A giant recreation of Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers will be unveiled at Westgate Oxford on 1 October, with free LEGO activities, family crafts and flower giveaways accompanying its arrival.
The mural will be installed at the shopping centre’s entrance on the corner of Castle Street and Church Lane, as part of a collaboration with the National Gallery and Global Street Art.
Westgate says it will be the first installation outside London in Murals reMastered, a project bringing large-scale recreations of paintings from the National Gallery’s collection into streets and other public spaces.
The celebrations begin with sunflower-themed LEGO Stay & Play sessions on 26 and 27 September. Further family activities follow on 3 and 4 October, including a wishes wall linked to a community planting initiative.
At a glance
| What | A large-scale recreation of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, with accompanying sunflower-themed activities |
| Mural unveiling | 1 October. An unveiling time has not been announced. |
| Mural location | Westgate Oxford’s entrance at the corner of Castle Street and Church Lane |
| LEGO activities | Free Stay & Play sessions on 26 and 27 September at The LEGO Store |
| Further family activities | 3 and 4 October, including crafts, sunflower photo backdrops and the Sunflower Wishes Wall |
| Who is involved? | Westgate Oxford, the National Gallery and Global Street Art |
| Costs and booking | The LEGO sessions are advertised as free. Charges or booking requirements for the other activities have not been specified. |
| Latest information | Westgate Oxford website |
Why has Sunflowers been chosen for Oxford?
Westgate says the painting was selected as a nod to Oxford’s botanical history, particularly its connection with the country’s oldest botanic garden.
The University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden was established in 1621. It began as a physic garden, where plants were grown for their medicinal properties, and remains a place for teaching, research and public visits.
The mural’s subject therefore connects the new artwork with a part of Oxford’s history that stretches back more than four centuries.
Clare Martin, centre director at Westgate Oxford, said:
“We’re pleased to play a part in making art and its history more accessible, and look forward to a colourful few weeks of celebrations with our community.”
What is the story behind Van Gogh’s Sunflowers?
The National Gallery’s painting dates from 1888, when Van Gogh was working in Arles in southern France. It belongs to a series he made to decorate his house in preparation for a visit from fellow artist Paul Gauguin.
The original is an oil painting on canvas measuring 92.1cm by 73cm. Its vase holds 15 sunflowers at different stages of their life cycle, from developing flowers to heavy seed heads.
At Westgate, visitors will see a newly painted, enlarged recreation, not the original canvas brought to Oxford on loan.
Who is creating the Westgate mural?
Several artists from Global Street Art will work on the recreation, with the painting expected to take five days to complete before it is displayed at the centre’s entrance.
The wider Murals reMastered project places recreations of works from the National Gallery’s collection on walls and building façades around the country. Its London installations include a version of Henri Rousseau’s Surprised!, featuring a tiger in a tropical storm, on Jamestown Road in Camden.
The National Gallery’s announcement also identifies Landsec, which is involved in Westgate Oxford, as a partner commissioning murals at retail destinations.
A closing date or planned removal date for the Oxford mural has not been given.
What is happening during the sunflower celebrations?
26 and 27 September: free LEGO Stay & Play
The LEGO Store will host a sunflower-themed takeover, with free Stay & Play sessions advertised throughout the day. Westgate says fans of all ages are welcome to build sunflower-inspired creations.
These are described as in-store play sessions. The announcement does not say that visitors will be able to take their LEGO creations home.
The shop is at Unit L23 in Westgate. Its official store listing gives normal weekend opening hours of 9am to 8pm on Saturdays and 11am to 5pm on Sundays. These are shop opening hours, not a confirmed timetable for the sunflower sessions.
3 and 4 October: crafts, photographs and the Sunflower Wishes Wall
The second activity weekend will include sunflower-decorated backdrops for photographs and themed crafting sessions around the centre.
Visitors will also be invited to contribute to the Sunflower Wishes Wall by writing a wish or pledge to nature on a seed packet. Westgate says the packets will then be planted as part of a local community initiative, although the announcement does not identify the project or planting site.
Freddie’s Flowers will be giving away bouquets during the celebration weekend, while hosts from the Sunflower Society will hand out seed packets for visitors to take home.
Collection points, quantities and any conditions attached to the giveaways have not been provided. Visitors making a special trip for flowers or a particular activity should check the latest arrangements with the centre.
A sunflower-themed drink at Victors
Roof Terrace bar Victors will mark the unveiling with a specially created Sunflower cocktail. A non-alcoholic mocktail version will also be available.
Prices and the dates over which the drinks will be served have not been included in the announcement.
What families should check before visiting
The announcement gives the activity dates but does not include exact session times, session lengths or booking arrangements for the crafts. It also does not specify where each activity will be located within Westgate.
The LEGO sessions are explicitly advertised as free, but that should not be taken to mean every activity or refreshment is included. Check Westgate’s latest information before travelling, particularly when planning around a specific session.
How to get to Westgate Oxford
The mural will be at the Castle Street and Church Lane entrance, rather than on the Roof Terrace or inside a separate exhibition space.
Westgate recommends using Park & Ride because parking at the centre is limited. Its travel information includes connections from Redbridge, Seacourt, Peartree and Thornhill.
Planning your visit
| Centre address | Westgate Oxford, Queen Street, Oxford, OX1 1PE |
| Where to find the mural | The entrance at the corner of Castle Street and Church Lane |
| LEGO Store | Unit L23, Westgate Shopping Centre |
| Driving to the car park | Westgate directs drivers to Thames Street, OX1 1TS. Check your route against current traffic restrictions before setting off. |
| Car park restrictions | Maximum vehicle height of two metres. Roof boxes are not permitted. |
| Parking payment | Card payment only. Check the current parking information and tariffs. |
| Centre enquiries | 01865 263601 |
| Public transport and directions | Westgate Oxford travel information |
Drivers should note that Oxfordshire County Council says Oxford’s traffic filter trial will begin on Monday 28 September 2026, replacing the temporary congestion charge. During a filter’s operating hours, car drivers without a valid permit will no longer be able to pay £5 to pass through it.
The council says every part of Oxford will remain reachable by car without passing through a filter, although a different route may be necessary. Check the official traffic filter information, locations and permit arrangements before driving into the city.
Accessibility and family facilities
Westgate’s access services include wheelchair-friendly access and lifts with space for wheelchairs. Shopmobility is based on level -2 of the centre’s car park.
The centre’s visitor information also lists accessible toilets, baby-changing facilities and a Changing Places facility. Oxfordshire County Council’s service directory places the Changing Places facility on the Roof Terrace.
The sunflower announcement does not include a separate access guide for the craft sessions or wishes wall. Visitors who need information about seating, activity layouts or sensory arrangements should contact the centre before visiting.
Further details are available through Westgate’s access and mobility page and visitor information.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Sunflowers mural be unveiled?
Westgate has announced an unveiling date of 1 October. A specific time has not been provided.
Where will the mural be?
It will be installed at Westgate Oxford’s entrance on the corner of Castle Street and Church Lane.
Is the original Van Gogh painting coming to Oxford?
No. The installation is a large-scale painted recreation, not a loan of the original artwork.
When are the family activities?
Free LEGO Stay & Play sessions are planned for 26 and 27 September. Crafts, sunflower photo backdrops and the Sunflower Wishes Wall follow on 3 and 4 October.
Do the activities need to be booked?
The announcement does not specify booking arrangements. Check with Westgate or The LEGO Store before making a journey for a particular session.
How long will the mural stay at Westgate?
A display period or removal date has not been announced.
When should sunflower seeds be planted?
Check the instructions on any seed packet you receive, as the announcement does not identify the varieties being distributed. For annual sunflowers, the Royal Horticultural Society advises that seeds are mainly sown from mid-April to the end of May, rather than in autumn.
