Oxfordshire Museum

The Oxfordshire Museum is the county museum of Oxfordshire, in Woodstock on the edge of the Cotswolds. It occupies Fletcher's House on Park Street, opposite the Bear Hotel. Admission is free, and the displays cover the whole county, from its geology and wildlife to its history and industry.

What can you see at the Oxfordshire Museum?

The museum has eleven galleries that trace the story of the region. The earliest sections explore Jurassic-period geology and life from millions of years ago. Later displays move on to Roman remains, the Anglo-Saxons and the Victorians. Among the Roman finds is a skeleton discovered at Abingdon inside a lead coffin.

Other galleries are devoted to Oxfordshire's landscape and wildlife and to the county's innovative industries, so the museum shows the region's present-day character as well as its past.

Is it a good place for children?

Yes. The Dinosaur Gallery is aimed at younger visitors, and the walled garden holds a full-size model of a Megalosaurus surrounded by Jurassic-style planting. Families can combine learning with time outdoors.

Changing exhibitions

The Garden Gallery is a purpose-built space for temporary shows. It hosts touring exhibitions of regional and national interest, so the programme changes through the year. Check the museum's website for what is on before you go.

Facilities

There is a café on site, and the gift shop sells dinosaur toys, educational games and small gifts. The walled garden is a pleasant place to pause between galleries.

Getting there and when to visit

The museum is in the centre of Woodstock on Park Street, opposite the Bear Hotel, so it is easy to pair with a stroll around the town. It is usually open Tuesday to Saturday during the day and on Sunday afternoons, with shorter hours on Bank Holiday Mondays. Hours can change, so confirm them before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Oxfordshire Museum free? Yes, admission is free.

How many galleries are there? Eleven, ranging from geology and dinosaurs to local history and industry.

Is there anything for children? Yes: the Dinosaur Gallery and the Megalosaurus model in the garden.

Where exactly is it? In Woodstock, in Fletcher's House on Park Street, opposite the Bear Hotel, on the edge of the Cotswolds.

Is there a café? Yes, there is a café and a gift shop on site.

The Oxfordshire Museum is a relaxed, free stop in Woodstock that suits both local-history fans and families with children. Allow roughly one to two hours, depending on whether you also visit the garden and the current temporary exhibition.