Twelve thousand people attend May Morning

Published: Tuesday, 1st May 2018

About 12,000 people attended May Morning earlier today.

The traditional celebration of the coming of Spring brought together Oxford's communities and people of all ages to enjoy dancing, singing and revelry.  

The celebrations, which are more than 500 years old, started at 6am with Magdalen College choir singing Hymnus Eucharisticus from the college’s Great Tower.

A crowd of about 12,000 people, stretching from Long Wall Street to the Plain Roundabout, listened to the choir.

Traditional events and activities, including Morris Dancing and folk singing, then took place across the city as the bells of Magdalen College’s Great Tower rang out.

A new crowd management system, including one-way crowd flows on Magdalen Bridge, worked successfully.

Paula Redway, Oxford City Council’s cultural development manager, said: "May Morning is one of the highlights of living in our beautiful city, and I am delighted that so many people were able to take part and enjoy this uniquely Oxford tradition.

“This year we implemented a new crowd management system, which worked well and enabled people to flow across Magdalen Bridge during the event.”

May Morning at Magdalen Bridge is organised by Oxford City Council on behalf of partners, including Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service, Oxfordshire County Council and Magdalen College.