Oxford Museums & Art Galleries

Take a look through some of the best museums and art galleries in Oxford and Oxfordshire. On this page, you will find all the museums Oxford has to offer, classified by type and explained in detail including maps, best galleries, opening hours, and more. 

Most Popular Oxford Museums

You should try to visit all of Oxford’s museums at some point. However, if you’re visiting the city and need to make a selection, these are the museums we recommend you do not miss:

Pitt Rivers Museum - Oxford

Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum displays the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford. This museum is located to the east of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and

Read More »
History of Science Museum

History of Science Museum

The History of Science Museum holds a large collection of scientific instruments ranging from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Housed in what was once the Ashmolean, the museum

Read More »

Oxford Art Galleries

Oxford has some incredible art galleries you can visit all week round. There is, of course, the fascinating Modern Art Oxford space, but this is not the only option for art lovers. There are also smaller art galleries and antique shops to make your Oxford visit worthwhile. Check the rest here:

Modern Art Oxford

Modern Art Oxford

Modern Art Oxford is a contemporary art space with exhibitions, events, projects, and online activities in the city of Oxford. The gallery holds regular activities and workshops in its creative

Read More »

Other Oxford Museums

All the other Oxford museums and art galleries, how to visit them, and when.

The Oxfordshire Museum

The Oxfordshire Museum

The Oxfordshire Museum is located in Woodstock (in Fletcher’s House, Park Street, opposite the Bear Hotel) and tells the story of the County of Oxfordshire through galleries and exhibitions. The

Read More »
The Story Museum - Oxford

The Story Museum

The Story Museum is an unusual museum. Located in the heart of Oxford, it celebrates the power of stories. Fly through a thousand years of Oxford’s story history, from ancient

Read More »
Bate Collection of Musical Instruments

Bate Collection of Musical Instruments

The Oxford Bate Collection is the most comprehensive collection of European woodwind, brass and percussion instruments in Britain. It mainly contains instruments for Western classical music, from the Middle Ages onwards.

Read More »
Museum of Oxford

Museum of Oxford

The Museum of Oxford is dedicated to telling the story of the city and its people. It has classical and modern art, artefacts and instruments. The museum displays an exciting

Read More »

Historical Places

Oxford castles, quads, and locks. 

Oxford's Carfax Tower

Carfax Tower

Carfax Tower, in Oxford, is a 23-meter-high bell tower that used to belong to a 12th-century church. Here’s how to visit it (and why!).

Oxford Sandford Lock - Places to See Around Oxford. Oxford Walks.

Oxford Sandford Lock

Sandford Lock is a great place to start and end walks around Oxford. A very peaceful location, it has a pub nearby, the King’s Arms. This is a very important

Mob Quad, Merton College. Image courtesy of Caro Wallis

Mob Quad in Merton College

Mob Quad in Merton College is probably the oldest quadrangle in Oxford. The quad is so old, it actually doesn’t have any chimneys! (they weren’t in widespread use in England

Parks & Meadows

Beautiful parks and nature reserves in Oxford.

Oxford University Parks. Image courtesy of Piers Nye via Flickr Commons.

Oxford University Parks

Oxford University Parks (or University Parks) is a large park area northeast of the city. The park is open to the public during the day.

Oxford Botanic Gardens - Image courtesy of Tejvan Pettinger

Oxford Botanic Gardens & Arboretum

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is Great Britain’s oldest botanic garden and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. The Oxford Botanic Garden was founded in 1621

Oxford's Port Meadow - Image courtesy of Danny Chapman

Port Meadow

Port Meadow is a large open space in the north and west of Oxford. The River Thames flows through the heart of this ancient area of grazing land, still used

Things to Do in Oxford

Looking for things to do and enjoy while you’re in Oxford? Here are some suggestions, from quirky shops to escape rooms, art galleries, and sports. 

The Sheldonian Theatre - Oxford

The Sheldonian Theatre

The Sheldonian Theatre was designed by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, chancellor of the University at the time. Elegant and strong

Read More >