Oxford University Museum of Natural History
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The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It also contains a lecture theatre which is used by the university's chemistry, zoology and mathematics departments.
attractions: The Covered Market, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Castle & Prison, University of Oxford, Gloucester Green Market, Pitt Rivers Museum, Carfax Tower, Christ Church Cathedral, University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Clarendon Centre Oxford, restaurants: Turf Tavern, Banana Tree Oxford, Turtle Bay Oxford, Slug & Lettuce - Oxford, The Four Candles - JD Wetherspoon, O'neill's Oxford, Red Lion Oxford, Wig & Pen, COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant | Oxford, The Eagle and Child
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The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It also contains a lecture theatre which is used by the university's chemistry, zoology and mathematics departments.
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Oxford University Museum of Natural History🌿
Greta WalkerGreta Walker
300
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a must-see attraction for anyone who is interested in the natural world. The museum is located in a beautiful neo-Gothic building that showcases the history and diversity of life on Earth. The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00, except for 24, 25, and 26 December. The admission is free and no booking is required, unless you are a group of more than ten people. The museum has a vast collection of specimens and archives from various fields of natural history, such as fossils, minerals, birds, and butterflies. You can explore the museum at your own pace, or join one of the guided tours or talks that are offered regularly. The museum also has a range of temporary exhibitions and events that highlight current issues and research related to the natural environment. Some of the things that we enjoyed the most during our visit were: - The Museum of Climate Hope Trail, a virtual safari that takes you across Oxford's gardens, libraries, and museums to learn how life and earth processes shape each other. - The Fair Water? exhibition, which examines the global barriers to water equality and how researchers, communities, and policymakers can work together to shape a fair water future. - The Dodo's Christmas Family Trail, a festive trail around the museum that features the dodo and other extinct animals. - The Presenting... case, which showcases a different specimen every month. This month, we learned about the many ways of being a limpet, a type of marine snail that has evolved independently over 50 times. - The live camera inside the museum tower, which reveals the nesting swifts that return to the UK every spring from Africa. The museum staff were very friendly and helpful, and the museum also has a cafe and a shop that offer nature-themed food and gifts. We highly recommend this museum to anyone who loves nature and wants to learn more about it. It is a great place to visit for all ages and interests.
PC 360PC 360
10
So many WOW moments. This is my favourite Natural Museum in the UK so far. Mainly because the exhibits are so accessible for children and adults alike and there is a fabulous range of specimens, artefacts and informative, interactive learning opportunities. The architecture of the building itself is interesting from the outside, fitting in with the Oxford style, but inside it is simply stunning. The wrought iron roof structure supporting banks of atrium windows for plenty of natural light, the patterned brickwork, smooth and stylish stone staircases and the use of a variety of geological specimens for the pillars around the walkways create an amazing backdrop for the rest of the museum. My 6 year old was entranced and awed by the stuffed grizzly bear (which he could touch), the dinosaur skeletons towering above him, the flora and fauna from many continents thoughtfully curated, the living insects and arachnids on display, the interactive touchscreens allowing zooming in and out on a range of insects and the stunning collection of rocks, gems and minerals which opened my eyes too. Its all very accessible for all ages, not too big, beautifully and clearly presented and totally free. Although, I felt very comfortable donating a contribution after enjoying what it had to offer. My only slight disappointment was the range of eating options from the cafe and the lack of outdoor picnicking space. Great for a coffee, cold sandwich or Vegan soup but not much else. The shop is low key but full of interesting take aways for a range of budgets. I'm really looking forward to going back again.
Adrian ClargoAdrian Clargo
20
I recently celebrated my birthday in a rather unconventional way by visiting the Oxford Natural History Museum, and let me tell you, it turned out to be one of the most remarkable and enriching experiences of my life. Despite the skepticism from some friends and family who questioned my choice of a museum as a birthday destination, I followed my passion for history and natural wonders, and I couldn't have made a better decision. One of the highlights of my visit was the meteorite exhibit. Seeing this extraterrestrial rock up close and learning about its origins left me in awe of the vastness of the universe. The museum did an excellent job of presenting the information in a way that was accessible to visitors of all ages, and the interactive elements made it even more engaging. What truly made my visit unforgettable was the opportunity to touch and interact with rare minerals and objects. It's not every day that you get to feel the weight of history in your hands. The museum's dedication to allowing visitors to have a hands-on experience with these precious artifacts is commendable. I wholeheartedly recommend this museum to anyone with an appreciation for natural history. It is a treasure trove of knowledge and a place where unforgettable memories are made.
Swati PunainiSwati Punaini
20
Being a museum worker myself I do enjoy visiting other museums. This one is particularly stunning with its high, green house style ceiling in the main hall. You could spend hours in just this room alone. There is a lovely cafe that overlooks the main hall from up high, a great location for a cafe. You can see a lot more detail in the ceiling from there so don't miss that opportunity to take some snaps. They have some truly stunning items in this museum, one of my fave places is a very small darkened room where they show off some gem stones under a black light. Their T-Rex takes pride of place in the main hall and does not disappoint. I think my favourite area though was the Pitt Rivers Museum, which is inside the museum of natural history. In there you will find some of the most interesting, weird, wacky and fascinating items. Do not miss that area! I would point out that due to building works we ended up walking around for some time, looking for the entrance which for some reason is not signed posted anywhere. If you go onto their website and look at a map they have provided, (my visit was planned by a friend who knew the area so I hadn't thought to go and look myself) you will find it much easier to get to the entrance.
Leanne SmithLeanne Smith
160
The decorations and the building design are beautiful. I visited on a weekday, and it wasn’t busy at all. It's a big place with plenty of room for visitors. The museum is very big, so I was happy I had an extra day to go back and see everything. The bird exhibits were my favourite because I love watching birds. I really liked how they have a coloured symbol next to each bird to show if their numbers have gone down a lot, stayed the same, or even gone up. On my first day, I had tea at the indoor cafe. It was fine, but on the second day, I saw an outdoor food kiosk right by the main entrance. The outdoor cafe was great, with tasty homemade baked treats. In a big Victorian-style room, a fun collection is very pleasant to see. It's no surprise that dinosaurs are a big draw because of their amazing skeletons on display. This includes Edmontosaurus annectens and Struthiomimus sedens. Many other animals are shown in the large area. The sea animals that stand out are the jaw of the sperm whale and the Japanese spider crab.
Adhvaidh SkAdhvaidh Sk
00
Nearby Attractions Of Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The Covered Market
Ashmolean Museum
Oxford Castle & Prison
University of Oxford
Gloucester Green Market
Pitt Rivers Museum
Carfax Tower
Christ Church Cathedral
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Clarendon Centre Oxford
The Covered Market
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Ashmolean Museum
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Oxford Castle & Prison
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University of Oxford
4.6
(2.8K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Turf Tavern
Banana Tree Oxford
Turtle Bay Oxford
Slug & Lettuce - Oxford
The Four Candles - JD Wetherspoon
O'neill's Oxford
Red Lion Oxford
Wig & Pen
COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant | Oxford
The Eagle and Child
Turf Tavern
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Banana Tree Oxford
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Turtle Bay Oxford
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Slug & Lettuce - Oxford
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Reviews
Overview
4.8
(4.6K reviews)
Phone
+44 1865 272950
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Website
oumnh.ox.ac.uk
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