Ashmolean floor by floor and images of the objects they contain

BROWSE

ONLINE COLLECTIONS

Discover thousands of objects and artworks Take a journey through thousands of years of art and history with our online collection. There are currently more than 300,000 objects available to search and browse online.