The Ashmolean Museum

(25)
£1,800 - £6,336 for Venue Hire
Up to 152
Bedrooms
Exclusive Use
Wedding Licence
Set amongst the cityscape of Oxford’s dreaming spires, the historic Ashmolean Museum is a unique and romantic venue for your wedding, civil partnership or celebration.
The Ashmolean Museum Pricing & Costs

Venue Hire Only

Prices Start At
£1,800
Maximum Price
£6,336
Ceremony only package from £1,800, which includes venue hire, experienced Wedding Manager offering venue & supplier guidance, dedicated Operations Manager and venue Events Wedding Assistants on the day. Ceremony & reception OR reception only packages from £5,760 plus vat. This includes venue hire, experienced Wedding Manager offering venue & supplier guidance, dedicated Operations Manager and venue Events Wedding Assistants on the day. These are our recommended packages, but we can create bespoke packages to suit your day and include exclusive evening museum highlights tours and temporary exhibition private views for guests.
What is included in this pricing:
Furniture included
Exclusive use
Wedding coordinator available on the day
Choice of preferred caterers
Private room(s) included (non-exclusive use)

In-house catering
(price per head)

Prices Start At
£90
Maximum Price
£155
What is included in this pricing:
Menu tasting included
Table linen included
Multiple course wedding breakfast
Cutlery included
Wine allowance per guest
Minimum numbers apply
Corkage charge applicable
Bespoke menu available
The Ashmolean Museum Features & Capacity

Overview

Venue Type
City Hotel
Venue
Dining Capacity
152
Reception Capacity
900
Usual Access Time
08:00 AM
Usual Finish Time
01:00 AM
Late Night Extension
Yes

Ceremony & Reception

Church Within Walking Distance
Sound System Available
Wedding Licence
Dancefloor Available
Confetti Permitted

Venue

City View
Grade I/II Listed Building
Exclusive Use
Disabled Access
Outdoor Reception Space
In-House Wedding Coordinator

Food and Drink

Corkage Charge for Own Alcohol
In-House Wine List
In-house Catering
Halal Catering
Alcohol Licence
Kosher Catering
Asian Catering

Cultural Specialists

Other
Jewish Wedding Specialist
Asian Wedding Specialist
The Ashmolean Museum Full Description
A wedding venue like no other. Founded in 1683 the Ashmolean is the oldest public Museum in the world. Displaying half a million years of art and history, our unique spaces provide a stunning, historic backdrop for your dream wedding. All our galleries are licenced to hold daytime or evening ceremonies and when the Museum closes in the evening, the Ashmolean is exclusively yours. This means we can offer intimate ceremonies at any time through to impressive evening receptions, dinners and dances combined with outstanding hospitality and entertainment. The Ashmolean’s majestic forecourt creates an entrance to remember. Inside, the grand staircase and its stunning gilded chandelier lead your guests into the Italian Renaissance and European Art Galleries for the ceremony or drinks reception. Reminiscent of an English country house, these galleries are filled with Old Master paintings and bronze sculptures. On the ground floor, the majestic Sculpture Gallery is lined with Greek and Roman statues and presents a grand and impressive space for a ceremony, reception or banquet. If you are looking to celebrate with your guests in a more contemporary space we have the Atrium; its soaring architectural staircase sweeps up through the heart of the Museum and offers the perfect opportunity for a dramatic entrance to a seated dinner or reception. We also have the beautifully light and contemporary Dining Room and Roof Terrace which allows for an outdoor space in the city and is perfect for an intimate ceremony, relaxed reception and dancing the night away. The Ashmolean Museum has been inspiring minds and sharing people’s stories since 1683 and we want you to add yours. We understand that every wedding is different which is why our expert team are on hand to tailor your day. We pride ourselves on making your dream wedding a reality and ensuring you and your guest have a day to remember forever.

Personal Message from the Manager

Name of Wedding Contact: Asia Yaqub
My name is Asia and I look after Weddings at the Ashmolean Museum. I absolutely love seeing our beautiful galleries come to life during Weddings. There is something incredibly magical and enchanting about getting married in such a unique venue. Which is why the Events Team and I are passionate about delivering all aspects of your dream wedding and ensuring you feel relaxed and able to enjoy your day, knowing all the finer details are being taken care of by the team.

Experience

Year Business Was Established
1683
No. of Weddings Hosted
More than 50
Public Liability Insurance
Yes
No. of People In Team
8
Reviews
(25)
James and Alex
Happy couple married in September
September 2023
Asia and the team were absolutely fantastic - and what a great venue!
We were so pleased to be able to have our wedding at this venue - it was truly unique and our guests absolutely loved it. Asia and the team were outstanding in the run up to the wedding - a really personal service with great comms - she gave us confidence that everything was going to go as planned, and it did. On the day the events team ran like clockwork and carried the event along seamlessly. Will definitely recommend to others.
Matthew Pattimore Photography
Wedding: January
January 2023
'I absolutely love this place'
I absolutely love this place. If you love beautiful art, incredible architecture and an amazing photo op around every corner, this is the place for you.
Kirsten & Ben
Happy couple married in September
January 2023
'Took the stress out of planning our big day'
Our wedding at the Ashmolean was truly spectacular - the museum provided an exquisite backdrop to our ceremony and celebrations. All our guests commented on how exciting it felt to be in the museum after-hours. The sculpture gallery made a striking setting for our meal, and the European Art Gallery was just beautiful. We couldn’t recommend the Ashmolean staff highly enough, and they completely took the stress out of planning our big day.
Sophie & Luke
Happy couple married in August
January 2023
'A dream come true for us'
Our wedding at the Ashmolean was absolutely perfect. It was everything we had dreamed it would be, and more. If we were to describe our special day in three words it would be: unique, whimsical and breathtaking. We would absolutely recommend the Ashmolean for anyone looking for a classic wedding with a little bit of mystic magic and a unique touch on class and elegance. It completely lived up to being a dream come true for us on our special day.
Emily & Andrew
Happy couple married in June
January 2023
'Beautiful, special and unique'
The Ashmolean is an absolutely beautiful, special and unique place for a wedding. We had such a great experience and the staff were so attentive and kind throughout the process. Overall we are certain our wedding day was all the more special for us, memorable for the guests, and will be an interesting story for us to tell throughout our lives because we got married in the Ashmolean.
Vicky & Simon
Happy couple married in September
January 2023
'Amazing venue, wonderful staff & fantastic food!'
Our wedding reception at the Ashmolean was incredible - the most amazing venue, wonderful staff and fantastic food! Many of our guests have said that it was by far the best setting for a reception they have ever experienced and we would agree - so many different spaces to use, surrounded by history yet also elegant and modern. Asia and her team were faultless in their delivery on the evening and their professionalism, kindness and attention to detail were so appreciated.
The Ashmolean Museum Location & Contact Details

Address

Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2PH, England

Nearest Town

Oxford

Nearest Motorway & Junction

M40 J8A

Nearest Train Station

Oxford

Nearest Airport

Heathrow

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Frequently Asked Questions
(9)

Describe the best wedding that happened at The Ashmolean Museum?

Zoe de Toledo and Alex Woods. They met at Oxford university and shared a passion for rowing. They both regularly attend after hour events at The Ashmolean and thought celebrating their special day at the museum was only right. It was a magnificent day.

What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?

At the Ashmolean we know how important your wedding is, and understand that for many reasons some guests may not be able to be with you on the day. Now everyone can take part. We can help you to share this special time with your friends and family wherever they are in the world so that they can join in the excitement and emotion as if they were with you in the room. Our discrete and professional live streaming service is the perfect way to include all your loved ones and to ensure that they don’t miss a moment. The final bonus is that we give you a copy of the stream to keep forever – a wonderful way to save the memory of your perfect day! We have the experience, so leave it to us to arrange it with our technology partner.

Describe The Ashmolean Museum in 5 adjectives

Unique, Stunning, historical, beautiful, romantic.

Where’s the best photo spot at The Ashmolean Museum?

Our European Art Gallery. This spacious gallery evokes the richness of a historic art collection in an Italian palace or English country house where marble and bronze sculptures, fine furniture, Old Master paintings and imposing portraits are displayed in this stately reception room. A staircase leads down to the gallery, perfect for making your grand entrance.

Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at The Ashmolean Museum?

All of our guests are special to us at the Ashmolean and we are honoured to have hosted the late Queen Elizabeth in 2009 as she opened up the new museum.

What’s your favourite canapé?

Our exclusive catering partner create food with passion, their ingredients are sustainably sourced, showcasing the best seasonal produce, beautifully designed and provides an extraordinary culinary experience to inspire you and your guests. My personal favourite is Smoked Salmon Mousse Canapés.

What’s your favourite midnight treat?

Ice cream and melted chocolate brownies.

What is The Ashmolean Museum most unique feature?

The Ashmolean has been telling stories since 1683 not many venues can say they have thousands of years worth of history within their walls.

What part of your business are you most proud of?

Our ability to adapt and make dreams come true.

Bridebook Benefits

Bridebook GiftFree Bottle of Champagne
Bridebook Special OfferBook with us in 2023 and receive a case of Champagne delivered to your door to enjoy after your wedding day!