Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Parks Road
View on Google MapsPhoto: liviu jany prisacariu
About Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Discover fossils, insects and animal specimens in this fascinating natural world collection housed in a beautiful Victorian building on Parks Road, complete with café and family facilities.
What's nearby
- Oxford University Muslim Prayer Room & Mosque next door
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford next door
- Rhodes House next door
- University of Oxford 200m away
- Mansfield College 200m away
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Parking
- ✓Paid car park
- ✓Paid street
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible entrance
- ✓Accessible toilet
- ✓Accessible seating
Payment
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Opening hours
- 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
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What visitors say
One of Oxford’s best free attractions and a great place to spend a few hours. The museum has a great mix of impressive displays and detailed information. Inside, you can see a lot including fossils, dinosaur skeletons, rocks, insects, and scientific displays that bring evolution, biodiversity, and Earth’s history to life. It’s especially nice that entry is free, with donations welcomed to help keep it open and free for everyone. It feels both educational and inspiring, whether you’re visiting with kids, friends, or on your own. A must-see if you’re in the city.
· via Google
The Oxford Museum of Natural History is a firm favourite for my family (kids are 7 and 4). It is small enough that you can look around the whole Museum within a few hours, but enough to keep everyone entertained. My youngest loves the weapon floor and my oldest loves the stuffed animals. It's about a 20 minute walk from the train station, and there was no queue when we visited last (beginning of the summer holidays). The kids activities were also thoroughly enjoyed by 7yr old, the volunteers were fantastic. Will definitely visit again!
· via Google
We visited the Oxford University Museum of Natural History during the recent United Kingdom heatwave. It was absolutely roasting hot inside, but despite the heat, we were so keen to spend time looking around because the place is just amazing. My son is a massive dinosaur fan and he absolutely loved it! There are so many incredible exhibits and stuffed animals, all set within a building that has a stunning interior. We unfortunately couldn't spend as much time as we wanted inside because of the temperature, though there are some specific spaces in the venue that are air-conditioned which offered a bit of relief. I would highly recommend visiting in cooler weather so you can comfortably take your time. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Just a note that no food is allowed inside to protect the exhibits, which is completely understandable. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I would recommend that anyone visiting Oxford definitely shouldn't miss this!
· via Google
What a glorious find in Oxford (not sure it was actually lost tbh). I’ve visited Oxford for work for years and never explored properly. I took the plunge and easily found the museum. There is an eclectic mix of animals, fossils and general natural history. The highlight was the actual building, it was stunning with tons of natural light. My favourite touch was the columns holding the structure together were all made from different types of rock found all over the globe. Genius! I spent a great two hours exploring. It may be smaller with less exhibits than the London Natural History museum but it was still super interesting and easy to get around. It was a lovely place to explore for two hours and it’s FREE! Highly recommended.
· via Google
Visitors say this museum features a stunning collection of natural history exhibits, including impressive dinosaur skeletons, fossils, and diverse specimens, all housed within a beautiful Victorian Gothic building. They also highlight the free entry, making it an accessible and educational experience for all ages. Guests mention the friendly and helpful staff, along with clean facilities and a well-stocked gift shop.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW Get directions
- Category
- Museums & Galleries
- Guest rating
- 4.8 / 5 (11,402 reviews)
- Suitable for
- Ages 0-12
- Setting
- Indoor
- Good for children
- Yes
- Toilets on site
- Yes
- Destination
- Oxford