Oxford Open Doors 2026

Garden Tours

Saturday 12 September: 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm.

Sunday 13 September: 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm.

Join our consultants Michael and Beverley Lear (specialists in the conservation of historic gardens and parks) for a tour of the St John's gardens. Discover the fascinating history of the gardens, admire some of their most remarkable trees, and learn about ongoing projects to restore historic features and increase biodiversity.

Please note that spaces on our garden tours are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Historic Library Tours

Saturday 13 September: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Sunday 14 September: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Join current St John's students for an exclusive tour of the College's sixteenth- and seventeenth-century libraries. Learn more about our vast collection of manuscripts, early printed books, and the ghost that (allegedly!) haunts the corridors...

Please note that spaces on our library tours are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Architectural History Tour

Saturday 12 September: 11am

Join Professor William Whyte, Keeper of Historic Buildings and Professor of Social and Architectural History at St John's, for a tour of the College. Discover the history of its buildings, and learn more about the fascinating characters who have shaped St John's in the past 500 years.

Please note that spaces on our architecture tour is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

International Piano Series: Viv McLean

Saturday 12 September: 5pm

Internationally acclaimed pianist Viv McLean – winner of the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona – will perform a free one-hour concert to introduce the International Piano Series' 2026-2027 season at St John's.

Fryderyk Chopin
Nocturne in F minor, op.55, no.1
Polonaise in C minor, op.40, no.2
Polonaise in A major, op.40, no.1 ‘Military’
Waltz in A minor, op.34, no.2
Waltz in A flat-major, op.34, no.1

Ludvig van Beethoven

Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, ‘Appassionata’

Please note that tickets for this concert are free, but must be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Tickets will be available from Monday 17 August.

Jazz at St John's: Ensemble Performance

Sunday 13 September: 5pm

Join us on Sunday evening for an ensemble jazz performance starring our Career Development Research Fellow in Music, Dr Samuel Boateng.

The Samuel Boateng Quartet brings their unique blend of Ghanaian traditional rhythms, jazz, blues and funk to the St John's College Open Doors Concert on 13th September at 5pm. The event will feature original compositions, jazz standards, and exciting takes on film music. The quartet includes Samuel Boateng (piano), Jamie Castell (saxophone), Matt Reavly (bass) and Keith Fairbairn (drums).

Please note that tickets for this concert are free, but must be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Tickets will be available from Monday 17 August.

Introduction to Choral Music and Organ Demonstration

Sunday 13 September: 1pm

David Bannister, Choir Director at St John's, will offer an introduction to the history of choral music in St John's Chapel, followed by a demonstration of the organ created for the College by Bernard Aubertin in 2008 with some solo pieces.

Interactive storytelling with Adam and Charlotte Guillain

Sunday 13 September: 10am

Join bestselling children’s authors Adam and Charlotte Guillain for a joyful, interactive storytelling session bursting with imagination, humour and audience participation. Expect songs, laughter and plenty of opportunities to get involved as Adam, a former writer-in-residence at the Roald Dahl Museum and a performance storyteller, and Charlotte, a children's book editor, weave their magic. Perfect for younger audiences and families, this is storytelling at its most lively and engaging.

Please note that this event is suitable for children in reception and KS1. Tickets must be booked in advance via Eventbrite. Tickets will be available from Monday 17 August.

Exhibition: Laudian Vestments

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September: 10am-4pm

St John's has a remarkable collection of liturgical vestments and embroidery from the late medieval period. The vestments include copes (cloaks), hoods, banners and altar cloths which would have been used for Christian worship in the century before the English Reformation. Owing to the reforms brought about by men such as Thomas Cromwell, there are few surviving examples of pre-Reformation liturgical textiles in this country. St John’s collection is thus one of the best of its kind outside of public galleries and museums in the UK.

Exhibition: The Lives of College Servants Through the Centuries

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September: 10am-4pm

This original exhibition offers an inside look at the everyday lives of St John's College servants and staff from 1555 to the present day. What was it like to work for an Oxford college in the sixteenth century? How has working life changed in response to shifts in the University's student population? And how did College staff spend their leisure time and vacations in the early twentieth century?

Please note that this exhibition will take place in the Kendrew Barn Gallery, which is accessible directly from St Giles'.

Meet Missy, St John's Harris's hawk

Saturday 12 September: 11am-1pm

Come and meet 'Missy', a Harris's hawk who visits St John's regularly with her trainer, Dan, to scare away pigeons and keep our buildings free of pests. Ask Dan how he trains his birds and learn more about the important role that hawks play in naturally deterring pests from historic buildings.

Please note that Missy will be tethered to Dan throughout.

Find the Lambs: Treasure Hunt

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September: 10am-5pm

Young children can follow our 'find the lambs' treasure hunt to learn more about the college, explore our grounds, and win prizes to take home. Speak to our friendly student helpers at the entrance to College to find out more about taking part.

Refreshments

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September: 11am-3pm

Tea, coffee, fruit juice, and biscuits will be available in our fabulous dining hall from 11am – 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Refreshments will cost £3.50 per person. Please note that we cannot accept payment in cash.

Visitors are welcome to explore St John's at their own pace using our self-guided tour materials. We have a range of free booklets and printed materials to help you find your way around and learn more about the College. These include:

• A self-guided tour booklet that takes you through each of the College's quadrangles and through the gardens, explaining key moments and figures in St John's history.
• An illustrated guide to the College suitable for children in KS1 and KS2.
• A tree trail that highlights some of St John's most spectacular and significant trees.
• A guide to the portraits in our dining hall.

Just drop in and pick one up!