Old Fire Station — Arts Centre in Oxford

The Old Fire Station is an arts centre at 40 George Street, Oxford. Just outside the city, it’s a converted fire station from 1973 with industrial heritage and step-free access. The building features bold blue walls evoking ocean depth, a design rooted in its past as a fire station. You can find free exhibitions, quiet weekday mornings in public space, or drinks at the cafe during afternoon hours. It quietly supports Oxford’s cultural life without needing events on a schedule.

The Old Fire Station was originally built in 1973 as a working fire station and still shows exposed brickwork and high ceilings. Its conversion into an arts centre maintains that industrial character while offering space for live performance, gallery exhibitions, and public storytelling projects with Oxford researchers. The deep blue walls reflect memory of its original use, evoking oceanic calm during daytime hours when natural light fills the theatre, gallery, and cafe areas.

The Old Fire Station offers free access to performance art, exhibitions, or low-key afternoons in public space. It hosts experimental theatre, community storytelling, and research-linked projects across its venue. A standout moment is visiting the indoor cafe during weekday mornings, calmest then, ideal for reading, working, or meeting a friend over drinks inside one of Oxford’s most accessible heritage buildings.