The Heritage Weekend Information Stall will be in the centre of the Market Place for you to pick up trail leaflets and find out more about Open Properties and displays around the town.

10am-4pm Saturday 13th September

10am-3pm Sunday 14th September

This exhibition will show some of the major changes which took place in Abingdon in the 1960s and 1970s especially the building of the Bury Street Precinct, Stratton Way and the Charter development. At the time they were widely welcomed, but now many people regret what was lost, while others look back with nostalgia to the Precinct when it was first opened, with a very different range of shops than it does today.

We will illustrate the changes and invite you to consider when are redevelopment and new buildings a good thing and when is it better to keep what you have? Would we make the same decisions today as were made in the past? How can individuals contribute to future decisions?

Unit 25, Bury Street

Friday 12th September to Monday 15th September. Daily - 10am - 4pm

Visit our exhibition to rediscover some of our town’s lost buildings (from mansions to the workhouse), view pictures of the town taken during the second world war, and find out how to be a "house detective".

Guildhall, Roysse Room (entrance from Bridge Street) Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September 10am - 4pm

Abingdon Museum is showcasing the architecture of Abingdon’s most prominent landmark. Come and visit the 17th century building. This “exceedingly handsome” building – as John Betjeman called it – was the County Hall of Berkshire until 1974, when Abingdon became part of Oxfordshire. Erected in the seventeenth century by Christopher Kempster, possibly to a design by Christopher Wren, it replaced a previous market hall on the same site. It now houses the town museum.

Abingdon Museum, Market Place, OX14 3HG

13 & 14 September, 10am to 4pm

Abingdon Artists will once again present a display of model landmarks from Abingdon in Unit 25. Alongside this, there will be an exhibition of prints showcasing diverse examples of Abingdon’s architecture.

Opening Times

Saturday, 13th September 2025: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Sunday, 14th September 2025: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Come and discover the magnificent architecture and hidden treasures of Abingdon’s iconic ancient parish church. Join us for refreshments and quizzes, a chance to see the church’s historic treasures, visit the bell tower and play the organ! For times and details see under ‘Open Properties’.

Since 1965, the Culham Campus near Abingdon has led the way in developing the ultimate energy source – fusion.

Thousands of scientists from all over the world have come to the area to work at Culham, and many have made Abingdon their home.

This exhibition tells the story of Culham and the people behind the quest to recreate the power of the stars for cleaner energy here on Earth.

Find out about the history of the site from its days as a wartime airfield through to hosting the JET project, and hear about the latest plans to bring fusion energy onto the grid and into our homes.

Exhibition in Unit 25, Bury Street

Saturday 13th September and Sunday 14th September. 10am - 4pm

Drawing and painting outside has a special kind of magic, and creating art with other artists around makes it even more enjoyable. Join us on Saturday 13th September to paint or draw our beautiful town in an open competition.

The competition is for over 16s and there will be a charge for entry of which all the profit will go to local charities.

The work will be displayed at the end of the day’s session for judging and viewing by the public. Artists are welcome to leave the price and contact details for anyone interested in buying the piece.

More information on our Landscape in a Day page - click link below.

Come along and have some fun in these architecture-themed creative workshops led by tutors and staff from Sunningwell School of Art.

Ideas and materials will be there for you to design and construct 3D models of

buildings and 2D townscapes that tell the story of our town.

Learn more about the history, design and purpose of our architecturally important buildings while making and creating.

Suitable for adults and young people aged 5+ (under 14s to be accompanied by an adult).

11.30 am to 2.30 pm on Saturday 13th September and Sunday 14th September.

Kempster Room (basement of Abingdon County Hall Museum).

Drop-in/ available seat basis, so no pre-booking required.

Abingdon Museum is pleased to present ‘Romans in Abingdon’ at the Abbey Buildings. Join us to step back in time and experience the life of a roman settlement. The Vicus will set up camp showcasing an ancient way of life with crafts and demonstrations of roman military uniform and weapons. This display compliments the summer exhibition at the Museum ‘Romans, Britons and Abingdon – after the oppidum AD43 – AD410’ which is also open to visit 10am to 4pm.

Abbey Buildings, Checker Walk, OX14 3JB on 13th September 2025, 10am to 4pm. 

The Heritage Weekend Treasure Hunt is a simple family quiz that will get you round to see everything and, if filled in correctly, is your entry form for our prize draw.

It costs £2 to enter by picking up a quiz sheet from one of our exhibitions. Submit your answer into our Treasure Hunt box and wait to see if yours is the correct answer drawn out of the box on Sunday at 3.30pm. This year the prize is family tickets for Abingdon Cinema and a construction kit.

Look out for our “Fun Facts” posts on Facebook and spot the “Fun Facts” sheets scattered around our venues.

Some Heritage Properties are open this year around the town centre so that you can see the secrets of their interiors as well as the fine exteriors - some of them are only open for visits on this one day in the year so it's an opportunity not to be missed.

For individual property details and opening times please click on the link below.

Our ever-popular Heritage Walks are back this year: walks will start at 10.30 and 14.00 from the Market Place, book in on the day from 10.00. The full programme is still under development and details will be published here shortly.