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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: December 2024

The Ashmolean Museum is a landmark museum and wedding venue located in the heart of Oxford, Oxfordshire, in England. Founded in 1683, it is the world's oldest public museum, making it an iconic setting for your celebration. From opulent galleries and grand sweeping staircases, to the modern Atrium and Rooftop terrace, the Ashmolean Museum is a truly enchanting venue for your wedding, civil partnership or celebration.

Step into a world where history, art and luxury converge, and make your wedding a day to remember. Immerse your guests in half-a-million years of history, art and culture, where fascinating exhibits and stunning architecture provide captivating talking points and blend seamlessly with the refined elegance of your celebration. Live out your own Bridgerton fantasy and incorporate our collections into your day by serenading your Ceremony with the sounds of our elegant walnut Kirckman harpsichord; after the formalities, our carefully selected culinary partners will delight your tastebuds with a bespoke menu of delicious food, perfectly complementing the grandeur of your surroundings; then retreat to our contemporary Atrium or Rooftop restaurant for your Reception, before descending into our underground Vaults to dance the night away. On the Rooftop you and your guests can unwind on the outdoor terrace, where you'll be treated to breathtaking views of Oxford's dreaming spires - an ideal backdrop for unforgettable memories. Whether you dream of a historic Ceremony, a stylish Reception or an unforgettable celebration, our venue offers the perfect blend of heritage and modernity. Make your wedding day as unique and beautiful as your love story.

We can offer intimate daytime or evening ceremonies, through to sumptuous wedding breakfasts and dancing for up to 150 guests. This unique wedding venue is bound to be one your guests won't forget.

Facilities and Capacity

  • The Ashmolean Museum's majestic forecourt creates an entrance to remember for couples and their guests. Inside, the grand staircase and its stunning gilded chandelier form just one of the perfect backdrops for photos.
  • For your ceremony, you can choose the European Art gallery, a romantic setting for up to 90 guests, or for more intimate ceremonies of 15 to 35 people, our Pre-Raphaelite gallery, 19th Century Art gallery and Cast Gallery allow you to exchange vows in truly-one-of-a-kind spaces.
  • Celebrate your wedding with friends and family by holding your reception in our contempory Atrium, before heading to our grand Greek and Roman Sculpture gallery for a sumptuous wedding feast. These spaces can hold up to 150 guests.
  • Alternatively, host your Reception high above the city centre in our contemporary Rooftop restaurant, with an incredible view over Oxford's dreaming spires.
  • Following a formal seated meal, friends and family can dance the night away or relax in the museum's underground vaults.

Services Offered

An experienced in-house wedding planner will assist you at every stage of the process. They understand that every wedding is different and they are on hand to tailor your day according to your wishes and requests. Our experienced team supported by an exclusive catering partner and your suppliers will bring your dream celebration to life at this iconic location.

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

Unusual weddings
Asian wedding
Stately home
Historic
Landmark
In the city
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Corkage option
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Venue staff assistance:

Master of ceremonies/toastmaster
Wedding coordinator

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
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Reviews for Ashmolean Museum

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
33 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
L
Linda Sent on 13/09/2013
5 out of 5 rating

A truly magical wedding

The Ashmolean Museum is an absolutely amazing venue not only because it is so stunning but you actually get many venues all in one place! We had our ceremony in the Mallet gallery, drinks the atrium, dinner in the Randolph sculpture gallery and dancing in the cafe! Our family and friends had a wonderful time experiencing all the Museum offers and the staff helped us to create our dream wedding. The team at the Ashmolean was very experienced and helped us to create a beautifully memorable day. We could not have dreamed of a more perfect setting to share this special occasion. For anyone looking to host their wedding in a beautiful and unique place, this venue captures the magic of Oxford. Thank you sincerely to the Ashmolean team!
L
Lucy Sent on 08/12/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Night at the Museum!

We met in Oxford and wanted to get married there. We chose the Ashmolean almost as soon as we had looked around it - it is such a stunning setting and there aren't many reception venues in Oxford that can hold 150 people! The wedding co-ordinator, Asia, was wonderful - she was so responsive and helpful. She accommodated us wherever possible and helped organise everything from putting out specific named chairs for elderly relatives to setting up a changing space in the lunch room for us to keeping our flowers overnight so we could give them back to the church the next day! We were able to relax a lot more on the night knowing that the event was being handled by a team who are used to weddings and every member of staff involved was so helpful.

The Greek and Roman sculpture gallery is an amazing place to have the wedding dinner and makes wonderful photos (and we did all our family and couple photos in the galleries as well!). We would highly recommend it as a wedding venue and are so glad we chose it.
A
Alex Sent on 08/12/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Outstanding venue and service

We couldn't be happier about having our wedding at the Ashmolean Museum. It's a beautiful venue and very unusual (our guests loved it!) The staff were fantastic before, during and afterwards. We were able to customise the event to suit us, but always felt supported in the advice from the event team.

The venue itself is good value for money. Worth noting that you are restricted in your caterers, who aren't cheap, but are good.
T
The Sent on 20/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Prestigious Museum

Having such a beautiful and prestigious museum so close to us is fantastic, and working at the Ashmolean is always a pleasure for our team. Working in such a unique venue is something the team really enjoy, and the events are always so much fun to work at. We look forward to the next event at the Ashmolean
S
Squib Sent on 06/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

It has an air of magic about it!

The Ashmolean is a beautiful venue to work as a photographer!

You have such a vast selection of options as backdrops from the galleries, roof space as well as the wonderful frontage... You also have Oxford right outside to wonder off with couples. It has an air of magic about it and the team work perfectly around the public access to set up ready for the couple's wedding day! It's a little different to a typical wedding venue and I think that's its charm!
F
Fiona Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Attentive staff and great entertainment

I just wanted to say how much John and I enjoyed the party last night. We love the venue, the food was delicious, the staff attentive and friendly and the DJ very good (apart from a few repetitions!).

I have to say that that floor is excellent for dancing! So more like this, please! Please extend our thanks to all involved.
L
Louise Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

The best day!

Everyone keeps telling me what a fun day it was, and how relaxed me and Karl looked - so definitely credit to you and the team for this!
L
Laura Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing venue & team

You and the team did a fantastic job and we'd love to credit that however we can (and Maciek, our photographer too, of course!)

So looking forward to our first anniversary already ;-)
H
Helena Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Relaxed prewedding shoot

Thank you for everything.

We were so happy with how our photographers were on the day and our pre-wedding shoot, and the final results . Plus they are good value compared to a lot of people we looked at and not at all pushy so we would love you to promote them however you can!

We had the best day at the Ashmolean and have a beautiful album of photographs which we'll treasure forever.
J
Joanna Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Fabulous complimentary anniversary meal

Just a quick thanks to say we had a lovely time last night for our complimentary meal. The food was great and service excellent.

On another note, there are so many nice Ashmolean wedding photos! We loved flicking through and reliving our special day - thank you again for all your hard work.
T
That Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Masters of guest experience

It is an amazing event experience and one of the best spaces in the UK, we are exceptionally lucky to have such a gem in Oxford.

The Ashmolean events team and all of the museum staff are an exceptional group and are masters at the art of supplying a seamless experience for guests attending events. They are totally guest-focused, thoughtful in their approach and take care of their guests and us whilst onsite.
N
Nicola Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Maximum impact with minimal effort!

There doesn’t seem to be anything that is too much to ask of this venue. They are extremely flexible to accommodate couples’ wishes for their big day.

Stacey is their amazing onsite wedding planner and she is on hand to help you through every detail and aspect of your wedding day.

This is a beautiful hidden gem of a wedding venue in Oxford. From the outside you don’t know the expanse of options that are available inside.

It provides a truly wonderful labyrinth of options to hold a wedding or special occasion.
C
Claire Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Timeless wedding venue

I just love the Ashmolean’s vibe as a unique, eclectic and timeless wedding venue. The place is breathtaking, with such an awe inspiring sense of history and space.

It’s an incredible place to get married and I recommend it to all couples in the area looking for somewhere really special to celebrate their weddings!
F
Flowers Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

So much creative scope!

We are totally honoured and privileged to be one of the Ashmolean Museum's recommended suppliers.

The historical building is an incredible space to work in and every wedding or event the team hosts totally blows me away. There is so much creative scope as a florist to work with at the venue, it's an absolute treat!

The team are very professional and friendly, nothing is too much for them. I would highly recommend the Ashmolean Museum. You will not regret booking a wedding or event within these magnificent walls!
Z
Zaki Sent on 01/07/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Top 10 Wedding Venue in Oxfordshire

Stacey, Marie and the whole team at the Ashmolean are such a pleasure to work with. Genuinely lovely people with razor sharp attention to detail.

We are excited to work more with the Ashmolean over the coming years as they continue to grow their impressive wedding portfolio.

This is a venue that really needs to be seen in person. It’s in our top 10 wedding venues in Oxfordshire for sure.
illustration stars

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Events

11 Jan
Open Door

The Ashmolean has been telling stories since 1683 and we would love to help you tell yours.

Nestled among Oxford's iconic dreaming spires, the Ashmolean Museum is a unique and enchanting setting for your wedding, civil partnership, or celebration. Whether you're looking for a venue to host your Ceremony, Reception, or the whole affair, with its grand entrance, sweeping staircases and a selection of historic galleries showcasing half a million years of history and art, the Ashmolean provides a distinctive and memorable backdrop for it all.

We pride ourselves on ensuring every wedding is as individual as the couple that book with us, and with our wealth of experience will be here to support you and your partner through your wedding planning journey.

To help you envision your day, we would be delighted to invite you to one of our upcoming Venue Open Evenings at the Ashmolean Museum on Saturday 11th and Saturday 18th January from 5.30pm. These Open Evenings will allow you to experience the beauty of our venue in person, meet with our lovely team as well as some of our exceptional recommended local suppliers, and sample some delicious complimentary food from our exclusive catering partners, Oxford Fine Dining and Benugo.

The Bodleian Library will also be opening their doors from 10am-4.30pm on these dates for couples to view their beautiful wedding spaces. Make a day of exploring Oxford as your wedding location by emailing their team to book an appointment.

If those dates don’t work for you, no problem! We'd be delighted to arrange a separate one-to-one show-around at a time that suits you, or alternatively you can book a Virtual appointment with us — we’d be delighted to discuss your vision for your big day.

Date: From 11/01/2025 to 11/01/2025 Schedule 17:30 - 20:30
Place: Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire
18 Jan
Open Door

The Ashmolean has been telling stories since 1683 and we would love to help you tell yours.

Nestled among Oxford's iconic dreaming spires, the Ashmolean Museum is a unique and enchanting setting for your wedding, civil partnership, or celebration. Whether you're looking for a venue to host your Ceremony, Reception, or the whole affair, with its grand entrance, sweeping staircases and a selection of historic galleries showcasing half a million years of history and art, the Ashmolean provides a distinctive and memorable backdrop for it all.

We pride ourselves on ensuring every wedding is as individual as the couple that book with us, and with our wealth of experience will be here to support you and your partner through your wedding planning journey.

To help you envision your day, we would be delighted to invite you to one of our upcoming Venue Open Evenings at the Ashmolean Museum on Saturday 11th and Saturday 18th January from 5.30pm. These Open Evenings will allow you to experience the beauty of our venue in person, meet with our lovely team as well as some of our exceptional recommended local suppliers, and sample some delicious complimentary food from our exclusive catering partners, Oxford Fine Dining and Benugo.

The Bodleian Library will also be opening their doors from 10am-4.30pm on these dates for couples to view their beautiful wedding spaces. Make a day of exploring Oxford as your wedding location by emailing their team to book an appointment.

If these dates don’t work for you, no problem! We'd be delighted to arrange a separate one-to-one show-around at a time that suits you, or alternatively you can book a Virtual appointment with us — we’d be delighted to discuss your vision for your big day.

Date: From 18/01/2025 to 18/01/2025 Schedule 17:30 - 20:30
Place: Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Preferred suppliers

Mt Studio
5.0 out of 5 rating , 5 reviews
· Photographers
The Cake Shop
4.9 out of 5 rating , 6 reviews
· Cakes
The Bridal Box
4.9 out of 5 rating , 13 reviews
· Bridalwear Shops
Perfect Words Ceremonies Surrey Celebrant
5.0 out of 5 rating , 15 reviews
· Celebrants
David Bostock Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 51 reviews
· Photographers
V & H Photography
Photographers

Map

Beaumont Street OX1 2PH Oxford (Oxfordshire)
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