A DECADE after the Ashmolean Museum’s stunning £61m revamp, the attraction is to open seven days a week.

For years tourists and local visitors have been disappointed that the Beaumont Street attraction is never open on a Monday.

But from February that will change as museum staff welcome art enthusiasts every day of the week.

Curators estimate the change will boost visitor numbers by about 90,000 a year - which should take the total over the one million mark.

The decision to open Mondays brings the Ashmolean’s opening hours in line with other national museums, allowing more visitors to access the world-renowned collections and temporary exhibitions.

From February 1 people will be welcomed through a renovated main entrance, which will include a new revolving door and improved accessible doors.

Dr Xa Sturgis, director of the Ashmolean, said: “Being open and accessible is absolutely key to the Ashmolean’s mission so the extension of our opening hours and improvements to the main entrance are vital.

“It is especially good news that we can announce seven-day opening for the tenth anniversary of the Ashmolean’s major redevelopment in 2009.”

The renovation of the main entrance will take place between Monday and January 31.

During this period visitors will still be able to access the museum from the Beaumont Street forecourt via a temporary entrance, which will open into the Egypt wing.

The new door and Monday openings will be in place for the landmark exhibition, Jeff Koons at the Ashmolean, which will run from February 7 to June 9, 2019.

Founded in 1683, the attraction is the most important museum of art and archaeology outside London.

The £61m refurbishment, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, included 39 new galleries.

Designed by renowned architect Rick Mather, the revamp also featured Oxford’s first rooftop café.

Since the refurbishment there has been a large increase in visitor numbers.

Last year the total number of visitors was 937,568, compared to 907,675 in 2016 and 854,857 in 2015.

High-profile exhibitions in recent years, including Degas to Picasso and Raphael: The Drawings, in 2017, have helped to bring in the crowds.

Raphael: The Drawings brought together a once-in-a-lifetime collection of 120 drawings by the Renaissance artist. America’s Cool Modernism which ran from March to July, also proved popular, together with the current Spellbound show.