Museum

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a free university museum in central Oxford, with minerals in the main court that children are allowed to touch.

Typical visit

Ages

Booking

Price

Entry to the museum is free for everyone.

Opening hours

Open every day from 10:00 to 17:00.

Last entry

Last entry is at 16:45.

Booking

Families can walk in; booking is only required for groups of more than 10 people.

Hands-on

Touchable minerals are on display on plinths in the main court.

Exhibitions

The critical raw materials exhibition runs 17 June 2026 to 13 April 2027; the Star Trek geology and palaeontology display runs 7 September to 8 November 2026.

OUR FAMILY ASSESSMENT

Family Intelligence

Founded in 1860, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History is both a natural history museum and a working university museum. Entry costs nothing and families need no booking, so it fits easily into a day in the city, even as a short stop. In the main court, touchable minerals are back on new plinths alongside some new specimens, giving younger children something to handle rather than only look at.

Family FAQ

How much does Oxford University Museum of Natural History cost?

Entry to the museum is free for everyone.

What are the opening hours of Oxford University Museum of Natural History?

Open every day from 10:00 to 17:00.

Do you need to book Oxford University Museum of Natural History in advance?

Families can walk in; booking is only required for groups of more than 10 people.

Why kids will love it

This autumn there are two reasons to time a visit: an exhibition on the critical raw materials shaping our future, and a display on the real geology and palaeontology behind Star Trek for its 60th anniversary. The trade-off is that the Star Trek display has a short run and closes in early November 2026.