Bucks &amp; Oxon

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-culture-fixes">FREE CULTURE FIXES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/black-white-costume-actor-1000tall.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-180003" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/black-white-costume-actor-1000tall.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/black-white-costume-actor-1000tall-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/black-white-costume-actor-1000tall-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/black-white-costume-actor-1000tall-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



After an arty party without a hefty ticket price? Oxford’s museum and gallery scene has a few purse-friendly gems on offer. Head to Gallery 11 at&nbsp;The Ashmolean Museum for the fascinating (and free!)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/kabuki-kimono-display-costumes-of-bando-tamasaburo-v" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kibuki Kimono: Costumes of Bandō Tamasaburō V</a>,&nbsp;a celebration of gorgeous gowns then and now. Inspect some of the most spectacular silk sashes around and learn about the kimono&#8217;s cultural significance in Japan and beyond. Also, check out last autumn&#8217;s Ashmolean Now exhibition, <a href="https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/ashmolean-now-bettina-von-zwehl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bettina von Zwehl: The Flood</a>, which displays vibrant contemporary art inspired by the museum’s brilliant collection of historical artefacts. They always go the extra mile for kids too, so do bring the little ones along – just be sure to book on the weekend.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/belkisayon-1000x667.jpg" alt="Visitors at Belkis Ayón exhibition at Modern Art Oxford" class="wp-image-180007" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/belkisayon-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/belkisayon-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/belkisayon-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/belkisayon.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Also in central Oxford, don&#8217;t miss&nbsp;<a href="https://modernartoxford.org.uk/whats-on/belkis-ayon-sikan-illuminations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Belkis Ayón: Sikán Illuminations</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;Modern Art Oxford&nbsp;– a UK-first major survey exhibition of female Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, who, over the course of a short but intense artistic career and life (1967-1999), used printmaking to explore alternative possibilities for sexuality and gender equality (until&nbsp;Sun 9 Feb).&nbsp;Stick around for&nbsp;<a href="https://modernartoxford.org.uk/whats-on/back-toward-oneness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Back Toward Oneness</a>, collective works by Islamic community group The Date Palm Tree, open from&nbsp;Thu 16 Jan. Make a day of it and explore the nearby (15 minutes walk away)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/node/313836" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Museum of Natural History</a>’s educational exhibitions, or nip down the road to the <a href="https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pitt Rivers Museum</a> where they&#8217;ve gone Hawaii crazy, exploring the island&#8217;s landscape and history through textiles.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/banburymuseum.jpg" alt="Banbury Museum" class="wp-image-180073" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/banburymuseum.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/banburymuseum-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/banburymuseum-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.banburymuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Banbury Museum</a>&nbsp;is an unexpected cultural hotspot, and entry to the museum and galleries is free. You&#8217;ll have to pay for the temporary exhibitions (though £5 won&#8217;t exactly break the bank), and the current exhibition is all about the history of Banbury itself. This cool purpose-built museum is in a great spot next to the canal and has a fab waterfront coffee shop and café&nbsp;(okay, that part’s not free).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1135" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Rebekah-Prentice-Wycombe-Museum.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-145719" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Rebekah-Prentice-Wycombe-Museum.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Rebekah-Prentice-Wycombe-Museum-800x605.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Rebekah-Prentice-Wycombe-Museum-1000x757.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Rebekah-Prentice-Wycombe-Museum-400x303.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Rebekah-Prentice-Wycombe-Museum-694x525.jpg 694w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Over in Bucks,&nbsp;Wycombe Museum&nbsp;is a family-friendly freebie set in a gorgeous Grade II listed building (so pretty it&#8217;s a hot spot for &#8216;I dos&#8217;). Famous for its fascinating furniture collection, its flagship exhibition <a href="https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/art-of-the-chair">The Art of the Chair</a> ends on Sun 2 Feb. There&#8217;s treats in store for the kids, too &#8211;&nbsp;<a href="https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/events/babes-in-the-wood-jan-feb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Babes in the Wood Forest School</a>&nbsp;(Thu 30 Jan) for toddlers (18 mths to 5 yrs) and&nbsp;<a href="https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/events/tiny-talk-time-17" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tiny Talk</a>&nbsp;Storytime session for ages 2-5 yrs (Fri 24 Jan).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Soldiers-of-Oxfordshire-Museum.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-154601" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Soldiers-of-Oxfordshire-Museum.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Soldiers-of-Oxfordshire-Museum-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Soldiers-of-Oxfordshire-Museum-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Soldiers-of-Oxfordshire-Museum-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofo.org.uk/galleries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum</a>&nbsp;(hidden in the gardens of Woodstock Library and The Oxfordshire Museum) for a walk down memory lane through the sketches of Winnie the Pooh and Wind in the Willows illustrator E. H. Shepard – Eeyore not gonna want to miss it (sorry).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-fitness">FREE FITNESS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/witneyparkrun.jpg" alt="Participants at Witney Parkrun" class="wp-image-180043" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/witneyparkrun.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/witneyparkrun-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/witneyparkrun-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/witneyparkrun-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Instagram @witneyparkrun</figcaption></figure>



Keen to start pounding pavements but need some motivation? Check out a <a href="https://www.parkrun.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ParkRun</a> near you and run a timed 5k for free with loads of others around to egg you on. They&#8217;re all over Bucks and Oxon, from Buckingham to Henley and all sorts in between. Just <a href="https://www.parkrun.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">go online</a>, download your personal barcode, lace up and go.



Combat sports are &#8216;in&#8217; in 2025, and no, you don&#8217;t have to get hit in the face to get involved. <a href="https://eynsham.org.uk/org-event.aspx?eid=23882#event" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford Sport and Traditional Martial Arts</a> is offering four weeks&#8217; free Martial Arts training through the month of January to 6-18-year-olds, so why not send the kids in and see if they catch the bug?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grab-a-free-pint">GRAB A FREE PINT </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/beer-720x480.png" alt="pints of beer" class="wp-image-89200" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/beer-720x480.png 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/beer-150x100.png 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/beer-300x200.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/04/beer.png 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



Dry January? Not on our watch. <a href="https://www.hooky.co.uk/hooky_events/free-beer-open-tap-tasting-evening-january-8th/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hook Norton Brewery</a> is offering free beer (yes, really) as part of their Open Tap Tasting Evening series. Move quick and pop in on Wednesday this week&nbsp;(8 Jan), and sip a generous three free thirds of brewery fresh ale plus a pint on the house. If you miss that, keep an eye on the website for further dates – there will be more free beer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-leg-stretchers">FREE LEG STRETCHERS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/469740669_18058021081920426_665542396793504967_n-1000x667.jpg" alt="bench with view Wendover Woods" class="wp-image-180136" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/469740669_18058021081920426_665542396793504967_n-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/469740669_18058021081920426_665542396793504967_n-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/469740669_18058021081920426_665542396793504967_n-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/469740669_18058021081920426_665542396793504967_n.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Instagram @wendover.woods</figcaption></figure>



Say goodbye to hibernation and hello to snowdrop season. Top of our winter walks hitlist, <a href="https://www.wychwoodwildgarden.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wychwood Wild Garden</a> is a not-so-hidden gem covering 12.5 acres in the Shipton-Under-Wychwood woods with streams, mini waterfalls, and ponds, plus plenty of woodland to explore. It’s stunning this time of year with snowdrops peaking up, and if you’re out with littlies, stop by the small but mighty <a href="https://freeparks.co.uk/park/shipton-under-wychwood-playground/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shipton-under-Wychwood Recreation Playground</a>. National Trust members, you’ll find more white carpets at Elysian Fields, Sleeping Wood and Lamport Garden at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/stowe-gardens" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stowe Gardens</a>&nbsp;in North Bucks, or on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/hughenden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hughenden Manor</a>‘s mahoosive 680 acres. A snowy walk in <a href="https://www.forestryengland.uk/wendover-woods" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wendover Woods</a> ought to be pretty magical too.

Cheap thrills! Free things to do locally this month

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