1. A brief guide to what’s on show

2. • Oxford – a dreamy city renowned as a centre of learning – is
also a paradise for museum fans. There are a great variety of
collections that will appeal both to visitors with specialist
interests, and to those looking to learn something new. Most
museums are within easy reach of many hotels in Oxford, so
visitors can easily visit a selection during their stay. Check out
these top museums to start your journey of exploration…

3. The Ashmolean Museum was the
world’s first university collection,
and is still one of the most famous in
the world. It’s also the oldest
museum collection in the UK, having
opened in its original location in
May 1683 as a repository for the
curiosities amassed by the eclectic
collector Elias Ashmole. Now in a
new location on Beaumont Street,
the museum houses the university’s
collection of art and antiquities, and
with free admission is an essential
stop on your Oxford museum tour.
Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH,
http://www.ashmolean.org

4. Home of Oxford University’s
extensive scientific collections, the
Museum of Natural History is often
popular with young visitors eager to
check out the dinosaur and
zoological specimens. With around
4.5 million specimens (making it
Britain’s largest scientific collection
outwith the national collections), it’s
also a great place to learn about
entomology, geology, mineralogy
and more.
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW,
www.oum.ox.ac.uk

5. Another highly family-friendly
museum, the Museum of the History
of Science is housed in the oldest
purpose-built museum building
surviving in the world. It contains a
fascinating collection of scientific
instruments from throughout history
and around the world, and gives
great insight into how far scientific
studies have come.
Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ,
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk

6. Take a virtual journey around the
world in the Pitt Rivers Museum,
home of Oxford University’s
anthropology and world
archaeology collections. Building
upon the original collection donated
by General Augustus Pitt Rivers, the
museum now contains over 500,000
specimens organised thematically
by usage. It’s a captivating tour
through all the world’s cultures.
Enter through Oxford University
Museum of Natural History, Parks
Road, Oxford OX1 3PW,
www.prm.ox.ac.uk

7. If you want to get some fresh air
while exploring a top-notch
collection, Britain’s oldest botanic
garden (founded 1621) offers an
impressively diverse collection in a
surprisingly compact area. For those
craving a woodland wander, the
Harcourt Arboretum features an
excellent collection of trees and
other plants in its attractive grounds
just 6 miles south of Oxford.
Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ,
www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Lodge Peacock Gate,
Oxford OX44 9PX, www.harcourt-
arboretum.ox.ac.uk

8. One of the most significant private
art collections in the country, Christ
Church Picture Gallery forms part
of Christ Church College. It boasts a
stunning collection of around 300
Old Master paintings, plus nearly
2000 drawings that are show on
rotation, and is particularly
recognised for its collection of
Italian art from the 14thto 18th
centuries. The collection includes
works by Fra Angelico, Filippino
Lippi, Anthony Van Dyck, Frans Hals,
Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, plus
drawings by the likes of da Vinci,
Dürer, Raphael, Michelangelo, and
Rubens.
St Aldate's Oxford OX1 1DP,
www.chch.ox.ac.uk/gallery

9. A fascinating trip through the history
of the western classical music
tradition, the Bate Collection boasts
over 2000 musical instruments,
about half of which are on display
in the museum. The collection
includes samples of woodwind,
brass, percussion and stringed
instruments that date from the
Middle Ages up until the present
day.
Faculty of Music, St Aldate's,
Oxford OX1 1DB,
www.bate.ox.ac.uk

10. (Photo Credits: Philip Halling via Geograph.org,
BazzaDaRambler via Flickr, Mo Costandi via
Flickr, carlosfpardo via Flickr, bortescristian via
Flickr, Martin Beek via Flickr, Richard Holmes via
Wikimedia)