Ashmolean Museum

About the venue

Founded in 1683, the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology hires out its galleries and Atrium for weddings and events, along with a rooftop Dining Room and the Café. Ceremonies take up to 90 guests among old master paintings, and the Atrium holds drinks receptions for 900.

The candles on the tables at an Ashmolean dinner are fake. The museum uses faux candles at every event to protect the collections, and confetti is only thrown outside on the forecourt.

The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Its collections take in everything between Egyptian mummies and contemporary art, and admission is free during the day.

Outside opening hours, the museum is hired out for weddings, dinners and corporate events. The European Art Gallery, hung with old master paintings, is the largest ceremony room and seats 90. Smaller ceremonies for 15 to 35 can use the Pre-Raphaelite Gallery, the 19th Century Art Gallery or the Cast Gallery.

The Cast Gallery holds one of the oldest and largest collections of Classical Greek and Roman casts in the UK. The Greek and Roman Sculpture Gallery, with its high ceilings and alcoves, seats 150 for dinner.

The Atrium is the modern centre of the building. It takes 40 for an intimate dinner, or 900 for drinks. Up on the roof, the Dining Room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace looking over the Oxford skyline.

After dinner, parties move down to the Vaults or the Café for dancing and live music. The Café holds 250 standing.

The events team keeps a list of approved suppliers and can suggest hotels in Oxford. A level route leads up to the front door, and there are accessible toilets.

University of Oxford museum of art and archaeology, founded 1683

Gallery ceremonies for up to 90 guests

Atrium drinks receptions for up to 900

Sculpture Gallery dinners for up to 150

Rooftop Dining Room and terrace for 70

Exclusive use outside museum opening hours

Weddings from £2,340 (daytime ceremony, 2026)

Level access and accessible toilets