October at the Ashmolean

SPELLBOUND Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft

"Mesmerising" The Times "Bewitching" The Economist

"Irresistibly creepy" The Telegraph

Spellbinding stories, fascinating objects... from crystal balls and magic mirrors to witch bottles and curse poppets, explore the history of magic over eight centuries in this immersive and thought-provoking exhibition.

Find out more

BOOK NOW

Get in Free – Join Online Today Ashmolean Members get in FREE to all exhibitions and enjoy behind-the-scenes activities as well as a 10% discount in the shop, café & restaurant.

Become a Member

Win a Magical Weekend in Oxfordshire With the Manor Country House Hotel and ila Spa To celebrate our autumn Spellbound exhibition, we’re giving you and a guest the chance to win a magical weekend stay at a stunning hotel near Oxford. The lucky winner, and their guest, will be treated to two nights bed and breakfast, a celebration tea, dinner, a spa session, and a spa goody bag.

Find out more

LiveFriday: Spellbound 7pm, Friday 26 October We'll be conjuring up an evening of wizardry, witchcraft and wonder for our next late night LiveFriday. Encounter magicians, mindreaders, illusionists, potions, magic mirrors and more. Tickets are free.

Book your FREE ticket

GALLERY 8 New FREE Exhibitions

Antinous: Boy made god Until 24 February in Gallery 8 A favourite of the Emperor Hadrian, Antinous drowned in the Nile in AD 130 and the emperor founded a city in his honour called Antinoopolis or ‘Antinous City’. This exhibition explores the spread of Antinous’ image and his empire-wide cult as a hero and god.

Find out more

No Offence: Exploring LGBTQ+ Histories Until 2 December in Gallery 8 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, this British Museum touring exhibition explores the ways same-sex desire, love and gender diversity have been expressed culturally throughout history and across cultures.

Find out more

Exhibition Shop Online & at the Museum Discover our new range of gifts, books, bags, jewellery, prints, art supplies, fashion, games and much more, all inspired by our new Spellbound exhibition.

Shop online

Autumn Events Talks, Tours & Workshops Discover the ancient art of Chinese woodblock printing, follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh, explore the history of magic, learn to make tiles inspired by our Syrian and Iznik collections, and much more this autumn.

Find out more

Halloween Half-Term FREE Family Fun Pick up free trails, sketching materials and activity packs every day, and join us on 24 & 25 October for Halloween crafts, gallery hunts, and stories inspired by spooky objects from around the world.

Find out more

New Free Display Plum Blossom & Green Willow These exquisitely printed woodblock prints, including a number of new acquisitions, offer a rare insight into Japanese culture and customs of the early 19th century.

Find out more

Members' Event From Giacometti to El-Salahi: Curating Modern Art Wed 24 Oct, Booking Essential Dr Lena Fritsch, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, recently joined the Ashmolean from Tate Modern. At this special event she will talk about the joys and challenges of curating an exhibition.

Find out more