Oxford Open Doors welcomed thousands to explore the city's 'special places'
140 buildings were open for with thousands of visitors and activities as part of the annual event.
Last updated 17th Sep 2024
Oxford Open Doors has welcomed thousands of people to see parts of the city they can't usually explore over the weekend. Organisers saying one attraction, The Painted Room saw more than 2,000 people visit over two days.
140 buildings were open for visitors and activities, giving everyone the chance to enjoy Oxford’s special places that aren’t often open to the public.
Anna Eavis is the CEO of Oxford Preservation Trust, she said: “Open Doors is all about giving everyone the chance to enjoy Oxford’s special places.
“This year we were able to open up more sites than ever, it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying them all”.
The Painted Room and William Shakespeare
The event takes place annually and is hosted by the of Oxford Preservation Trust and they say the Painted Room is the most popular attraction.
Preservation Trust say over 2,000 visitors were climbing the stairs above Bet Fred on Cornmarket Street, to see The Painted Room as it’s tucked away in a location that you would not expect when walking down the street.
It comes as many people want to step back in time to the 14th-century and learn about the beautifully preserved Elizabethan wall paintings and its ties to William Shakespeare.
Since, it’s believed that the famous playwriter stayed at the building during its time as an Inn as he travelled between London and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Ms Eavis said: “He certainly stayed here. Whether he stayed in this room we do not know, but he was an important guest so he may well have done.
“So, this room has a huge amount of interest, and you would never know that it was here from the outside”.
A new tour started this year, as local historians conducted walking tours and former residents shared their stories of Slade Camp which is nestled in the foothills of Shotover Country Park.