Oxford Open Doors 2012

Many colleges, libraries, museums, collections and departments will take part in the event, which is organised by Oxford Preservation Trust in partnership with the University of Oxford. The theme of events this year is ‘Industrial Heritage’.

The full programme of events can be found on the Oxford Open Doors website. Saturday and Sunday are the main days but many venues are also open today (Thursday 6 September) and tomorrow (Friday 7 September).

Highlights include a tour of the Observatory at Green Templeton College, an update on developments at the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter in the former Radcliffe Infirmary building, and a tour of the Chemistry Research Laboratory.

Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: ‘I am very pleased that many University-owned facilities, such as our libraries, museums and collections, alongside many of the Colleges, will be opening their doors once again to the local community and visiting public.’

Debbie Dance, director of Oxford Preservation Trust, said: ‘Oxford Open Doors is a great event and a fun weekend. Each year it develops its own character with new and different events sitting alongside the firm favourites. We were delighted to be the best event in the UK last year and the 2012 programme is even better.’

Participating Oxford University venues include (in order of when they first open from Thursday to Sunday):

Museum of History of Science, Oxford University Press, Said Business School, Sheldonian Theatre, Botanic Garden, Bodleian Law Library, Radcliffe Infirmary building on the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Christ Church Cathedral, Ashmolean Museum, Bate Collection, Exeter College, Kellogg College, St Catherine’s College (50th anniversary lecture series), University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wolfson College, Harris Manchester College, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology,  Hertford College, Maths in the City, New College, Centre for Developmental Science, Real Tennis Club, The Queen’s College, Balliol Historic Collections Centre at St Cross Church, Magdalen College, Green Templeton College, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (recognised independent centre), Museum of Natural History, Blackfriars, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Jesus College, Lady Margaret Hall, Merton College, Wadham College, Oxford Union, Somerville College, St John’s College, Bodleian Library, Nuffield College, Rhodes House, Department of Engineering, All Souls College, Trinity College.