Museum of Oxford

The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people.

Past

The Museum of Oxford opened in 1975 and immediately intrigued locals and visitors to the city with the story of Oxford and how it has developed. Bringing together a diverse collection, everything from Roman pottery to marmalade jars, the Museum of Oxford wove the story of the city from the prehistoric to the modern day.

In 2011 the Museum of Oxford turned off the lights and embarked on a new project which brought together the Museum’s collection and the heritage of Oxford’s Town Hall. The Museum of Oxford’s Explore Oxford galleries opened in June 2012. They still tell the story of Oxford and its people but in a different way.

Present

Explore Oxford presents the city’s past and present in two very different spaces. Exploring the past, visitors can have a look around a Victorian Office and see how the city has developed over the past 3000 years.

Continuing into the second space, visitors can take a virtual high-speed bike ride around the city. You can look and read about a variety of different characters from Oxford’s past and how industry, entertainment, work and invention have shaped the city we see today.

There is even more to the  Museum of Oxford than Explore Oxford though. With a host of changing exhibitions in our Gallery, a variety of events ranging from live music to comedy in The Old Museum, family activities and fun throughout the year and an accessible and extensive community programme. There are also lots of ways to get involved with the Museum of Oxford through volunteering.

Future – Updated

In September 2015, the Museum of Oxford submitted a bid for funding to the HLF for an ambitious project called Oxford’s Hidden Histories. The project aims to open up and share the heritage of the city’s communities through stories that radiate out from the Town Hall, the historic building at its centre. Oxford’s Hidden Histories will make objects currently in store accessible; uncover archival records mapping the city’s development; and explore Oxford’s intangible heritage through the memories of local people.