Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Oxford University Museum of Natural History holds an internationally-significant collection of natural history specimens and archives in a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture. It is home to a lively programme of research, teaching and events focused on the sciences of the natural environment. Oxford University Museum of Natural History was established in 1860 to draw together scientific studies from across the University of Oxford. Today, the award-winning Museum continues to be a place of scientific research, collecting and fieldwork, and plays host to a programme of events, exhibitions and activities for the public and school students of all ages.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- anonymouslycoollolPort Louis5 contributionsVery cool! but food…In the cafeteria, there isn’t a big variety of options of food and the food was okay. However, the museum was awesome! There is a small area where you go into and there are glowing crystals which only glow in the dark and is so fun! There are 2 floors and it is very cool because you learn about the past, the past livings and get to see how they looked like! It took my family and I a whole day to visit everything!Visited November 2022Written 23 March 2023
- Georgie BowBristol, United Kingdom13 contributionsA fabulous friendly museumTremendous Museum! Had such a lovely time with the family and especially enjoyed the touchable specimens, such as the bears. The museum staff were very friendly and helpful. They provided us with a general map of Oxford and marked other areas of interest on it. The new displays are definitely a highlight - visually stunning!Visited April 2023Written 4 May 2023
- Bunty8United Kingdom617 contributionsGreat MuseumGood way to spend a few hours on a wet summer ‘s day. Arrived in Oxford to dark skies and rain, visited here and didn’t disappoint, very interesting and exhibits well laid out, dinosaurs especially good. It was busy but didn’t feel crowded, entry is free but you can leave a donation to help with upkeep. There is a small tearoom, but it was very busy so we gave it a miss, also a nice little shop. Well worth a visit.Visited July 2023Written 30 July 2023
- Danielle SStaffordshire, United Kingdom55 contributionsAmazing. 100% worth the journeyVisited with my husband and sons, aged 11 and 9. It is amazing. I have wanted to visit for years, but not had the time. The displays are informative, with plenty of information for me to enjoy (as a secondary science teacher) and for both of my children to understand too. This place really does foster a love for learning of both science and history. I could have spent much more time here. We all had a great time.. and I got some ideas for classroom displays. I would highly recommend this to anybody, there is something for everyone.Visited August 2023Travelled with familyWritten 5 August 2023
- S_HvassBramming, Denmark717 contributionsAmazing building and fantastic dinosaursYou could visit this museum only for the amazing building it is located in. It is so beautiful and with such an amazing historical atmosphere. In addition the displayed items are really interesting, especially the dinosaur skeletons. This place awakens your inner child and curiosity, and it is a great place to visit also without children. Kudos for the free admission.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 September 2023
- Marion MNyon District, Switzerland571 contributionsWhat a buildingWhat a fantastic building from the outside and inside. The fantastic intérieur with a glass and iron ceiling and stone pillar bases are worth visiting alone. The exhibits are mostly Victorian but interesting all the same.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 24 September 2023
- Crant0ckBirmingham, United Kingdom116 contributionsA good museum well curatedThis is a good museum. Its small but well thought out and has history. The architecture is a feature and the rock columns interesting. Most impressive is the effort put into curation and explanation. There is no dumbing down but there are explanations that seek to talk to the public and are not experts talking to themselves. This is professional and the Pitt Rivers next door stands in contrast.Visited September 2023Travelled soloWritten 1 October 2023
- Claire WRadcliffe, United Kingdom4 contributionsLovely tripGreat trip on a day out in Oxford with partner and 2 year old. Lots to see and interact with - good range of interesting exhibits and enjoy the textures and feel of bone fur etc. my son loves dinosaurs so it was very exciting to see the true scale of themVisited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 7 November 2023
- Amy BSolihull, United Kingdom4 contributionsBeautiful open museumLovely sized, interesting museum, which was the perfect size for kids (age 6-10) to spend a few hours. The main hall was light and open, with lots of tactile exhibits, ranging from rocks to bears. It also had a great cafe with fresh, vegan food. Highly recommended!Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 29 December 2023
- OxfordianOxford, United Kingdom24 contributionsWell worth a visitAbsolutely worth a visit if you are in Oxford. There is so much to see, and you could spend hours wondering the museum admiring the various exhibits. They have a great cafe upstairs which offers a lovely variety of food, including healthy options, cakes, homemade biscuits, and lunch boxes for the kids. They have a great shop, wonderful place to buy souvenirs or presents. Remember to take a look at the pillars around the outside of the museum, which are each made of a different material from somewhere in the world!Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 16 February 2024
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4.5
2,505 reviews
Excellent
1,810
Very good
598
Average
77
Poor
10
Terrible
10
grumpytruth
Old Colwyn, UK55 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
We visited here today, and we all had the best time!! There is so much to see and is enjoyable for all ages. The building is amazing and although it was busy it was manageable with two young children 2 and 4.
Big shout out to the member of staff who entertained the kids on a few occasions and made them paper boats, which they really enjoyed. Didn't manage to get his name but he deserves a shout out.
We will be visiting again!
Big shout out to the member of staff who entertained the kids on a few occasions and made them paper boats, which they really enjoyed. Didn't manage to get his name but he deserves a shout out.
We will be visiting again!
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
careyontravels
Boulder, CO21 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We visited the natural history museum on a day with pouring rain. The museum has free entry, with a suggested donation. We were most interested in the fossil collection. Mary Anning's ichthyosaurus was a highlight for us. We didn't have a chance to try the food at the upstairs café but the coffee and tea were quite good.
Written 19 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ATraveller363
Hampshire, UK156 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Busy on a Saturday so just a brief wonder through, a few Dinosaur casts so I'm guessing they are not real bones for some of the skeletons. A highlight for me was seeing the Elephant skeletons, they've got an African and Asian elephant side by side.
Written 18 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oxfordian
Oxford, UK24 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Absolutely worth a visit if you are in Oxford. There is so much to see, and you could spend hours wondering the museum admiring the various exhibits. They have a great cafe upstairs which offers a lovely variety of food, including healthy options, cakes, homemade biscuits, and lunch boxes for the kids. They have a great shop, wonderful place to buy souvenirs or presents. Remember to take a look at the pillars around the outside of the museum, which are each made of a different material from somewhere in the world!
Written 16 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philippa W
22 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
To be honest, skeletons, bugs and rocks leave me pretty cold. But if you like them or are interested in them, or if you're a child under 10, this is going to be a good place to spend a couple of hours. It's a rainy day favourite for my kids - dinosaurs, animal skeletons, stuffed exotic creatures, a velvet draped hut simulating a cave full of gems, and on the second floor live insects. The cafe is functional-to-decent, and there are always going to be noisy kids racing around - which might be a pro or a con, depending on your point of view. It's not particularly big - definitely not anywhere near the scale of the London Natural History Museum - but packs a lot in. The shop - tiny and incredibly awkwardly placed - is stellar.
Written 16 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly R
Gloucester, UK13 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Always a good visit with the family, donation only so an affordable day out. We always find new things to see and spend about 2hours here.
Written 16 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meander34228819939
8 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
I really wish we hadn't left it so late to visit, because we really needed more time to see everything. There's so much to look at it the natural history museum, it's a fascinating place to visit.
Written 14 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie B
Burnham-On-Sea, UK23 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
We walked around the museum after seeing the delights of the Pitts river museum. There are some rather good displays and lots of interesting information. We did enjoy the old rocks and meteorites. Quite a few of the displays look dated and tired. The newer displays of the butterflies were wonderful to see. The big dino skeletons seem to be all casts, which is fine but I guess you do end up feeling a bit cheated. Can’t really remember much from the second floor which probably says enough.
Pretty much what you expect, a not as good version of the natural history museum in the capital.
Toilets were clean. Cafe was busy and we didn’t stop for anything.
Overall worth a quick wander but you won’t be blown away.
Pretty much what you expect, a not as good version of the natural history museum in the capital.
Toilets were clean. Cafe was busy and we didn’t stop for anything.
Overall worth a quick wander but you won’t be blown away.
Written 9 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James H
7 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
What a great way to spend a few hours with the kids. Everyone had a great time we have been to the one in London this is smaller but still worth a trip if in the area
Written 24 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy B
Solihull, UK4 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Lovely sized, interesting museum, which was the perfect size for kids (age 6-10) to spend a few hours. The main hall was light and open, with lots of tactile exhibits, ranging from rocks to bears. It also had a great cafe with fresh, vegan food. Highly recommended!
Written 29 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happiness26003831561
1 contribution
Which park and ride is best for the natural history museum is coming from the west? Thank you
Robyn R
1 contribution
Is there a museum car park? If not where is best for parking?
429Happy
Chichester, UK3,369 contributions
Good question. Parking is a premium, personally I would use the excellent park and ride service.
Pear Tree site would be ideal to the north of the city.
Incidentally the museum has a real wow factor!
Mireille
Belem, PA1 contribution
How much time should I plan for a visit to the Oxford University Museum?
Stephen M
Gloucester, UK18 contributions
Hi There
Coming from Gloucester could you advise is it easier to head for a park and ride instead of carparks near the museum. If so could you advise which park and ride is the closest
Thank you
David T
Saint-Hubert, Belgium55 contributions
Definitely park ride, the one to the West of Oxford would suit you best
stevan
Bristol, United Kingdom13 contributions
Coming from Gloucester can anyone advise if any coach companies do day trips, or if not the best park and ride, have seen someone mentioned the one near oxford parkway railway station, is it well sign posted. Thank you
European-Bookworm
Swindon, UK522 contributions
I don’t know about day trips, I’m afraid, but, coming from Gloucester, you’ll probably find Seacourt Park and Ride the easiest. Very well signposted and easy to use.
Alternatively, drive into Oxford and park at Oxpens car park, next to the ice rink (this is what we do). Then just walk into the centre, down broad street and turn left at the bottom to get to the museum.
Hope you have a great time!
Louie
Cannock, UK72 contributions
Can anyone help with parking? on a Saturday midday.
stsal
Oxford, UK20 contributions
Park & ride is the best option. Theer ar eseveral P&R, depending from which direction you come (best is from the North, the P&R near the Oxford Parkway railway station). then the bus eaves literaly three minutes from the MUseum.
Parking in Oxford (small tow, overcrowded) is very difficult. The new shopping centre has got parking about 15-20 minutes on foot from the Museum with no buses available going there. P&R is by far the best way.
C K H
Los Angeles, CA12 contributions
How can I get there by public transportation? Is it near the Tourist Information Office?
TimandElsa
Cheltenham, UK84 contributions
Oxford is a very small town in reality despite being called a city. You can walk between all of the major attractions. In fact it's your only real choice as the town hates cars so you're forced to use a park and ride which then gets busses to drop you in town.
How much is cost of tickets?
Spencer V
Maidenhead, UK445 contributions
The museum is completely free; I visited on a Saturday with my 9 year old daughter and they had an activity on which was free to take part in as well. When she had finished her search my daughter also got a to select a mystery prize.
If you finish in the Science museum you can walk through to the Pitt Rivers museum, which is also free. Please note both museums have free workbooks and sheets for kids to while they are at the museum.
If you check their web site I think they advise if they are doing activities if not would suggest going on a Saturday. Hope you have a nice visit.
Nicky C
Northamptonshire, UK16 contributions
Hi There, is this a good place for a 9 and 11 year old??
Public_Engagement
Oxford, UK
Hi Nicky. Sorry not to respond sooner - I have been on leave. But yes, the museum is a great place for a 9 and 11 year old. Plenty of specimens to see, some you can touch; two great big dinosaurs in the main court and a cafe for when you get hungry..
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Claim your listingOXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Oxford University Museum of Natural History
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Oxford University Museum of Natural History:
- Treasure Hunt Oxford Walk Tour aimed at younger children (From £50.56)
- Oxford Inspires! Private Day Trip from London (From £869.71)
- 24 Hour Open Top City Tour (From £18.20)
- 24 Hour Open Top City Tour & Carfax Tower Entry (From £21.23)
- Oxford Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK (From £15.17)
- Hotels near Oxford University Museum of Natural History:
- (0.09 mi) Keble College
- (0.21 mi) Old Parsonage Hotel
- (0.17 mi) Wadham College
- (0.31 mi) The Randolph Hotel, By Graduate Hotels
- (0.44 mi) Old Bank Hotel
- Restaurants near Oxford University Museum of Natural History:
- (0.21 mi) Parsonage Grill
- (0.26 mi) Pierre Victoire
- (0.26 mi) Najar's Place
- (0.24 mi) Browns
- (0.18 mi) Tree Artisan Cafe