Oxford University Museum of Natural History

What an amazing museum! My mum and I visited the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and we were truly blown away. The dinosaurs were very impressive, especially the under the sea element of the fossils! Additionally the Dodo was a must see, so cool to see in person. The staff were also amazing, so friendly and passionate. This is a MUST see when you are visiting Oxford - a visit that took hours of awe and information!

Beautiful museum in a wonderful building. I visited in poor weather and it was wonderful to see Oxford at its best, but indoors! A great place for photography, lovely exhibits and friendly staff - on the door and the little cafe upstairs. Loads to see for children and grown-ups! The building itself is so nice to look at, it is possible to overlook just how much effort has gone into the actual exhibits - which were in some places quite different to my last visit.

Fascinating museum. Much quieted than the London one (which is honestly a plus), but with some great exhibits. The fossil collection and dinosaur casts were a particular highlight for our son – once we managed to tear him away from the gift shop. The staff are friendly and very keen to impart their knowledge. We came twice in one weekend to make sure we saw everything.

The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is not just a museum; it is a sublime temple to discovery and an absolute, non-negotiable gem for anyone with a passion for geology, archaeology, or the raw wonder of the natural world. Housed in a 19th-century neo-Gothic masterpiece on Parks Road, its vast, cathedral-like hall—with a soaring glass roof and intricately carved stone columns—is itself a monumental exhibit, designed to reflect the unity of nature, art, and science. For the geologist, the ground floor is a paradise. The mineral and meteorite collections are world-class, displayed with both scientific clarity and artistic beauty. You can stand before breathtaking crystal formations, touch a slice of Martian meteorite, and trace Earth's history through meticulously curated rock sequences. For the archaeologist and anthropologist, the true magic lies just beyond: a door at the rear leads directly into the Pitt Rivers Museum, one of the world's most important and evocative collections of human cultural history. This densely packed, dimly lit cabinet of curiosities holds everything from Hawaiian feather cloaks and Inuit kayaks to ceremonial masks and ancient tools, arranged typologically to spark wonder and comparative thought. My highest recommendation comes with strategic advice. You must visit both museums as one continuous experience. Allocate at least three hours, and start in the bright, architectural splendor of the Natural History Museum before diving into the captivating labyrinth of the Pitt Rivers. Engage with the staff and volunteers—often practicing scientists—who can share incredible insights. Visit on a weekday morning for quieter contemplation, and don't forget to look up: the building's ironwork and the stone columns, each carved with a different British plant species, are a testament to Victorian scientific detail. This is where the spirit of academic curiosity becomes tangible. It is a deeply inspiring, beautifully preserved, and utterly essential institution that reminds us why we explore, collect, and strive to understand our planet and our past. Do not miss it.

A good place to visit. The museum is full of history, with a lot of exhibits, from stuffed animals, to clothes from different historical periods and all kinds of things made by man throughout humanity. Entrance is free.