ALICE’S Day celebrations in Oxford will mark the start of a major redevelopment scheme at the city’s Story Museum.

The attraction is Pembroke Street was launched in 2009 and brings in thousands of visitors every year who want to find out more about children’s authors and the art of storytelling.

A £6m scheme has been drawn up to completely revamp the Rochester House building and following fundraising efforts work is about to get under way.

Some attractions, including the Changing Room, where children can dress up as their favourite characters, will remain open but the main exhibitions will be closed.

The museum’s website said: “Please note that after Alice’s Day on Saturday, July 7 the museum exhibition spaces will be closing to the public for major redevelopment.

“Some events will continue to happen on site and watch out for our free drop-in activities in the Changing Room during the summer holidays.”

Alice’s Day is an annual celebration of the works of Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll and events are staged at venues across the city.

This year’s theme is Journeys and Adventures.

Story Museum spokesman David Gibb said: “It’s a very exciting time for the museum - we plan to fully reopen in spring 2020.”

The venue’s website added: “Alice’s Day 2018 marks the closure of our exhibitions for redevelopment, so come and join the fun as we begin the next phase of our own exciting journey!

“Our 2018 programme includes the chance to dance a Lobster Quadrille, immersive street theatre from Curious Company, jaw-dropping performances from The Grand Indian Circus, a Comic Jam with artists Neill Cameron and Zak Simmonds, a citywide trail for families, live theatre with Voyage of La Sibylle as well as talks, lectures, face painting and crafting!”

Performances will take place at venues across the city including the Bodleian Library, the Westgate Centre, Bonn Square, and the Master’s Garden in Christ Church, where Lewis Carroll, a maths don, taught students.

Learning and participation officer Cath Hogan added: “The exhibition spaces will be closing for redevelopment after Alice’s Day but the message is very much that we are still here - the shop and the cafe will still be open.

“We will also be doing lots of outreach work in our pumpkin bell tent.

“We will be going out to festivals throughout the summer including the Cowley Road Carnival on Sunday.”

The venue’s Long Room featuring the popular ‘talking throne’ will also remain open.

The capital campaign target for the museum’s redevelopment is just over £6m.

This is being raised from a combination of public and private sources.

According to the museum, Arts Council England has confirmed a grant of £2m towards the project and in October 2016 the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a first-round pass for an application of £1.2m. Together with funding already confirmed, this brings the campaign total to just over £4m, pledged towards the goal of £6m. Proposals include the creation of six additional spaces.